District 75 outlines budget cuts

More than a dozen teachers, as well as other staffers, will be released and other adjustments considered as Mundelein Elementary District 75 works to trim a projected deficit of more than $1.1 million.

Pending moves mean 50 people will receive "reduction in force" notices, although because of the way staff positions are calculated not that many full-time positions actually are being eliminated.

Library and social work services will be halved as part of the cuts, and early childhood and parent coordinator programs put on hold pending receipt of grant money.

Class sizes will rise by an average of two students each.

"Is it what we'd like to be doing? No," said school board president Wells Frice. "But I still think the district will be providing a quality education."

Aside from some adjustments, programming will remain the same, and art, music, physical education, band and extracurricular activities will continue to be offered.

School fees will not be increased, but extracurricular and after-school costs to parents could go up.

The proposed actions and the rationale behind them were laid out Monday during a packed public hearing in the all purpose room at Carl Sandburg Middle School. More than 150 people, many of them teachers, attended the presentation that included an extended question and answer session.

The school board had directed the staff to cut $860,000, leaving a deficit of about $250,000, which is considered manageable for the next few years.

"If no actions were taken, the district would have to begin borrowing to pay our bills in 2012-2013," Superintendent Cynthia Heidorn informed the crowd.

Flat property tax receipts and declining enrollment, which equates to less state aid, as well as a state budget crisis resulting in delayed payments, have forced District 75 to reduce expenses for the next school year.

While the 2010-11 budget won't be adopted until September, the district has to make decisions on staffing in March because of the required reduction in force notice. Final decisions are expected March 22.

Salary and benefits account for 71 percent of the district's $18 million budget.

As planned, 13 teachers will receive the notice and another 10 will have their time reduced. Three teachers who have resigned and one who is retiring will not be replaced.

A dozen educational support staffers, including some librarians and social workers, will be cut and 10 other positions involved with grant programs, such as parent coordinators, also are on the list.

The district wants to reduce the deficit while making "the best educational and instructional choices," Heidorn said.

The district also appealed to parents to volunteer a half day a year, with opportunities to be determined. Some parents asked how they could help.

"They were thoughtful about their comments and came up with some good ideas," Frice said.

Heidorn said the district is investigating whether contractual services can be shared with other districts to cut costs.