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Proviso Probe

Thursday, August 24, 2006

ED, how to cut Proviso Township High School's budget? [D209]

The tenative budget is open for comments until September 25, 2007.

What would you cut? Or how would you enhance revenue?

Proviso Probe poster "No new educational initiatives" came up with a number of personnel moves that could save money. What positions could be cut or replaced with people at lower salaries?

posted by Carl Nyberg at 7:05 PM

28 Comments:

  • Pamela says: They're already saving on teachers. They have about 4 subs at West and 4 at PMSA and I think 1 at East since the beginning of the year I figure they're saving about 300 to 400 dollars a day per person. LETS SEE, SO FAR THEY'VE SAVED about $14,000 at PMSA,11,200 at West and $2800 at East. Plus they don't have to pay life or health insurance.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:07 PM, August 24, 2006  

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    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:57 PM, August 24, 2006  

  • Highlights of this year's Budget Report depicts a situation of "continuous deficit spending" and "diminishing Fund Balance reserves".

    Revenues in Operating fund for the FY2007 Budget are pegged at $61.5 million, versus corresponding expenditures of $75.9 million; thus yielding projected budgeted deficit of $14.4 million (86% comes from $12.5 million projected deficit in Education fund, primarily due to salaries and benefits but does not include Municipal Retirement fund. MRF adds another $2.2 million).

    Combined, these would account for all of the projected deficit in the Operating fund.

    Deficit carryover from FY2006 was $2.9 million in the Operating funds (84% of that being in Operations/Maintenance account).

    Non-operating fund deficit came to $19.5 million, chiefly as the result of budget overruns in Site/Construction ($8.6 million) and Working Cash ($10.5 million) depletion.

    This would make the cumulative overrun range in the area of $22.4 million in 2006.

    Accordingly, the District has been put on Financial Review by the ISBE, meaning SD 209 will be monitored for potential downward trends.

    In the past the SD had enjoyed a score for its financial health which placed it in the highest category. Proviso now ranks in the second tier.

    All fund balances for FY2006 remain on "unaudited" status. No explanation is given as to whether or not such is normal. Possibility could be that prior expenditures were improperly accounted for, but no such statement was included in the report and any such conclusion would be a matter of conjecture at this point.

    The projected fund balance (all funds), at end of FY2007 is estimated at $15.1 million, which is a reduction of $13.7 million from previous fiscal period. Total FY2007 budget reductions only come to $2.2 million.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:42 PM, August 24, 2006  

  • Sell PMSA,Proviso Math and Science academy!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:30 PM, August 24, 2006  

  • To Pamela:

    So, they're using substitute teachers in the place of certified teachers?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:34 AM, August 25, 2006  

  • The annual pay out to EMM (Eugene Moore) in connection with insurance needs to be scrutinized.

    The frequency of the newsletter should be questioned.

    Danielle-Ashley bills D209 exhorbitant amounts while doing in-kind political work for Chris Welch.

    The legal bills spent contesting Greg Jackson's contract are probably a waste of money. While it may allow the politicians who fired Jackson to save face, it seems unlikely the courts will left D209 retroactively invalidate the contract extension.

    Angela McDaniel could be replaced by someone making about $35K without any reduction in services.

    I'd scrutinize Libka and Hastings.

    And if Althea Busby was the admin assistant for Kelvin Gilchrist, what's she been doing to justify her salary since Gilchrist left.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 12:13 PM, August 25, 2006  

  • Pamela says: At the board meeting there were 3 things that I heard one parent say: Where are the laptops, why is there no integrated learning and why are there so many subs at PMSA. He read the promises made when PMSA was opened and asked the board if they were committed to honoring those promises. There are still classes at PMSA that have no books or equipment. There are still subs. Maybe they can't afford laptops? Maybe, sell PMSA is right.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:10 PM, August 25, 2006  

  • sell PMSA II said: Sell PMSA. Move all the administrators back to East into the empty offices they left. The offices are still there, some of them unoccupied. Let's fill them up!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 6:55 PM, August 25, 2006  

  • And if Althea Busby was the admin assistant for Kelvin Gilchrist, what's she been doing to justify her salary since Gilchrist left.

    And the answer is ... Sitting on her big, fat, black ass!!!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:01 PM, August 25, 2006  

  • Proviso Support Staff's UNION is the WORST says:

    n Althea Busby's defense, Gilchrist had three secretaries, one of which that filed the sexual harrassment claim against him, and leaving him with two secretaries. He has a White secretary (name unknown, Marleen or something) and Althea. Why wasn't the other secretary put on blast like Althea. People need to be very careful when making statements.

    It is unfair to eliminate her position when Dr. Murphy now supposebly does Gilchrist's job. And what a joke that is!

