School District U-46 faces cuts to middle and high school athletic programs, the elimination of several staff positions and reductions of discretionary funds for supplies and travel, in mid-year efforts to balance the 2009-10 budget.
School board officials announced Monday the $4.9 million in reductions that are needed to balance its budget for this school year.
At Monday’s school board meeting, Bartlett resident Mary Smith spoke on behalf of parents who had heard “rumors” about athletic cuts.
“This is a great concern,” Smith told the board. “For all kids who have not yet had the opportunity.”
These athletic cuts will result in the elimination of B teams at the middle school level and will save the district an estimated $110,000. The B teams at the freshman level of high school also will be eliminated, which will save the district $166,000.
Chief Financial and Operations Officer for U-46 Ron Ally announced in a report to the School Board in October an operating fund deficit of $53 million.
The district made the reductions to help balance the $53 million deficit and provide $500,000 for a recent agreement to increase the daily rate of pay for long-term substitute teachers and for $217,000 in costs associated with its human resources software.
“In making these $4.9 million in reductions, administration worked to protect our district’s aim: college and workplace readiness and the elimination of achievement gaps,” U-46 Chief of Communications Tony Sanders said. “We also reviewed all of the tenets established by the Board of Education in our annual district improvement plan.”
Mary Audy also was at the board meeting Monday because of the athletic department reductions. Mary Audy said her daughter, Sydney, tried out for the basketball team at Eastview Middle School last week and initially was told there would be no cuts because only 28 students tried out. On Oct. 27, Sydney was informed they would have to limit the team to 20 students and then on Oct. 29, she was told that there would be only an A team, which would consist of 15 students, Mary Audy said.
Audy also received a letter and refund check in the mail from Eastview’s Principal Donald J. Donner that said because of U-46’s budget deficit, the district was reviewing all expenditures. This would result in one basketball team for both boys and girls, and the elimination of intramural soccer, among other sports.
“When you give it and take it away, it’s very frustrating,” Audy said.
Sanders said the district was limited in the areas they could cut funds.
“It is important to note that we are very limited in what can be reduced in the middle of a school year,” Sanders said. “Contractually, we cannot issue a reduction in force for many employee groups, including teachers, union secretaries and teaching assistants.”
Smith said her son, a freshman at Bartlett High School, is eager to get involved and has been waiting for baseball season to come along, however, she is unsure he will make the team if only 15 students are chosen. Smith and Audy said it is unfair only the top athletes will have the opportunity to participate in sports and said the small number accepted might intimidate students and stop them from even trying out.
In October, U-46 created a Budget Advisory Task Force composed of principals, the Elgin Teachers Association, other union groups and advisory councils. The group has started meeting to discuss the budget for 2010-11 school year, and its goal is to make recommendations to balance next year’s budget and contribute $25 million toward the district’s current deficit.
