School Board approves Staff Reduction Plan

[janespeak]

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 (perhaps someone else can comment on this) However that vote went on Tuesday though, the decision was withdrawn yesterday and this new reduction plan was approved in it's place.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

[Danno]

WOW! Those maintenance workers must get paid an awful lot!

[janespeak]

Thanks for noticing my typo, Danno! You can see why I'm not a CPA

[fedupinwaukegan]

There's a press release on their website. Will they tell us later which of the administrators were cut? The atmosphere at Lincoln Center must be like walking on egg shells... hock: Press release makes it sound like they haven't picked the 12 yet?



WPSD #60 ADDRESSES PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT

* HOME
Press Release: 04-18-2009


During a special meeting of the Board of Education of the Waukegan Community School District #60 convened at 5 P.M. on Friday, April 17 at Lincoln Center Board Room, the Administration presented a comprehensive plan to address the anticipated budget deficit for the next fiscal year (FY09-10). This plan was developed collaboratively by all district labor unions and the administration. The plan included the elimination of twelve (12) administrative positions, ten (10) secretary positions, twenty (20) long term substitute teachers, ten (10) paraprofessionals and three (3) vacant positions in the maintenance and custodian unions. Also included were savings through reductions in salaries, transfer of salaries from local to grant funds and the elimination of the increase requested in the middle school coaching stipends.

The positions eliminated will go into effect for the 2009-10 school year. The administration and union officials will work together over the course of the next few weeks to specifically identify which individuals will be affected.

[curious]

Let the doubletalk begin........when is a reduction NOT a reduction???? Or the better question is how can 6 board members not see that the 2 million bucks in announced cuts is a carefully crafted slight of hand to appease the board, satisfy the unions and make everyone believe the administration is taking one for the team ?
"Also included were savings through reductions in salaries, transfers of salaries from local to grant funds" ???????? That amounts to robbing Peter to pay Paul!
Sadly, these board members are no match for this administration.

[freedomisntfree]

All of this only came up after the election?

Isn't this about the same amount of staff that Batiste added over the last two years?

IF that is true then there is really no projected budget deficit JUST projected overspending by Batiste. (Or continued projected overspending)

Add the above to the huge increase in liabilities he continues to create for the shafted Waukegan taxpayers.

The board and Batiste agree perfectly. You can listen for yourself by going to youtube and searching on the words "hawn batiste waukegan"

[fedupinwaukegan]

Schools cut 55 positions
Revenue shortfall hits administrative jobs, substitutes


April 21, 2009
By DAN MORAN <!-- e --><a href="mailto:dmoran@scn1.com">dmoran@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->

WAUKEGAN -- A $2.2 million shortfall in revenue has prompted Waukegan School District 60 to eliminate 55 non-teaching positions for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

"It is a heart-wrenching experience," Superintendent Donaldo Batiste said Monday. "We're looking at people in the face who are doing great jobs" and telling them they must be let go.

The Board of Education met in special session on Friday to approve a list of personnel cuts. That plan "was developed collaboratively by all district labor unions and the administration," according to a statement posted for the community at <!-- w --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.wps60.org/newsbeat60">www.wps60.org/newsbeat60</a><!-- w -->.

While no full-time teachers will be cut under the plan, 20 long-term substitute teachers and 10 paraprofessional positions will be eliminated, along with 12 administrative positions, 10 secretary positions and three vacant positions in the maintenance and custodian unions.

The statement added that there will also be reductions in salaries, a transfer of salaries from local to grant funds, and an elimination of the increase requested for middle-school coaching stipends.

According to Batiste, earlier plans had been to eliminate 55 teaching positions, but "we were able to do it without directly impacting classrooms."

"We've been dealing with this since the beginning of the year," he said. "The real crux of the matter is that (the shortfall) is based on our tax revenue."

The affected individuals will be informed over the next few weeks, with the cuts taking effect at the start of July and into the 2009-10 school year.

[broken arrow]

How about the district hiring an ex permanent sub, uncertified administrator with no experience, who has never taught in a classroom only in resource, and is non-tenured, to run the largest department in the high school? (special ed has 60 teachers) What a slap in the face to those that have an administrative degree! Wait until the due process law suits start rolling in because she does not know what she is doing and doesn't know how to handle people and kids. All for $75,000 :cry:

[freedomisntfree]

As one who has sat across the table from him and heard his repeated malicious lies, he has lost the right to spread his lies to more victims. Neither the employees or taxpayers should believe anything that Batiste (or Gaudin, Howard, Pattison, Morris or the board) tells you. He does not have the right to go around acting like he is a professional person that cares about his employees or is above the malicious actions of his staff or the board or board attorney.

"It is a heart-wrenching experience," Superintendent Donaldo Batiste said Monday. "We're looking at people in the face who are doing great jobs"

This is another falsehood uttered by an incredibly malicious person that wants you to believe that he cares, that this is a terrible experience for him and that his words actually mean something. They don't because he is a liar that has admitted he is a liar. Hear it for yourself by going to youtube and entering the following words into the search: batiste hawn waukegan
Or if you are a member of this site just click on <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkkXGtdnXLY">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkkXGtdnXLY</a><!-- m -->

[freedomisntfree]

Has anyone heard any additional information?