GENERAL INFORMATION
SCROLL DOWN FOR AN ARCHIVE OF BUDGET-RELATED NEWS RELEASES
Here is the 2010-2011 Budget, as approved by the D300 Board of Education on Sept. 27, 2010, following a public hearing and public input period. This represents the first deficit budget the D300 Board has passed in four years. The Budget projects a deficit of -$5.3 million at the end of this school year so long as the state makes all payments owed to D300 this school year and the federal government provides the "federal jobs bill" funding it promised. Here is an update on D300's finances, as presented by D300 Administration to the Board and general public on Monday, August 23, 2010.
As of mid-December 2010, the State of Illinois was finally caught up on its overdue bills for last school year (2009-2010). However, the state has already missed its first payment to D300 for this school year (2010-2011), meaning that the state currently owes D300 $4.5 million. The second payment of another $4.5 million is due on Dec. 31, 2011. Then two other payments will be due in the spring.
SIX FOR SCHOOLS - CLICK HERE for six questions to ask YOUR state legislators! D300 leaders continue to strongly urge Illinois leaders to find a way to keep their promises to D300 schools. We also continue to urge all D300 stakeholders (staff, parents, students, taxpayers) to contact their state leaders about this ongoing crisis. Please follow up as often as possible with state legislators from our area, the Governor, and Illinois General Assembly leaders until a TIMELY, FAIR and REALISTIC solution for education funding is forged in Springfield. Help to finally end the political stalemate that has plagued our state for years. For information on sending a Letter to the Editor of local newspapers to express your concerns over state education funding, call D300 Communication Services at 847.551.8344. Here is contact information to each state legislator from the D300 area, and here is a map of their respective legislative districts within D300 boundaries. (NOTE: All state legislators from D300 kept their seats in the Nov. 2, 2010, general election.)
The School Board voted this spring (2010) to release several teachers to deal with the state budget crisis. Click here for a summary of teacher releases and the unfortunate impact on class sizes. Click here to see an update (as of August 9, 2010) on the projected vs. actual teacher rehires.
Many of the proposed budget reductions are generated through our annual analysis of all D300 programs, called the EPRT process (Educational Program Review Technique). Click here to learn more about EPRT and to see each program's annual EPRT report.
Click here for a helpful news article on the state's "bankruptcy."
BOARD DISCUSSION ON BUDGET REDUCTIONS
The following transcripts include Board-staff discussion and public comments on the budget reduction process. D300 does not normally generate word-for-word transcripts. These were produced because of the subject's magnitude, to help keep our stakeholders as informed and actively involved as possible in the ongoing process of reductions.
Jan. 25, 2010, School Board meeting: Click here to read the transcript.
Feb. 8, 2010, School Board meeting: Click here to read the transcript.
Feb. 22, 2010, School Board meeting: Click here to read the transcript.
March 8, 2010, School Board meeting: Click here to read the transcript.
April 5, 2010, School Board special meeting: Click here to read the transcript.
April 12, 2010, School Board meeting: Click here to read the transcript.
April 26, 2010, School Board meeting: Click here to read the transcript.
June 14, 2010, School Board meeting (approving contracts that include the reduction of staff salaries & benefits): Click here to read the transcript
NEWS RELEASES
August 11, 2010, news release: D300 response to news of federal jobs bill
June 10, 2010, news release: Board to vote on administrator, DESPA contracts; Responds to LEAD's vote against concessions
April 26, 2010, news release: Board approves $2.34 million in additional budget reductions, as recommended by Superintendent based on public feedback
March 4, 2010, news release: Proposed release of teachers, update on proposed busing cuts, potential deficit
Feb. 23, 2010, news release: The Board's Feb. 22 vote on budget cuts and plans for potential future cuts.
Feb. 18, 2010, news release: Dr. Arndt's updated (modified) recommendations for budget cuts
Feb. 1, 2010, news release: D300's meeting with state legislators on the budget and other issues
Jan. 10, 2010, news release: Dr. Arndt's original recommendations for cuts to the 2010-2011 budget
PUBLIC INPUT
To provide your input to the Board, write anytime to board@d300.org. Be sure to include your first and last name and your street address. Your comments may be published on this webpage (like the emails listed below) with your email address and street address blacked out.
Click here to read the emails from Jan. 11 through Jan. 21, 2010. This is a large PDF document that may take several seconds to download.
Click here to read the emails from Jan. 22 through Jan. 29.
Click here to read the emails from Jan. 30 through Feb. 4.
Click here to read the emails from Feb. 5 through Feb. 12.
Click here to read the emails from Feb. 12 through Feb. 18.
Click here to read the emails from Feb. 22 through Mar 9.
Click here to read the emails for Mar. 22 through Apr. 13.
Click here to read the emails for Apr. 15 through Apr. 28.
Click here for Parochial busing petitions - April 2010.