Dist 300: The hunt for savings

Do basketball uniforms really cost $300 apiece and did we get the best bids when we bought them.

Can we charge more for the 630 season tickets to football?

It's less expensive for the Du Quoin school district to host a game than to travel to one.

Can we save $75,000 by bringing special education and alternative students taught at Ward School back into our buildings?

Should we send our Deans of Students (administrative positions) back into the classroom?

Can we save $24,000 a year on utilities through e-rates?

Why does it cost us $64,000 to house one special needs student in the district at the HOPE school in Springfield when the Tri-County program might be able to help?

Is there so much program and paperwork now in the district where we need nine administrative personnel at a cost over $720,000 when we use to do the work with five?

Is the Academic Success program at the high school working and what does it do?

And this: If it comes down to it can we reopen the contract with the DEA next year and ask for a wage freeze?

A lot of possibilities to help pare down the potential $970,000 in this year's spending plan. "I know it ain't pretty, but we have to deal with it," said one board member.

Many of these considerations would be made this year and implemented next year.

The board stopped short of cutting personnel during their discussions, but it is on the table, if necessary.

The Du Quoin Board of Education discussed the several deficit reduction strategies for an hour as part of the 2013-2014 school year budget process. Strategies included attrition of staff due to retirement, making athletic programs more self-sufficient, modifications to special education programming to reduce costs, reduction of technology expenditures (other than grant funded), reduction in transportation operations (through potential elimination of certain bus routes), reduction in building operations (through reduction in supplies and repairs), combining certain administrative roles with teaching roles, elimination of carryover of certain grants, and bringing early childhood program from off-site location to on-site within district buildings.

"We have people qualified to teach. Let them teach," insisted board president Mike Ward. "We had five administrators. Now we have nine."

Supt. Dr. Gary Kelly led the discussions, but every board member chimed in about a school district that has 120 fewer students at the high school and 200 fewer students in the elementary and middle schools.

"We have more flexibility on non-tenured teachers," Dr. Kelly said.

One board member questioned whether teachers who are getting stipends for extra-curricular work after school are really doing the work.

"People need to be working every hour we can get out of them," said board member Beaver Rice.

Dennis Cole added, "We need to utilize the staff we have," with respect to sending some personnel back into the classroom.

He added, "I don't think we are getting the best bids on equipment. Do uniforms really cost $300 apiece."

The board talked about increasing fund-raisers for athletics. "That doesn't mean going to the Booster Club and asking for $6,000 for uniforms," said one board member.

Other plan assumptions would include no increase in state aid and no increase in the district tax property levy. All reductions presented could potentially save the district in excess of $1 million.

The superintendent was directed to develop a plan including the considerations discussed for adoption as part of the 2013-2014 school year budget.

"In 18 years I've never backed down from a challenge," Dr. Kelly said.

The board entered into executive session at 6:03 p.m. to discuss the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees. The board returned to regular session at 6:22 p.m.

The board employed personnel for the Arrow Academy (21st Century) Program. Personnel includes aides for before school homework assistance and teachers and aides for after school homework assistance and required STEM activities. All personnel are funded through the 21st Century program grant.

The board employed Kortney Crawford as a High School Assistant Volleyball Coach for the 2013-2014 school year.

The board approved additional fall sports program volunteer coaches for volleyball and football.