District 210 Opens Discussion of Financial Solutions to Community

The Lincoln-Way District 210 Board of Education will open the floor to public feedback on its financial crisis and possible solutions.

A special meeting set for 7 p.m. Wednesday will include a public comment portion intended to allow residents and families to sound off on the situation. As a September deadline for a debt reduction plan looms, officials recently asked for community input on options via an online form.

This week’s meeting is a followup to a June 11 meeting during which the board heard a presentation from Mark Anderson with the Illinois State Board of Education regarding the state’s requirement that the district submit a deficit reduction plan by September 2015—the first step in getting the district off of the state’s Financial Watch List. Dr. Don Weber and Steven Crouse of PMA Financial Network outlined various scenarios—a pension cost shift by the state, property tax freeze, school closure, referendum and a combination of these scenarios—and their financial outcomes for the district. Few parents were able to speak during that meeting, as the focus fell on outlining possible solutions.

“I feel that this is an opportunity for this board to really help bring this community together, build confidence in the things that need to happen,” said Frankfort resident Mike Barnas, during that meeting.

As part of its decision-making process, trustees will weigh if the four high schools are being used to capacity, if the district can reduce curriculum offerings and still meet state requirements, and if voters will support a tax hike.

Superintendent Dr. Scott Tingley presented three options from the board:

• Building Closure: Estimated to save $5.2 million. This scenario includes a reduction of five administrators, 20 teachers, 30 clerical and support positions, 76 coaching stipends and 49 activity stipends.
• 5% CPI Tax Referendum: A two-year tax referendum would require approval from voters.
• Eliminating one class and all extracurricular opportunities: Estimated to save $5.3 million annually. This scenario includes a staff reduction of 46 positions.

Wednesday’s meeting begins at 7 p.m., in the Fine Arts Center of Lincoln-Way Central High School.