School budget cuts debated; bonding for
projects approved
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
As school districts across the State of Illinois face budget crisis issues, the situation in Ball-
Chatham is rather tame, by comparison.
However, with a projected dip in state revenues of $2.2 million for fiscal year 2011, and a budget
hole (currently $1.6 million) this year left by categorical state aid payments being months behind, the
district faces cuts or the prospect of deficit spending to the tune of several million dollars.
So to that end, Supt. Bob Gillum has prepared "three tiers" of proposed budget cuts, though tiers
two and three are not likely to see the light of day and have not yet been made public.
The first tier of proposed cuts was presented to the Board of Education Monday night. Gillum
sought feedback from the board as he and interim CSBO Dr. Brent McArdle continue to work on
budgets for 2011 and beyond.
Any staff cuts would have to taken action on in March, but action on other proposed cuts could wait
until more firm information about state funding for next fiscal year comes in.
Still, after much discussion Monday night, Gillum made it clear, "We will deficit spend before we
start cutting classroom teachers," for next school year.
The issue generating the most buzz revolves around the Pre-K program, which is funded each year
through a state grant. School officials have no idea what, if any, funding will come through for 2010-11.
Gillum has proposed reducing the Pre-K program, saving nearly $300,000, until state funding
becomes known. The special education portion of that program would not be affected. Ball-Chatham
is not required to offer a Pre-K program, and has always relied on state funding to keep it going.
"We will build the program around whatever money we get that comes in," Gillum explained.
"Some or all programs would be reinstated, it just depends on the funding, and we may not know that
until well into the summer."
The two tenured positions in the Pre-K program will be protected, Gillum added, and those
teachers will be reassigned to regular classroom teaching positions should the worst case scenario
become reality.
Other cuts the board is considering include Driver's Education at Glenwood High School. Ball-
Chatham is not required to provide Behind the Wheel training, and Gillum presented options of
eliminating that service or proposing a major fee increase.
Eliminating Behind the Wheel would save $112,000, but board members were in favor of
increasing fees, which are currently $50 per participant.
Gillum said the district can next apply for a waiver to increase the fee in January 2011. He
estimates a charge of $200 to $250 per student would recoup 50 to 60 percent of the actual costs
incurred to the district.
"I can't see us going over $250," he said. "In better economic times, this board has reduced the
driver's education fees. But now, we need to look at offsetting the costs we incur to run the program."
Other proposed ways to save money included: eliminating the year bus purchases for one year
($417,000 savings), eliminating paper district bulletin ($40,000 savings), consolidating bus stops
($3,200 per 30 minutes saved on a route), establishing a maximum number of students for CACC,
tentatively set at 40 (net cost is $1,721 per student), freeze K-3 staffing pattern ($158,000), reduce
employee mileage reimbursement costs by buying small fleet of 3-5 vehicles (savings of $100,000-
plus yearly minus initial cost of purchasing vehicles), increasing student book fees and establishing
student athletic fees ($125,000 additional dollars total) and eliminating class field trips ($210,000
savings).
There are also several items that were to be included in the FY 2011 budget that will be held off on,
including the hiring of a full-time Chief School Business Official ($110,000) and a second Curriculum
Director ($100,000).
In all, Gillum has taken out about $3.5 million worth of items that were to be in the FY 2011 budget,
including about $1.6 million in cuts.
And again, there were no votes on any of the budget proposals or cuts at Monday's meeting, all
items were presented as information for review and discussion.
•The board has approved the administration's request for up to $10 million in health/life safety
bonds to be issued for various repair projects and upgrades at all district facilities for the next two
years.
The exact scope of all the work is not yet finalized, but its purpose is, among other things, "to
prolong the structural integrity of our buildings," Gillum said.
The selling of up to $10 million in bonds for this work does not need public approval through a
referendum. Gillum said the bonding would be added to the district's property tax levy, and involves
an increase in about nine to 10 cents in that levy.
