By HOI ABC
NORMAL – The Unit 5 School Board will vote next week on staff recommendations to cut programs and staff, part of a plan to reduce massive deficits in the district’s education fund.
A longer-term solution, to be decided later by the board, is to ask voters for a property tax increase to overcome education fund deficits that are projected to expand from $14 million next fiscal year to $32.5 million in fiscal year 2027.
At a special board meeting Wednesday night, Superintendent Kristen Weikle recommended about $2.2 million in reductions including cutting 5th grade band and orchestra, 17 fewer elementary class sections, and elimination of 8th grade foreign language programs.
Weikle recommends reducing class sizes at the junior highs and high schools. The board will consider staff reductions, including eight junior high teaching jobs, and two administrative positions.
“I know it’s certainly not pleasant to think about reductions and not having opportunities, but the alternative is equally unpleasant in thinking about our deficit continuing to grow,” said Weikle.
The superintendent noted the district’s tax rate of $2.72 per $100 of assessed valuation has increased only 10 cents from $2.62 over the past 39 years.
Unit 5 has been borrowing for working cash in recent years, but school leaders said that’s only a band-aid approach.
Board member Barry Hitchins challenged the community to support a tax hike referendum or else programs on the chopping block are not coming back.
“We will need a referendum at some point,” said Hitchins.
“We can not keep our property tax rate for the education fund at $2.72 and be viable long-term,” Hitchins added.
Board member Jeremy DeHaai said the proposed spending cuts are a good first step, but they can not be the final step.
Board members are expected to vote on the cost-cutting recommendations at next Wednesday’s regular board session.