    Dr. Moore resigned from her job as the Director of Professional Develpoment, but the district still employees her secretary, Marcy. Also, a graduate of Rev. Saffo unaccredited school. Marcy's sister is also a district 89 board member and Marcy coordinated several of Welch's fundraisers. So, before people make the claim that Althea's job needs to be abolished let's check out the entire scene at 209.

    Get the facts first!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:34 AM, August 26, 2006  

  • I think any secretary without skills should be fired. They should all be tested, and the worst ones let go. If Marci, Marlen or Althea don't cut it, they go. I'm sure others won't cut it either. I guarantee you it will save them a lot of money. They should also cut the co directors at PMSA. They are openly fighting with each, and they have been since the place opened. They are unprofessional and neither really knows what he's doing. They both make over $100,000. I would eliminate them both and get one principal.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:12 AM, August 26, 2006  

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    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:02 PM, August 26, 2006  

  • Working in education really enables one to see close-up what is the nature of an escalating crisis.

    And anyone taking the time to perform only a cursory review would be astonished at how dismal are the statistics. Whole generations of young people are out there drowning from all sorts of deficits, and there really aren't any lifeboats. There is plenty blame being spread around, but few solutions which offer any genuine promise.

    Some time ago it seems we entered into what I call the "produce or perish" phase for teachers and administrators. Measures now being implemented in school districts across the country tend to reveal how desperate thing have become. The social discourse surrounding such matters is typically acerbic, particularly in the urban areas. And with the heat on and temperatures rising, it's becoming a "top-down" push from the standpoint of directives.

    In most cases there is no longer any time for discussion and feedback, the "flatland-style" for which so many of us had become accustomed. There is little in the way of support, you either sink or swim. Don't produce and someone else will be found to replace you.

    The kids are actually being identified as the victims in the process and, in my opinion, the adults who supervise and are responsible for their learning are becoming held accountable like never before in the history of Education. Many workers in education are beginning to feel threatened by the mandate; and at a time when the tensions within our rank are climbing, there are only more directives, ranging from more frequent classroom inspections (sweeps, as they're called) to threats of being charged with malpractice in cases where students do not show adequate progress.

    I've tried to stay ahead of the curve, and thus am acutely aware of the process as it unfolds. So long as one is doing their job there is no reason to fear, or so it is said. Thing is, many possess the critical content knowledge but lack the social skill necessary in order for learning to become facilitated. Thus there is a kind of catch 22 and I don't see the likelihood for any substantial improvement.

    Although there may be some improvement, it won't be the kind for us to really write home about. The real need will be training in the area of professional development that emphasizes greater social awareness and the increased ability to care and empathize in the case of an individual learner.

    Toward meaningfully addressing these issues, there is, admittedly, substantial research that places the onus squarely on the shoulder of all trainers of children. We're simply out of touch with the modern realities of life and clinging to traditonal approaches that are simply no longer effective.

    For our own faults we point blame in the direction of others. Healthy mental attitudes and greater social skills are required, but there is no mechanism (and/or finance) in place for their becoming launched.

    "Since both the home and the school must be responsive to enormous changes created by the advances in science and technology, it is critical that the findings of modern teaching and psychology be made available to these educational units to enable them to cope more effectively with the demands of modern society. (T)he main goal of a preventive approach to the challenge of creating healthy mental attitudes is to assist parents and teachers in adjusting themselves and their educational concepts to the general evolution of society.

    Admitting their educational limitations without fearing loss of face or self-respect will encourage adults to learn more about the rearing of children. How much more relaxed the child-parent-teacher atmosphere will become when each can step down from his self-erected pedestal of perfection, of omniscience, to which each has committed himself."

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:06 PM, August 26, 2006  

  • Can’t wait to see specifics of District 209 Deficit Reduction Plan. As I read the guidelines, Proviso’s projected deficit for FY2007 is 90% of the projected ending fund balance (all funds), thereby exceeding limit by approximately $9 million. Also, “vendor contracts” exceeding $1000 or more must be attached to the budget. Anybody know if this list will be part of the public document?

    (See) - New Requirements for 2006-2007 School District Budgets beginning July 1, 2006
    •• Public Act (PA) 94-0234

    Included in Public Act (PA) 94-0234 is the requirement that school districts adopt a balanced budget or else a deficit reduction plan must be submitted along with the adopted budget.

    ISBE defines a balanced budget as follows:

    1) Total expenditures for the four operating funds; Educational, Operation & Maintenance, Transportation, and Working Cash, will be compared to the total revenues for the same funds.

    2) If the total revenues are equal to or greater than the total expenditures, the budget is balanced. No Deficit Reduction plan is required.