For budget years 2012-2014, more major facility expansion/renovations are planned, but those
would involved a public referendum or County Sales Tax Initiative to be passed. The next big building
need involves a classroom addition at Glenwood Intermediate School.
Further down the road, plans call for additions to Ball Elementary, Glenwood High School and the
new K-4 elementary building. The total scope of that work is estimated at over $35 million dollars
now.
Again, if the one-cent County Sales Tax option passes in the next couple of years, the burden to be
asked of local property tax owners for the above scope of work would be minimized, if not eliminated.
If the Sales Tax option does not go through, then a referendum or series of referenda could be
coming in the next 10 years.
Revenue estimates for Ball-Chatham if a County Sales Tax option is passed stand at about $2.83
million per year, and those monies can only be used for specific purposes, such as building
additions or new construction.
•The school board has passed an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Chatham
regarding the new elementary school that will be built off Plummer Blvd. The Village will pay for the
cost to extend Acacia Lane to the school site, and the District will design a six-inch water main loop to
serve the school site and pay for all pipe, connections and materials.
The Village will perform the installation of the water main loop and will be responsible for
maintenance and repair. The District will dedicate the main to the Village upon completion, along with
the easements.
In addition, the District will provide and install an electric transformer pad, and the village will install
the transformer and lines. The Village Board has yet to formally pass the agreement, but officials
have indicated that the terms have been agreed to.
•From closed session, the board upheld the administration's recommendation to expel a
Glenwood High School student for the remainder of the current school year.
•Gillum said the first formal negotiations with the BCEA on a new contract will be held March 3.
Four negotiation dates have been set already, and the bargaining sessions will of course be held in a
closed environment. Gillum said it is his intention to work with the BCEA to provide some sort of joint
statement periodically to update the public on the progress of negotiations.
Laura Sheedy will serve as the Negotiations Chairperson for the BCEA, while Bob Cox is the BCEA
President. Jim Neuses will be the chief school board spokesperson, though all board members will
be involved in the process.
•The annual Board Retreat has been tentatively set for Saturday, March 20.
projects approved
By Joe Pritchett
Clarion Editor
As school districts across the State of Illinois face budget crisis issues, the situation in Ball-
Chatham is rather tame, by comparison.
However, with a projected dip in state revenues of $2.2 million for fiscal year 2011, and a budget
hole (currently $1.6 million) this year left by categorical state aid payments being months behind, the
district faces cuts or the prospect of deficit spending to the tune of several million dollars.
So to that end, Supt. Bob Gillum has prepared "three tiers" of proposed budget cuts, though tiers
two and three are not likely to see the light of day and have not yet been made public.
The first tier of proposed cuts was presented to the Board of Education Monday night. Gillum
sought feedback from the board as he and interim CSBO Dr. Brent McArdle continue to work on
budgets for 2011 and beyond.
Any staff cuts would have to taken action on in March, but action on other proposed cuts could wait
until more firm information about state funding for next fiscal year comes in.
Still, after much discussion Monday night, Gillum made it clear, "We will deficit spend before we
start cutting classroom teachers," for next school year.
The issue generating the most buzz revolves around the Pre-K program, which is funded each year
through a state grant. School officials have no idea what, if any, funding will come through for 2010-11.
Gillum has proposed reducing the Pre-K program, saving nearly $300,000, until state funding
becomes known. The special education portion of that program would not be affected. Ball-Chatham
is not required to offer a Pre-K program, and has always relied on state funding to keep it going.
"We will build the program around whatever money we get that comes in," Gillum explained.
"Some or all programs would be reinstated, it just depends on the funding, and we may not know that
until well into the summer."
The two tenured positions in the Pre-K program will be protected, Gillum added, and those
teachers will be reassigned to regular classroom teaching positions should the worst case scenario
become reality.
Other cuts the board is considering include Driver's Education at Glenwood High School. Ball-
Chatham is not required to provide Behind the Wheel training, and Gillum presented options of
eliminating that service or proposing a major fee increase.
Eliminating Behind the Wheel would save $112,000, but board members were in favor of
increasing fees, which are currently $50 per participant.
