Balanced 202 Budget Reflects Goals And Is Easier to Understand

By Jennie Berkson

A balanced budget for the 2007-2008 school year presented in an easy-to-understand format was a source of pleasure for the members of the District 202 finance committee.

"It's much more approachable," remarked Board member Jane Colleton, echoing the sentiments of all present.

The committee, chaired by Board vice president Rachel Hayman and composed of all Board members, got a first look at the $65.8 million tentative budget for the 2007-2008 school year (FY 2008) at its meeting on July 9. It is also the first budget presented by Superintendent Eric Witherspoon since he joined the District last year.

"This budget is significant because it is the first balanced budget the district has had in years," Dr. Witherspoon said in his introductory letter to the budget packet. "Part of the reason for this is the hard decisions that prior Boards have made during the last four years."

Last year, the administration made a commitment to revise the format of the budget to make it easier to understand the expenses associated with each department and program. This year each department's purpose and programs are described with accompanying information about relevant salaries and other expenses. Other changes include lengthy and detailed narrative summaries of revenues and expenses, descriptions of the different funds, information about the District, including statistics and accomplishments, and a glossary of terms.

Along with a new format, Dr. Witherspoon had promised the Board the administration would take a "values-based" approach to budgeting beginning in FY 2008.

"This means we will maintain and protect programs for students and facilities," he said.

"This is a budget focused on students and their achievement. We need to live within our means while at the same time relate the budget back to goals that the Board has set."

Dr. Witherspoon cited the addition of a literacy coordinator and literacy coaches, as well as the continuation of existing programs such as Read 180, as examples of budget items related to the District's goals.

This year's budget also included the phase-in of the new Systems of Support program (SOS), a multi-year commitment for providing personalized support to raise achievement levels for all students. In addition, the budget provides for increased interventions to help students with behavior problems. A grants-writer/development position will be added this year, to provide assistance to the Evanston Township High School foundation and increase sources of revenue.

Operating funds - with revenues of $59,543,866 and expenses of $59,567,595 - comprise the bulk of the budget. The operating funds are Education, Operations and Maintenance, Transportation and Working Cash Funds. The majority of expenses in the operating funds is allocated to salaries (65 percent), fringe benefits (8 percent) and purchased services (9 percent). William Stafford, chief financial officer, said the most significant part of the fringe benefits is health insurance, projected to increase in cost by 15 percent next year.

Eighty percent of the District's revenue comes from property taxes. District 202, like all public school districts in Illinois, is subject to tax caps, which restrict the increase in each year's levy to either a flat 5 percent or the Illinois consumer price index (CPI), whichever is lower. The tax cap is 3.4 percent for the 2006 levy and 2.5 percent for the 2007 levy. According to the budget narrative, "because (the District's) fiscal year straddles both of these levies, the dollars available for this budget are a blend of these rates. What is clear is that the growth rate of dollars has decreased and that will make for hard decisions in the near future."

However pleased Board members may have been with the upcoming fiscal year's balanced budget, projections for future years provided more sobering information. Beginning in FY 2009, the District is projected to run deficits in the range of $500,000 to $2.4 million.

"The key issue is FY 2009," said Mr. Stafford. He added that if expenses could be trimmed sufficiently in that year, future deficits might be avoided. Mr. Stafford cited "position control and vacancy analysis" during FY 2008 as one way to control costs. "We have a significant number of upcoming retirements, which will give us opportunities to reduce positions," he said. The District will also focus on consolidation of functions and reorganizations as a way to trim expenses, he said.

The tentative budget is scheduled for approval on July 16. Budget hearings will take place on Sept. 10, with final budget approval slated for Sept. 24. Mr. Stafford said later in the summer the administration and Board members will also review the budget at meetings of community organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce and the City wards.

Daniels Appointed Interim Principal at Oakton

Dr. Hardy Murphy, superintendent of District 65, announced the appointment of Churchill Daniels as the interim principal of Oakton Elementary School, 436 Ridge Ave. He has served as vice principal at Oakton since 2004.

Beatrice Davis will assume the position of interim vice principal.

Early Childhood Educator Receives Kohl McCormick Award

kohl teacher Khadijat Enessy of the Infant Welfare Society of Evanston's Baby Toddler Nursery, 2200 Main St., said she was thrilled to be among the recipients of the prestigious Kohl McCormick Early Childhood Teaching Award for 2007.

Ms. Enessy, who has been teaching for the past 18 years, cares for a class of eight 15- to 24-month-old children. She said her typical day involves guiding the toddlers through everything from free play to field trips to art projects to diaper changes. Her teaching philosophy, she remarks, is, "Every child is capable of learning, and I must find a way to reach them and to help them reach their full potential."

As a Kohl McCormick Award recipient, she is one of the Chicagoland area's five finest early childhood educators and has received a personal cash award, a cash award for the Baby Toddler Nursery, a graduate-level course at the Erikson Institute in Chicago, a class field trip to the Kohl Children's Museum of Greater Chicago, and a hands-on learning classroom visit from the Kohl McCormick StoryBus. But Ms. Enessy, who is sure to get a hi-five from every child before he or she leaves at the end of the day, said that she is "just excited about the work that I do." In the photo above, Ms. Enessy is pictured reading to her students.

Tot Lots Revamped

Two parks were rededicated on June 30 by Ninth Ward Alderman Anjana Hansen: Sargent Park and Monroe Tot Lot. The $204,045 total construction expense was part of the City's capital improvement plan. Site amenities include children's playground equipment, edging and surfacing, benches, landscaping and paving. tot lots

Some park neighbors joined Ald. Hansen, left in photo above, as she cut the ribbon on playground equipment at Monroe Tot Lot, 1200 Monroe St. Alderman Hansen's children also enjoyed the festivities.

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