    3) If the total expenditures are greater than the total revenues, the total deficit must be less than one-third of the total ending fund balance of the four funds.

    4) If the deficit is greater than one-third the total ending fund balance, a Deficit Reduction plan is required (included in the FY07 budget form).

    • PA 94 – 0714 PA 94 – 0714 requires all school districts beginning with Fiscal Year 2007 must file a report listing all “vendor contracts” of $1,000 or more as an attachment to the budget.

    Additional Requirements include:

    Per School Code, Section 17-1.2, if the school district has a web site, the budget and subsequent amendments are required to be posted to that site once it is approved and signed.

    Districts may use any convenient communications medium to notify parents/guardians of the posting.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:32 AM, August 27, 2006  

  • What Are Deficit Reduction Plan Guidelines?

    Budgetary Targets - The deficit reduction plan should be developed around targeted revenues and expenditures that reduce the combined annual deficit in the operating funds. Using forms provided by ISBE, the estimated budgets for Fiscal Years 2007 through 2010 are to be completed.

    Operating Funds Included Within The Plan:

    - Educational Fund
    - Operation & Maintenance Fund
    - Transportation Fund
    - Working Cash Fund

    Current School Year – The remainder of the current year’s budget should be examined for expenditure reductions such as a freeze on hiring, supplies and capital outlay. The budget estimates should be verified as this information will serve as baseline data for assessing changes in the remaining years of the deficit reduction plan.

    Subsequent Years – For the next three school years, the budget figures should reflect a material reduction of the district’s combined operating deficit. An estimate, by fund, for FY 08 through FY 10 is to be completed and constitutes the primary representation of the multi-year deficit reduction plan. A review of the district’s fee structure/policy should also be made to determine estimated collections in future years.

    Narrative of Budget Reductions/Assumptions –
    A brief description should be included to identify any areas of the budget that will be impacted from one year to the next. If the deficit reduction plan relies upon new local revenues, identify contingencies for further budget reductions which will be enacted in the event those new revenues are not available.

    Assumptions should include the change in foundation level for General State Aid, change in equalized assessed valuation/tax rates, adjustment to salaries/benefits and any debt instrument which will be relied upon during the course of the deficit reduction plan.

    Educational Impact - Provide an assessment of the impact the deficit reduction plan may have on the educational mission of the district. Discuss the extent of any educational courses and services which will be reduced. Provide assurances concerning the district’s ability to meet the minimum requirements of state/federal law and sound practices with regard to educational services.

    (April 2006)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:07 AM, August 27, 2006  

  • In addition to significant defict within the Education Fund, the Oper/Maint, Site/Construction, and Life Safety also show major deficits ($2.8 million, $762 thousand, and $700 thousand, respectively) in the proposed budget for FY2007.

    I wonder about the allocations, where are the disbursements concentrated/targeted?

    Seems a lot of prior discussion on this Site has to do with impact of PMSA. Wonder to what extent FY2007 expenditures in aforementioned funds are of a non-recurring nature?

    I think the investment in PMSA was a smart decision, but I seem to be in a distinct minority as concerns this view.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:26 AM, August 27, 2006  

  • A symbolic gesture in truely showing the comminment of this Board to budget cuts is no longer paying for cell phones for the Board members and other non-essantial staff members, along with the stop of school funded confrances for the board members and other non-essential staff!

    I wonder if Welch,Kelly and Flowers would do that? NOPE!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:52 AM, August 27, 2006  

  • Commitment at this point looks like the following:

    Proposed Plan for expenditure reductions in current fiscal period

    Mass bid of general office supplies

    Elimination of evening school

    Elimination of late bus run

    Set dollar limit for conferences/travel
    -Principals/PMSA Directors ($2000)
    -Directors ($1000)
    -East/West Faculty & Staff ($10000)
    -PMSA Faculty & Staff ($3500)

    Elimination of Faculty/Staff computer purchases

    Reduction of staff development budget

    Elimination of mass purchase of paper

    Elimination of desktop printer purchases

    Centralized ordering of publications

    Reduction of A V equipment purchases

    Limit professional association memberships -(Must be relevant to current job responsibilities)

    -Department Chairs (1)
    -Assistant Principals (up to 2)
    -Principals (up to 3) .

