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Last updated 11:43 am CT September 02, 2010.
Budget "Catastrophe" Predicted for Schools
The prediction is forcing districts across the region—and the state-- to examine ways to cut back.
The biggest funding uncertainty for school districts is state money. They're not getting payments now, and funding for the next school year is still in question—a preliminary budget plan laid out by Governor Pat Quinn Wednesday showed schools losing several billion dollars in fiscal year 2011.
The Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) believes the federal government is the best bet for minimizing damage. Officials are encouraging districts to appeal to lawmakers in Washington.
"Right now there's more money in Washington than there is in Springfield and there's a jobs bill that could make up that billion dollar deficit with stimulus money and hold off the cuts for one more year," said IASB executive director Michael Johnson.
School districts in Southern Illinois are in different stages of the budget planning process.
In Dongola, "We're doing alright financially now. We are worrying about the state budget and what may happen to our budget because of it," said school board member Philip Miller.
At Unity Point school in Carbondale, "We have reduced our certified staff, our teaching staff, by three as well as our not certified staff by three," said superintendent Lori James-Gross. Unity Point will also eliminate one position through attrition.
"It's not just going to be staff, it's going to be programs...we're looking at reductions in potentially all extracurricular activities," said Southern Illinois University expert Brad Colwell.
By Dana Jay
djay@wsiltv.com
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