The June 1, 2015 School District 166 board special meeting had two agenda items—the proposed school operating levy referendum and the proposed unrequested leave for Music Teacher Kerri Bilben. There was little discussion as both issues, as well as the 2016 budget, had been pondered and debated for three hours at a work session held earlier the same day.
Union offers an alternative to unrequested leave of absence
The school board believes resolution to the concerns about reductions in several teachers’ hours has been found.
At the start of the work session, Superintendent Beth Schwarz said Art Teacher Mary MacDonald had withdrawn her request for a hearing to reconsider the proposal to place her on Unrequested Leave of Absence (ULA). By not invoking her right to a hearing, the proposed ULA will move forward. This does not mean MacDonald will lose her job, but it does mean fewer hours and a salary reduction of $5,776.
For Music Teacher Kerri Bilben, the situation is a bit more complicated. Schwarz said the Cook County Education Association (CCEA), the teachers’ union, had submitted a proposal just before the work session. If the school board accepts the proposal, Schwarz said, a ULA hearing would be avoided. The cost of a ULA hearing would be approximately $6,000 for the school district, the superintendent said.
CCEA asked that the school district increase Bilben’s hours to 96 percent (from the proposed 86 percent) by adding time in the second period as a substitute teacher. The trade-off, said Schwarz, was that probationary teacher Andrea Hofeldt would no longer serve as a second period substitute and she would see her hours reduced to 87 percent. Hofeldt was working fulltime with her duties divided between teaching math and physical education.
Schwarz said the process to reduce probationary teachers like Hofeldt and Spanish teacher Carrie Jansen would require “several resolutions,” because probationary teachers cannot be simply reduced. She said the school board would have to move to not renew contracts at the June board meeting and then re-hire teachers at the reduced hours in July.
Making a motion directing Superintendent Schwarz to work with the union to see that the adjustments discussed take place, Board Member Terry Collins said it needed to be clear that this was a CCEA initiative. He noted that the action being taken was because CCEA was invoking the rights of seniority for Bilben. The motion carried unanimously.
Senior high choir saved by donation?
Regarding the proposed reduction of hours for probationary Choir Instructor Erika Ternes, which would mean the elimination of senior high choir, Schwarz said a benefactor has stepped forward and offered to fund senior high choir. The salary cut for the choir teacher was $6,275.
Schwarz said this person would make the donation if senior choir can be offered in the same format as it was in 2014-2015, with Ternes as director. There was considerable discussion as to whether the school can accept funding earmarked specifically for a teacher’s salary.
Board Member Sissy Lunde said, “I think it’s great, but don’t know if you can do that, with strings attached.”
Schwarz said she hadn’t researched, but stressed that she wanted to honor this individual’s request and she wanted to accept the money. Board Member Chris Goettl said he thought donors could make contributions to specific programs. Schwarz said that is correct, however, she said since Ternes is serving as choir director under a teaching variance, the school may be required to advertise the position.
Board Member Terry Collins said he would be hesitant to accept the donation with stipulations, noting that the school board has made it quite clear that it wants to keep band and choir at the same levels. “We’ve made no secret that that is our wish,” said Collins, “and that’s different than the situation where someone comes along and says, ‘I’ll give you this money if you make my brother-in-law the softball coach.’ I think everybody is above board about what our hopes are for this position.”
Schwarz told the board she would get back to them on any restrictions on accepting such donations.
Why an operating levy?
Schwarz noted that at the May 13 meeting with the school board, staff and community members, it was felt that the school should seek an operating levy of $2,500 per pupil. Schwarz said she came away from that initial community meeting with the understanding that the school district should go forward with a referendum in November 2015. She said the decision didn’t have to be made immediately, but added she would like to set that figure at the June 18 meeting if possible.
“For the purposes of planning, the sooner I know what that amount is, the sooner I can start working with the communications folks and we can get that information out there,” said Schwarz.
Board Member Deb White said, “I think we need to know what $2,500 per pupil will allow us do; what $1,500 will allow us…We obviously want to do more than the status quo, we want the ability to let us grow…
“Thinking about it more, we need to know what each amount not only means on our taxes, but what does it mean inside our building for education,” said White.
Board Member Collins asked if he was correct that the current levy is $861,000. Schwarz said yes, adding, “Ideally we would like at least an additional $200,000 a year to basically maintain where we’re at…Looking at what the state has given for increases, even with that increase, we’ll struggle to stay in the positive five years down the road.”
The board agreed it needed another meeting. Board members said they would like to see an enrollment projection; cost estimates for post-secondary education options and athletic and non-athletic fees; cost of adding robotics to the curriculum; infrastructure costs; new anticipated costs; what would need to be cut if a referendum fails and a snapshot of promises kept with the current operating levy. Board Chair Jeanne Anderson also asked for information on different administration models, with information on the cost of the superintendent, principals and counselors.
A special meeting for strategic planning and for discussion of levy options was set for June 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Preliminary balanced budget approved
Schwarz provided a report on the 2014-2015 budget as of July 31, 2015, showing expenditures of $8,342,075 and revenue of $8,349,043, reflecting a deficit of $6,968. That deficit is met by use of the school’s fund balance.
Schwarz presented a preliminary budget summary for 2015-2016 with projected general operating revenues of $6,436,203 and anticipated general operating expenditures of $6, 195,377. Schwarz said under the preliminary budget proposal, the school district would have a fund balance of $538,573 at the end of next school year, June 30, 2016. Collins noted that “deliberate cuts” had been made to reach this point.
After hearing Schwarz’s explanation of revenue and expenditures in various areas of the school and reviewing a 75-page breakdown of revenue and expenses, the school board passed a unanimous motion to accept the preliminary budget.
Schwarz said that is what the 2016 budget looks like “today.” She said she would bring the final budget proposal to the board for approval at the June 18 board meeting.
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