Big Budget Cuts Looming For D-15?

There is a school District 15 meeting Monday, Jan. 23, that really should not be missed.

The district is considering $9.6 million in budget cuts – viewed as necessary to balance the 2012-2013 budget. So far, there has not been much in the way of specifics. Those specifics are going to start coming together.

The public forum begins at 7 p.m. at Sundling Junior High, 1100 N. Smith St., in Palatine. The school board wants to balance the budget and address a structural deficit projected to grow in coming years.

But what will be cut? School officials are hoping the public will provide some thoughts.

"In contrast to the District's first round of informational forums held in Decemeber, these next forums will be designed to elicit participant's feedback on solutions," the District 15 web site states.

School board member Scott Herr sent out an email blast promoting the forum Sunday. Herr stated that Superintendent Scott Thompson will present a "preliminary set of options" and will be "looking for community feedback."

In other words, we should get some idea of what school officials are thinking about cutting to get District 15's budget under control.

The District does have about $50 million or so in reserves. The problem is that the deficit, without cuts, is expected to worsen and eat into those fund balances quickly. Herr in his email states that the district's deficit picture over the next three budget years is about $31.4 million and "would deplete more than half of the current fund balance."

So, if you have a child who attends school in District 15, or simply are a person concerned about local education or taxes, this probably is a meeting you don't want to miss.