Additional budget cuts are needed in SD210

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Updated: February 21, 2012 8:43AM

Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Supt. Lawrence Wyllie said Thursday the school board will have to make decisions in the next 60 days on what budget changes will have to be made for the 2012-13 school year to make revenues match expenses.

The district has faced budget shortfalls for the past three years and has made $8 million in cuts over that time, including teachers and programs.

While no decisions have been made for the coming year, he said officials are looking at options as they do every year at this time.

Those options include staffing because with 975 employees, that is the bulk of the district’s expenses, Wyllie said. If people are cut, it follows that programs would be cut as well, which could affect test scores, he said. If any teachers are let go, they must be notified by April 1.

School officials also are comparing their school fees to other districts.

Currently, District 210 does not charge for extracurricular activities, but that may be a source of revenue, although Wyllie said he does not like that.

“These are the same options we’ve been talking about forever,” he said.

The district — like all other school districts — is owed money from the state. Lincoln-Way has received no payments this year for mandated items including transportation and special education which total $5 million for the entire school year. It currently is owed $2.5 million.

If the foundation level for general state aid remains the same, District 210 will lose $1.3 million next year, Wyllie said.

District 210 has been taking money out of reserves but that will run out, he said.

“We have to stop the bleeding. We have to get help. We have to match revenues and expenses,” he said. “What the hell are they (state legislators) doing with the (additional) revenues from the income tax hike?”