More Teacher Cuts Expected This Week in District 113A

UPDATED, 4:30 p.m.

Another round of job cuts is expected to be approved Monday night in as the Board of Education takes steps to reduce expenditures for the next fiscal year.

District 113A Superintendent Tim Ricker said Friday that the administration is recommending the elimination of nine full-time, certified staff members for the 2011-2012 school year — six of which are tenured teachers. According to district documents, the reduction would result in a total savings of approximately $695,329.

Under the financial plan approved by the Illinois State Board of Education, District 113A is required to eliminate borrowing and build fund balances over the next two years by reducing expenditures and/or increasing revenue. The district has been operating under the plan since it was certified in financial difficulty by the state in December 2010.

According to the state financial plan, the board is to consider an estimated $670,000 in budget reductions for fiscal year 2012. Suggested cuts include certain transportation services, the closing of Central School, support staff, programs and an administrator.

Additionally, the state currently owes District 113A about $1.3 million in categorical funding, an issue district officials are "deeply concerned" about heading into budget season, Ricker said.

"If we do not receive that money from the state by the end of the year, our fund balances will be at $400,000," he said. "That concerns us."

In order to compensate for the absence in revenue, the administration has opted to recommend the dismissal of six tenured teachers, all of whom must be notified at least 60 days prior to the end of the current school year, according to state law (non-tenured teachers must receive 45 days notice).

Ricker said the district's plan for a reduction in force is not directly tied to the state financial plan, so the original $670,000 in cuts will still be considered during the board's budget hearings.

However, the district's plans could change depending on the outcome of the If the referendum is successful, a revised staffing plan will be submitted to the board for their consideration, Ricker said.

Last year, District 113A eliminated 42 certified staff members, 12 paraprofessionals, 12 buildings/grounds staff members and four administrators for a total savings of $3.17 million for the current fiscal year.

The board will vote on the resolutions during its regular board meeting Monday at 7 p.m.

A public hearing will be held prior to the vote, giving the public an opportunity to address the board. According to state law, school boards are required to hold such hearings when the honorable dismissal of tenured teachers exceeds five individuals, or 150 percent of the average number of teachers dismissed in the previous three years.

Check back later for more details.