District 200 Plans for Self-Imposed Budget Cuts

New budget expectations announced by Gov. Pat Quinn increased fiscal pressure on operations for the next year, Superintendent Brian Harris told the League of Women Voters (LWV) of Wheaton Thursday.

Harris, with assistant superintendent Margo Sorrick, outlined some of the fiscal and administrative challenges the district expects over the next two years. Harris focused on the district's strained finances, which will lead to fewer hires to replace retiring employees and a short term loan to pay salaries through the end of the year.

When Harris assumed the helm of the consolidated school district in July, he faced a budget that was slashed by $9 million. With uncertainty of state funding, which accounts for about 15 percent of the district’s budget, Harris said he is looking to cut another $1 million from the budget.

The state has been late sending funds it owes to District 200. .

“We have to be conservative and not knowing what kind of funding we’re going to get from the state means we’re going to have to make some hard choices,” Harris told the crowd of nearly 30. “We have to assume there are going to be more fiscal challenges over the next few years and we will have to face some serious cuts.”

Joan Fefferman, a member of the LWV, asked Harris where he would find $1 million to cut.

Harris said he will have to find creative measures, which will include eliminating some positions. Harris said there are 27 teachers retiring at the end of the school year and some of those positions will not be filled. Further, he said the district is filling only two of the three superintendent positions opening up at the end of the year. Last week, district officials approved the replacements for two of the retirees. will replace Margo Sorrick and will replace Linda Knicker, assistant superintendent of special services

“We are going to have to take on additional responsibilities and duties at the administrative level, but that salary is a significant amount,” Harris said.

Harris said 80 percent of the district budget comes from local property taxes and the remainder is federal. He said the property taxes in Wheaton and Warrenville are stable, but the other funding sources are not.

In fact, Harris said the school district will have to take out a short term loan in March to pay salaries through the end of the year. He said the loan will tide the district over until they receive their property tax funds from DuPage County.

Some of the cuts Quinn is proposing that would impact the district includes a $95 million cut in bus transportation. Quinn wants local school districts to pick up the tab. Quinn also proposed consolidating some school districts across Illinois.

Harris said that proposal would not impact District 200 because it is a consolidated school district, meaning it is K-12. He said districts such as the small elementary districts in Glen Ellyn would be impacted. He said District 200 is a model of what Quinn seeks.