A committee of the Board of Education and Administrative Team held a special meeting on April 26 to discuss reorganization
plans for the district. In an attempt to resolve the school's budget deficit, the board is evaluating
11 different reorganization scenarios.
Some of the reorganization plans could result in the closing of buildings and an increase in class sizes.
Most likely, attendance centers would replace the present building arrangement in which students would
be grouped by grade rather than by geographical location. This poses the possibility that a building
may be closed in a community.
A community advisory committee is being formed that consists of teachers, school officials, and residents to help
review the available options for reorganization. The committee will be finalized after the May 10
special meeting.
Fieldcrest superintendent, Dr. Michael Stagliano stated that in the present configuration there is a duplication or redundancy of educational programs and procedures that can be consolidated in order to reduce costs and improve teaching and learning between and within grade levels.
Stagliano said that he would like to see
the 11 options whittled down to 3 by the advisory committee. He said that in no instance is any specific
building identified for closure. The main objective is to determine an option that will result in cost savings
to the school while minimizing the impact it would have on the communities. Stagliano said
that no decisions will be made prior to November on which option will be selected.
Declining EVA results in shortfall to Fieldcrest district
Making matters worse, Superintendent Stagliano reported that the Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV) or land values in the four counties comprising District 6 declined from $98,085,000 to
$96,757,000 which will result in $263,000 less in property tax revenue for school operations. This shortfall
is the difference between the amount of the levy passed in December 2003 and the actual extension received.
Stagliano said that the last time the school district collected what it asked for was in 1999.
Stagliano said that future decisions by the board of education will be bitter tasting in terms of
class sizes and less services, but will be necessary unless the state increases its funding or
property values go up. He said, "We are seriously in debt. Because we are on the financial
Watch List, we are mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education to balance the budget in 2004-2005 or a state oversight panel will do it for us."
