Yet another state school district is showing signs of the tough economic times to come in the face of a growing state budget deficit.

As the Belleville News-Democrat reports:

The O’Fallon District 90 school board slashed $1.7 million from its 2009-10 budget through a reduction of 80 jobs and cuts in purchases of supplies and materials. Superintendent Nancy Gibson said the staff reduction for next school year will include 15 certified positions, 51 support staff and seven extracurricular positions whose compensation represents $1.1 million.

Reducing supplies and materials spending by 20 percent from the district’s education, operations and maintenance funds will bring another $242,000 in savings. Eliminating another seven positions, including that of special education director Cheryl Allen, will save another $292,000, Gibson said.

In Edwardsville:

Edwardsville’s staff reduction included laying off 18 teaching assistants, eliminating two administrative assistants, two school safety officer and six mobile custodian positions and not hiring teachers to fill five positions left by retirees.

The district also will reduce staffing at its summer school program, increase its student parking fee at Edwardsville High School, freeze or delay construction projects, consolidate food service positions, outsource its mailing services, reduce curriculum expenditures and consolidate its printing services to save an estimated $630,000.

How much more can Illinois schools cut? We need a real solution to this crisis - one that doesn’t force already-struggling schools to make cuts that directly threaten the education and safety of our children.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 2nd, 2009 at 3:46 pm and is filed under Budget News, Central Illinois. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.