Gillum said the district can next apply for a waiver to increase the fee in January 2011. He
estimates a charge of $200 to $250 per student would recoup 50 to 60 percent of the actual costs
incurred to the district.
"I can't see us going over $250," he said. "In better economic times, this board has reduced the
driver's education fees. But now, we need to look at offsetting the costs we incur to run the program."
Other proposed ways to save money included: eliminating the year bus purchases for one year
($417,000 savings), eliminating paper district bulletin ($40,000 savings), consolidating bus stops
($3,200 per 30 minutes saved on a route), establishing a maximum number of students for CACC,
tentatively set at 40 (net cost is $1,721 per student), freeze K-3 staffing pattern ($158,000), reduce
employee mileage reimbursement costs by buying small fleet of 3-5 vehicles (savings of $100,000-
plus yearly minus initial cost of purchasing vehicles), increasing student book fees and establishing
student athletic fees ($125,000 additional dollars total) and eliminating class field trips ($210,000
savings).
There are also several items that were to be included in the FY 2011 budget that will be held off on,
including the hiring of a full-time Chief School Business Official ($110,000) and a second Curriculum
Director ($100,000).
In all, Gillum has taken out about $3.5 million worth of items that were to be in the FY 2011 budget,
including about $1.6 million in cuts.
And again, there were no votes on any of the budget proposals or cuts at Monday's meeting, all
items were presented as information for review and discussion.
•The board has approved the administration's request for up to $10 million in health/life safety
bonds to be issued for various repair projects and upgrades at all district facilities for the next two
years.
The exact scope of all the work is not yet finalized, but its purpose is, among other things, "to
prolong the structural integrity of our buildings," Gillum said.
The selling of up to $10 million in bonds for this work does not need public approval through a
referendum. Gillum said the bonding would be added to the district's property tax levy, and involves
an increase in about nine to 10 cents in that levy.
For budget years 2012-2014, more major facility expansion/renovations are planned, but those
would involved a public referendum or County Sales Tax Initiative to be passed. The next big building
need involves a classroom addition at Glenwood Intermediate School.
Further down the road, plans call for additions to Ball Elementary, Glenwood High School and the
new K-4 elementary building. The total scope of that work is estimated at over $35 million dollars
now.
Again, if the one-cent County Sales Tax option passes in the next couple of years, the burden to be
asked of local property tax owners for the above scope of work would be minimized, if not eliminated.
If the Sales Tax option does not go through, then a referendum or series of referenda could be
coming in the next 10 years.
Revenue estimates for Ball-Chatham if a County Sales Tax option is passed stand at about $2.83
million per year, and those monies can only be used for specific purposes, such as building
additions or new construction.
•The school board has passed an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Chatham
regarding the new elementary school that will be built off Plummer Blvd. The Village will pay for the
cost to extend Acacia Lane to the school site, and the District will design a six-inch water main loop to
serve the school site and pay for all pipe, connections and materials.
The Village will perform the installation of the water main loop and will be responsible for
maintenance and repair. The District will dedicate the main to the Village upon completion, along with
the easements.
In addition, the District will provide and install an electric transformer pad, and the village will install
the transformer and lines. The Village Board has yet to formally pass the agreement, but officials
have indicated that the terms have been agreed to.
•From closed session, the board upheld the administration's recommendation to expel a
Glenwood High School student for the remainder of the current school year.
•Gillum said the first formal negotiations with the BCEA on a new contract will be held March 3.
Four negotiation dates have been set already, and the bargaining sessions will of course be held in a
closed environment. Gillum said it is his intention to work with the BCEA to provide some sort of joint
statement periodically to update the public on the progress of negotiations.
Laura Sheedy will serve as the Negotiations Chairperson for the BCEA, while Bob Cox is the BCEA
President. Jim Neuses will be the chief school board spokesperson, though all board members will
be involved in the process.
•The annual Board Retreat has been tentatively set for Saturday, March 20.
Chatham Clarion
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Issue Date: Feb. 25, 2010