Community Deficit Reduction Program presented to Lincoln-Way 210 Board of Education in Speech

Elizabeth Sands walked up to the podium at the October 22, 2015 Lincoln-Way 210 Board of Education meeting and briefly highlighted a way the District could save more than $9 million.

Sands told the Board of Education that solving the District’s financial problems should be a community effort.

“Our community got into this situation together and I hope we can get out of it the same way,” Sands told the Board. “ ‘We’ include people who are (or were) in the business of school plus so many other creative and intelligent people. All dedicated to helping our community.”

Sands suggested taking a look at money-saving alternatives to closing eight-year-old Lincoln-Way North High School, which the Board of Education voted to close at the end of this school year at an August 13, 2015 meeting.

Transportation, Food Service and Student Fees were offered as some areas that deserve a closer look, Sands said.

Though Superintendent Dr. R. Scott Tingley told Sands after the October meeting that he would review the community’s Deficit Reduction Plan she presented, Sands said the administration and Board members declined to meet to discuss the community plan more in depth.

Sand’s speech in full:

“The Lincoln-Way community is my home; I went to kindergarten across the street from here.

“I wish I had time tonight to list out all of the things that would show everyone here how connected I feel to the entire area. I have been asked many times over the last few months - Why are you giving up so much of your life for this? My commitment has never has been about a few bricks. It has always been about my Lincoln-Way home, my Lincoln-Way family and because we are going through a rough time I am compelled to fix it. I cannot let this go; I have to help put my home back together again. For me this is a moral imperative.

“Our community got into this situation together and I hope we can get out of it the same way. Together. There are many of us who have spent thousands of hours sharing knowledge and doing research. ‘We’ include people who are (or were) in the business of school plus so many other creative and intelligent people. All dedicated to helping our community.

“Our efforts have produced some ideas and strategies for cost savings, revenue generation and cost offsets. We believe that we can bridge the deficit gap by employing some or all of these strategies. I'd like to share a few.

ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES:
Through participation fees combined with other revenue streams and cost-saving measures, the District would be able to generate income. The TOTAL POTENTIAL REVENUE is $1,392,000

TRANSPORTATION:
Based on research with various bus transportation company vendors, comparable area high school districts, and the current district budget, the District can save at least 10% of its costs. It could also generate a revenue stream by charging a fee for bussing. Information derived from that fee would provide an avenue for more efficiencies. TOTAL SAVINGS: $1,424,000

FOOD SERVICE:
Based on research with School Food Service Providers the District can save 10% - 18% of their current costs, depending on what type of menus are selected and what type of kitchen facilities are already on the premises. These companies have greater buying power than single school districts because they are buying for multiple districts. TOTAL SAVINGS: $295,000

DISTRICT & BUILDING SUPPLY BUDGETS:
A review of the District's General Ledger, Check Register and some of the Purchase Orders showed that savings could be achieved by cutting District and Building supply budgets. TOTAL SAVINGS: $475,000

PERSONNEL:
One of the hardest subjects to discuss is people's jobs. I will not discuss that here in this public forum out of respect for those individuals in the room for whom our research may effect. I will share what we believe to be the range of likely savings and that is $2 to $5 million.

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS:
- Renegotiate existing contracts with service providers.
- Research avenues to lower insurance costs
- Increased benefits contribution by all staff, even if this is for just one year.
- Employ responsible fiscal management and bookkeeping methods as proposed by the Finance Committee
- Increase parking fees.
- Eliminate all color copiers
- Reduce mailing and printing costs by going paperless, and move everything online
- Provide avenues for offsetting costs through fundraising both individually and for the school
- Investigate the formation of one or more Unit School Districts (K through 12) with the surrounding elementary school districts. This item alone could save the taxpayers $15 million dollars.

“The total savings found so far is about $9,253,000 not including the miscellaneous items.

“As part of this research I personally spoke to our ISBE representative and understand their requirements. They are not going to come in and take over. All the ISBE wants to see is yearly progress toward our goals; that is what they consider to be meeting expectations. We know what it means to meet expectations.

“But we are Lincoln-Way, we exceed expectations. Let's work together to do just that. I am working with Dr. Tingley on a day/time present the details of our research to you so we can discuss the nuances and work together to be a better Lincoln-Way and bring us into the future with our heads held high. It is not too late, can can operate all four schools if we choose to. It will require a lot of hard work. I am ready to dig in and make that happen. Lincoln-Way Area Taxpayers Unite is ready to dig in and make that happen. I hope all of you are too.

“Thank you for your time.”

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