04-18-2009, 09:26 AM
At a Special Board Meeting yesterday (4/17) the Waukegan BOE approved the elimination of 55 positions for an estimated savings of $2,130,819.00 in the next fiscal year. Here's a breakdown:
12 Adminstrative positions for a savings of $899,328.00
10 Office Worker positions for a savings of $344,900.00
Athletic Dept. stipen eliminations for a savings of $45,000.00
20 Teacher positions (5 long term non certified teachers/15 long term building substitutes) for a savings of $434,200.00
10 para professional positions for a savings of $210,000.00
3 Maintenance and Custodial positions for a savings of $197,391.00
TOTAL REDUCTION: $2,130,819.00
No specific positions or employees were named due to confidentiality protocal and notification procedures. Anita Hanna was the only board member to vote no. June Maguire was absent. The remaining 5 board members voted yes. CFO, Jules Gaudin, was the lead administrator as Dr. Batsite was not there.
I was unable to attend the regular board meeting earlier in the week but based on comments that were made at yesterday's special meeting, I gather that originally the adminstration had asked the board to approve a signifigant teacher cut to accomplish the desired reduction of expentitures. Because the media (newspaper and radio) did not cover this, I am unclear on how that vote went although several board members yesterday stated that they had voted against it
citing the short notice they had been given and the seriousness of the matter not be made without proper evaluation. (perhaps someone else can comment on this) However that vote went on Tuesday though, the decision was withdrawn yesterday and this new reduction plan was approved in it's place. I will have to do some investigating, but I got the impression that specific members of the school board held the adminstrations feet to the fire on this and insisted that the bulk of the cuts be positions that were not going to directly impact students which led to the bulk of the reductions coming from adminstration. I believe these board members are to be commended for redirecting the adminstration's initiatives in such a way that strives for a balanced budget without compromising a quality education for our students.
More details to follow.
Jane Vester
12 Adminstrative positions for a savings of $899,328.00
10 Office Worker positions for a savings of $344,900.00
Athletic Dept. stipen eliminations for a savings of $45,000.00
20 Teacher positions (5 long term non certified teachers/15 long term building substitutes) for a savings of $434,200.00
10 para professional positions for a savings of $210,000.00
3 Maintenance and Custodial positions for a savings of $197,391.00
TOTAL REDUCTION: $2,130,819.00
No specific positions or employees were named due to confidentiality protocal and notification procedures. Anita Hanna was the only board member to vote no. June Maguire was absent. The remaining 5 board members voted yes. CFO, Jules Gaudin, was the lead administrator as Dr. Batsite was not there.
I was unable to attend the regular board meeting earlier in the week but based on comments that were made at yesterday's special meeting, I gather that originally the adminstration had asked the board to approve a signifigant teacher cut to accomplish the desired reduction of expentitures. Because the media (newspaper and radio) did not cover this, I am unclear on how that vote went although several board members yesterday stated that they had voted against it
citing the short notice they had been given and the seriousness of the matter not be made without proper evaluation. (perhaps someone else can comment on this) However that vote went on Tuesday though, the decision was withdrawn yesterday and this new reduction plan was approved in it's place. I will have to do some investigating, but I got the impression that specific members of the school board held the adminstrations feet to the fire on this and insisted that the bulk of the cuts be positions that were not going to directly impact students which led to the bulk of the reductions coming from adminstration. I believe these board members are to be commended for redirecting the adminstration's initiatives in such a way that strives for a balanced budget without compromising a quality education for our students.
More details to follow.
Jane Vester