West Chicago Elementary School District #33
Dr. Ed Leman, Superintendent					Board of Education
312 E. Forest Avenue West Chicago, IL 60185					Dave Barclay, President
www.wegoed33.k12.il.us					Katrine Maguire Secretary
(630) 293-6000      Fax (630) 293-6088					Sharon L. Jones
Contact:		Becky Koltz	School/Community Relations Specialist		Deborah D. Ramsey
			(630) 293-6000 ext. 201		Robert Lemon
			koltzb@wegoed33.k12.il.us		Chris Scheck
Date:	January 25, 2005				Joseph Lach

TO: Board of Education
FR: Dr. Ed Leman
DA: 12-1-04
RE: Budget reduction history by department

Below is a summary of budget reduction highlights over the past few years. This information may help process the budget reduction decisions that are coming. Please feel free to call any of the Cabinet persons that have submitted information.

The Business Office and the Buildings and Grounds Department have experienced the following cut-backs during the past five to six years.

Business Office  In past years, the Business Office staff consisted of:

• Business Manager

• Secretary to Business Manager

• Accountant

• Accounts Payable Clerk

• Payroll Clerk

• Computer Operator

The combined salaries for these positions was $195,831.

 Today, the Business Office staff consists of:

• Business Manager

• Secretary to Business Manager

• Accounts Payable Clerk

• Payroll Clerk

• Accountant/Payroll Assistant

The combined salaries for these positions are $158,153, a savings of $37,678. We were able to evaluate the needs of the department and combine responsibilities where appropriate in an effort to contain costs.

Buildings & Grounds Department -

In past years, the Buildings and Grounds Department consisted of:

• 8 - day-time school custodians

• 10 - night-time utility custodians

• 5 - floating utility custodians

• 2 - full-time maintenance

• 1 - courier

• 1.5 - grounds maintenance

The combined salaries for these positions were $763,345.

Today, the Buildings and Grounds Department consists of:

• 7 - day-time school custodians

• 10 - night-time utility custodians

• 2 - floating utility custodians

• 2 - full-time maintenance

• 1 - courier

The combined salaries for these positions are $717,968, a savings of $45,377.

PPS Department Cost Saving Measures

For the past several years, the Pupil Personnel Services Department has been consistently implementing cost saving measures. They are as follows:

• Reduced the number of Para educators from a high of 138 in 2001-02 to the current number of 114. Cost savings=$360,000

• Reduced the number of all PPS staff from 28 in 2001-02 to the current 24. Cost Saving=$200,000

• Reduced the number of facilitating teachers by 2. One of these was moved from district to grant funds. Cost savings=100,000

• Moved $32,000 of district funds for materials to grant funds. Cost savings $32,000

• Moved $30,000 of district funds to grant funds to pay for the cost of substitutes. Cost savings=$30,000

• Total cost savings=$722,000

All materials, equipment and staff development activities are now paid by grant funds.

Reference: B. Clark document-West Chicago Elementary School District #33,
Certified and Classified Staff Positions Historical (Based on Fall Housing Reports)
November 2004

Department of Learning Cost savings summary

*LLC Reductions - General supplies, A. V. supplies, computer supplies, library book budgets.
**Staff Development - All Current funds for staff development at each school is paid by Title II Grant not District funds.
***Salaries - All current salaries for Title I Reading Teachers are paid by Title I Grant.
****Welcome Center - Eliminated the Nurse's Aide

Technology department budget history beginning with the 2002/03 school year. It is divided into two general areas, Operations and Maintenance and Staff Salaries.
 

The current operating budget for supplies, equipment, repairs, and maintenance is $258,000. That has been reduced over the course of the last two years by $164,800 (39%). During that time we added networks to all of our schools, installed new software and provided additional resources resulting in a high-speed data infrastructure (think lower Wacker Drive) that includes, 1,615 computers, printers, and monitors. We are now faced with several unfunded projects such as library automation, and TV monitors for classroom viewing. We are currently operating at a basic "maintenance" level in all of our buildings.

While we have experienced significant growth in the use of technology by both students and staff, we have continued to provide good technical support and training without adding personnel. Our staff salaries have increased by only $7,649 (2.4%) since the start of the 2002/03 school year. Virtually all administrators, students, and staff now use technology throughout the District. The following technology staff provides technical support and training at a cost of $333,201 (not including benefits).

• Computer Aides (7), one at each location, provide basic technical and end-user support (Level I) in the classrooms, offices, and the computer lab.

• A Computer Technician (1) provides advanced technical support (Level II) for the entire district.

• A Technology Support Specialist (1) provides additional technical support (Level III) and maintains and supports the District’s computer network.

• An Instructional Technology Trainer (1) provides training and professional development for the entire district.

• A Director of Technology (1) manages the program, supervises staff, and provides advanced technical support, network administration, and professional development.

Supplemental funds for networking our schools and the Teach to the Future training have been provided via the E-Rate and Ed. Tech. grants. The future of these funds is uncertain.

Additional Notes

• The Board of Education recently received a description of administrative budget reductions. Please also refer to page two of the 2004 District 33 Report Card and average administrative salaries are listed at $75,995. This is down from $77,974 as reported in the 2003 District 33 Report Card. This is due to replacing superintendent, assistant superintendent for learning, and director of second language learners with smaller salaries, avoiding a superintendent search expense, and in the case of the director of SSL, shortening the length of the contract. These changes total $26,000 for the department of learning (see 2-11-04 memo to the Board), and approximately $30.000 for the superintendent position (salary and search savings). The total for ESC administrative changes is approximately $56,000. The middle school salary changes and Gary School salary changes account for additional administrative salary changes.

• The long sheet outlining several budget scenarios has been changed to match Sue’s projection assumptions.

• Please note that there are 12 teaching positions reduced by raising class sizes to 35/37, and there are 14 positions represented by GATE and LLC positions. If the board wishes to keep class sizes at current levels LLC and GATE positions could be reduced instead.