    Future Options on Revenue side

    Looking at alternative revenue sources 3 (note that referendum is listed dead last)

    1. Sale of advertising space
    2. Educational Foundations
    3. Referendum

    Future Options on Expenditure side

    Review cellular phone usage and plan options

    Reduction of overtime

    Reduction of staff

    Elimination of student workers

    Reduction of outside consultant usage

    Energy conservation

    Student fee charges
    -field trips
    -Activity/Athletic particiation

    Review of deficit spending programs

    Substitute pay - reduce number of meetings that take teacher out of classroom during school day

    Review of maintenance agreements (I suspect this means copiers and the like)

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:19 PM, August 27, 2006  

  • I deleted a post under "anonymous". I do this so that people will pick a pseudonym. Discussions with more than one "anonymous" become confusing.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 3:09 PM, August 27, 2006  

  • I support PMSA.

    Whether you like it or not, the price of keeping the best students with the most savvy families involved in public education is to offer the better students better educational opportunities.

    PMSA brings students and families together to build a stronger Proviso and District 209 community.

    There are going to be tensions over resources. And the people who created PMSA may not have had a viable long-term plan for the school.

    However, cutting PMSA isn't the way to move the district forward. District 209 has had challenges and issues long before PMSA existed. One of the major problems was that families that had the motivation and skill set to make the district better had abandoned teh district.

    PMSA gets at least some of them involved again.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 3:14 PM, August 27, 2006  

  • To Carl, or whoever can provide answers,

    How many District 209 employees have given campaign contributions to Chris Welch and Gene Moore?

    I'm really interested to see how many of the "high salary" employees have contributed to these campaigns as well as custodial employees hired within the last 2 years.

    If anyone knows, I would like this to include goods and services donated or rendered. This can also include Danielle-Ashley, EMM, construction firms, sign vendors, etc.

    And to end, it would be good to know the hours logged by the custodial staff and if they can account for their time during they're work day.

    Many people have mentioned that the custodial staff was and currently work to campaign for Welch and Moore. If it is found that the District is paying for these employees to work on the campaigns of Welch and Moore, then they should be fired and the community should, and will ask for Chris Welch’s resignation!

    This type of unconscionable behavior will not be tolerated in our district and those who perpetrate this type of unethical behavior have no business presiding over our children and our money.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:35 AM, August 28, 2006  

  • Congratulations are in store for Shirley Madlock!

    Three cheers!

    Shirley Madlock's youngest sister, Tamara Robinson was just hired by District 209 as the payroll coordinator & business office supervisor! She will be replacing Carolyn Jones who recently resigned. (Carl, remember...you asked me to email you her name in an earlier posting).

    Kudos and accolades!

    Please give Shirley Madlock a hand…this is her reward for voting with the majority. Is that why she held out against Libka? Rumor has it that madlock was upset that she hasn’t received a proper piece of the cash/job windfall that Chris Welch and the rest of the majority board has enjoyed. I guess that was her way of playing hard-ball.

    Well…looks like it worked!

    So, yep, you guessed it...another District 209 majority board family member has just obtained employment! So, let's take inventory, you have Sue Henry's daughter, Shirley Madlock's sister, Chris Welch's approximately 13 relatives including his brother, all working for the District they preside over. Is this what you meant by “Show your commitment”?

    Actions speak volumes!

    In order for District 209 to improve and prosper, Chris Welch, Shirley Madlock, Sue Henry and Danny Adams need to resign immediately...before any more damage is done.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:13 PM, August 28, 2006  

  • I suggest we have a Bake and Cookie sale. My senior friends and I would love to assist the children, and our Seniors president Theresa kelly stated that it would help her pay for her conferances and cell phone bills!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:59 AM, August 29, 2006  

  • Making fun of "seniors" now Huh?

    Very Classy!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:20 AM, August 29, 2006  

  • I'm totally disgusted by the hiring practices and ridiculous salaries at 209. What happened to promoting within based on seniority and qualifications. The Support Staff Union is powerless. Everytime a position is posted, it's already known what family member, girlfriend, cousin, old school chum has gotten the job. The morale of employees (who got their jobs the old fashion way, they earned it) is so low that many are thinking about jumping on the Chris Welch/Melrose Park/Gene Moore/Board Members bandwagon. The taxpayers need to wake up and demand their share of cushy well paying jobs. There are so many new faces walking around the PRoviso schools doing nothing that there lackadastical(sp), non-caring attitudes are influencing the staff that really care about the students.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:56 PM, August 31, 2006  

  • This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:25 PM, August 31, 2006  

  • I delete comments under "anonymous" b/c it gets confusing if more than one person is posting under "anonymous". Please use a pseudonym.

    By Blogger Carl Nyberg, at 5:29 PM, August 31, 2006  

  • please if you dont know the facts keep quite dr gilchrist had 2 secr. althea came after. get it right.nikita calm down girl you got a job you are not qualified for so let it alone. yes most of the maintanance staff worked on the political trails and are paid too much. jobs are being made up for unqualified people whos going to put a stop to it.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:13 PM, September 07, 2006  

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