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More than 100 give feedback at first Our 89 community-engagement meeting
More than 100 people attended Community Consolidated School District 89’s first Our 89 community-engagement meeting on June 5. The participants in the meeting heard a presentation about the district’s current financial status, then participated in several activities to identify the group’s values and priorities for the district.
CCSD 89 will hold two more Our 89 community-engagement meetings: 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, and 9-11 a.m. Saturday, June 23. Both meetings will be held in Spartan Hall (the cafeteria) of Glen Crest Middle School, 725 Sheehan Avenue, Glen Ellyn.
Residents are welcome to attend any of the meetings, even if they were unable to attend on June 5. Both the June 19 and 23 meetings will cover the same topics, but they are scheduled at different times and days of the week to accommodate more schedules.
At the June 19 and 23 meetings, participants will have a chance to view the feedback provided at the first meeting. There will also be small-group work activities that will allow participants to give feedback on eliminating a deficit while maintaining high-quality schools.
Residents are encouraged, but not required, to RSVP for the June 19 or June 23 meetings at bit.ly/our89, via email at info@ccsd89.org, or by phone at (630) 545-3581. The RSVPs will help the district plan for seating in the room.
More information:
- Learn more about the Our 89 community-engagement work at: www.ccsd89.org/Our89
- Watch a video summary of the June 5 financial presentation by Superintendent Dr. Emily K. Tammaru at: https://youtu.be/G2rjnhxtzfw
Our 89 community engagement
In January 2018, Tammaru convened a Superintendent’s Finance Committee to examine the district’s financial status and priorities. Over three months, the committee analyzed the district’s financial position and planning, reviewed past cost-saving measures, and gave feedback on community priorities. The committee looked at the nearly $3 million in cuts the district has made since 2009, and examined how rising enrollment and increasing costs have created deficit budgets for the district.
The committee members determined that the district has made significant efforts over the last nine years to cut expenditures without directly affecting services to students. The district was able to weather some of those cuts because the district experienced a dip in enrollment from 2006 to 2012.
CCSD 89 enrollment has increased by 12.7 percent since 2012 and it is projected to grow an additional 11.9 percent in the next four years. At the same time, costs – particularly for contractual obligations such as transportation and insurance – have continued to increase.
In March, committee members presented their work to the Board of Education, including the committee’s conclusion that the district cannot continue to deficit spend because that action would have a negative long-term impact on the district’s financial health.
The committee recommended two possible paths for the Board:
- Option A: Increase revenues in order to maintain comprehensive, high-quality educational programming. CCSD 89 has not had an educational-rate increase since 1986. Increasing revenues would allow the district to avoid cuts to programs that directly impact students.
- Option B: Reduce programs and increase fees. The district would need to make about $1.2 million in cuts during the 2019-20 school year. These cuts could include reductions of: gifted services, band and orchestra, social work services, library staff, and full-day kindergarten. The cuts could also result in larger class sizes. The cuts could be more significant in subsequent years.
At the March meeting, the members of the Board of Education agreed that the district cannot continue to deficit spend. The Board of Education members asked the committee to begin a process of community engagement.
In March, most members of the Finance Committee agreed to stay on for the expanded Superintendent’s Community Engagement Committee.
After gathering feedback from residents, the Board of Education is expected to make a decision on the next steps at the August 20 board meeting.