$3.1 Million in Budget Cuts for Edwardsville

March 23, 2010

EDWARDSVILLE – The Edwardsville School Board unanimously approved more than $3.1 million in budget cuts for the next school year Monday night, including cuts of 25 probationary teachers and reduction and re-assignment of seven administrators.

A total of 60 staff positions will be eliminated or cut back.

"The solutions brought forth tonight are not ones we welcome; in fact, they have caused many sleepless nights for the board and administration," Edwardsville School District Superintendent Ed Hightower told a packed house at the regular School Board meeting.

Hightower said unless the state of Illinois takes action to turn things around with its inability to make its obligated payments to school districts statewide, the board may be back again next year, considering further budget cuts.

"I am more concerned now than ever over the education future of our state," School Board President Greg Roosevelt said.

The large crowd at Woodland Elementary School was quiet for the most part but appeared grim as Hightower delivered the bad news.

"Illinois school districts are currently owed millions in state money and face a possible 15 percent or more cut in state funding next year," Hightower said.

He said other school districts already have made drastic cuts. Springfield schools cut $5.3 million from the budget for the next school year.

Hightower called the situation "a perfect storm of so many negative factors."

He said the state has a $13 billion budget deficit. The amount of local revenue in the Edwardsville district is projected to go down because of an expected zero growth rate in assessed valuation.

The district, as well as other districts, may lose federal stimulus funding that helped educators get through the last school year.

"Gov. Quinn’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year currently includes a reduction in kindergarten through 12th grade public education by 13 percent, or about $922 million," Hightower said.

Hightower called upon district patrons to avoid pointing fingers at state government and to work together to find solutions that will prevent a future financial crisis.

The board voted to eliminate or cut back on 60 staff positions.

Seven administrators will be eliminated or re-assigned. Twenty-five probationary teachers will be laid off. Five custodial positions and one grounds position will be eliminated.<br /&g t;

Four parent educators will be eliminated, along with one central office position. Seventeen part-time educational assistants will be eliminated, but some of them may be recalled. Administrators’ salaries will be frozen.

On the positive side, the board decided to keep class sizes the same. There will be no cuts in building maintenance, and extracurricular activities will remain in place. The board also pledged to keep its current "A" bond rating and will refrain from going to the voters to ask for an increase in the education fund tax rate.

The total budget for this year is $65 million. There currently are 500 teachers and 300 others working for the district. The enrollment this year is 7,500.