Letter to the Editor: $2 Million Saved is $2 Million Earned for Woodridge Local Schools

Over the past two years, the Woodridge Local School District has implemented cost savings measures that have effectively reduced the district budget by 10%.  Budget reductions, reduction in force, and contract changes have occurred in tiered reductions taking place in three phases thus far.  

Tier One Reductions – November 2010

Salary and Benefit reductions = $450,000

• One Middle School teaching position
• One part –time technology specialist position
• Reduction of extended time (supplemental contracts)
• Six paraprofessional positions
• Restrict overtime
• Restrict field trips
• Reduce K-5 assistant secretarial hours
• Attrition savings

Non Salary reductions (reducing line items in the budget) = $289,500

• Transfer textbook allocation to Permanent Improvement fund
• Reduce maintenance budget allocations
• Restrict professional development / leave accounts
• Reduce supply budget allocations
• Reduce all general fund equipment allocations
• Reduce new library book allocations
• Reduce general fund software allocations

Tier Two Reductions – May 2011

 Salary and Benefit reductions = $697,000

• 2 Reductions in Force (WMS – Family and Consumer Sciences / WMS – Art)

• Reduction of 1 Kindergarten section

• Reduction of 1 Third Grade section

• Reduction of 1 WHS English position (attrition)

• Reduction of 1 Health / Physical Education position (attrition)

• Additional attrition (2 positions)

• New administrators hired on new salary schedule

• Reduce 1 administrative position

• Combining Assistant HS Principal / Athletic Director positions

Tier Three Reductions – April / May 2012

Salary and Benefit Reductions = $524,000

• Reduction of 1 Library / Media Specialist position

• Reduction of 2 special education positions (1 through attrition)

• Reduction of 1 middle school teaching position

• Reduction of 8 bus monitor positions

• Reduction of 3 instructional assistant positions

• Reduction of 9 cafeteria / playground monitor positions

• Reduction of 1 central office secretarial position

• Reduction of assistant maintenance supervisor position

Implementation of Pay-to-Participate fees for 2012-13 school year = $70,000

Freezing of General Fund Supply / Professional Development/ Equipment / some Field Trip Accounts = $70,000

We continue to work to curb expenses while providing excellent educational opportunities for our students. Cutting just over $2.1 million from the general fund budget of the district over the past two school years we have trimmed general fund expenses by approximately 10%.