The Fieldcrest Board of Education cut 19 people from the school's staff in an effort to reduce
the deficit that has been dogging the district for over a year. According to Fieldcrest Superintendent
Dr. Michael Stagliano, the cuts amounted to almost $650,000. Stagliano said the cuts were unfortunate
but something had to be done in order to get expenses in line with revenues. Most of the cuts were
for teacher's aides but other areas were cut as well.
Board President Jeff Pickard said efforts have been made to reduce the deficit over the past year through
fee increases, reduction in PE, music, and foreign language courses. But it isn't enough, he said. He
said that the teachers who have lost their jobs were not released because of their performance, but because
of the state's inadequate funding of education.
Pickard said that the board will continue to seek ways to reduce expenses by reducing the number of
classes through grouping by grade rather than by geographical location. He said that
some buildings may be closed in the future. Superintendent Stagliano said that we are talking about
attendance centers down the road. Pickard agreed, saying that some form of attendance centers will
be in force by 2005-2006.
Referendum in November
Pickard also said that the board will run a referendum in November in an attempt to get more revenue to
run the district. He said the board is looking for a long term fix. If the referendum doesn't pass,
more cuts will have to be made.
Prior to the announcement on cuts, the board heard the concerns of some citizens at the meeting. Elementary
teacher Carol Lee Bachman asked the board to reconsider its elimination of a PE teacher and music from the elementary grades.
Bachman felt that the elementary grades were sharing a disproportionate share of the cuts. She said that
the teachers will be overburdened with handling PE in addition to their teaching duties.
Gary Wolf wanted to know why the board would rather make cuts in curriculum to save money rather than
going to attendance centers to save money. Wolf said that people have no idea of what the board is thinking
and what cuts are going to be made.
Superintendent's Report
Superintendent Stagliano announced that retiring teacher Suzanne Coons was given an "Award of Excellence"
from the Illinois State Board of Education, the highest honor that can be bestowed. She will be given the
award at a ceremony in Springfield on April 17.
Stagliano said that negotiations for the upcoming teachers contract will begin on March 24.
Dr. Stagliano will be traveling to Springfield with other area superintendents to meet with
state legislators in an attempt to find support for the Poverty Grant funding formula revision.
The Fieldcrest School District stands to lose $34,000 if the formula is not changed.
Other news
The board approved the establishing of a line of credit of $300,000 for the education fund and
$175,000 for operations and maintenance with Alpha Community Bank in Minonk. Stagliano said that
the district will only have to pay the interest of 3.75% on the actual money borrowed.
The board accepted the resignation of Eva Keller as secretary at Fieldcrest Elementary South and
appointed Kurt Barth as track coach at Fieldcrest East Middle School.
Personnel cuts made by Fieldcrest Board of Education
Janitorial
Howard Harms
John McAllister
Linda Bradbury
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Teachers aides
Kim Martin
Deneane Nuttall
Donna Hartzler
Jodi Gerjets
Danelle Smith
Julie Schmitt
Lisa Musser
Lisa Hurd
Sonja Ruestman
Jim Heimsoth
Sue Rients
Janet Ioerger
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Other
Derick Renz - Social Studies
Martha Metz - PE
Shirley Frederick - Title 1
Cari Schultz - First grade 1/2 time
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