CAT Tracks for April 3, 2003 THE CAIRO CITIZEN REPORTS...

...on the CSD #1 Public Hearing (aka Bloodletting)...

The following article appeared in the April 3, 2003, edition of The Cairo Citizen:

Cairo School District proposing massive layoffs to trim budget

The Cairo School District No. One Board of Education is proposing cutting nearly 60 positions district wide which would save the district about $820,000 next year.

In a special public hearing Monday evening, Cairo School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Isom told the teachers and parents gathered that cutting the 58 positions "won't be easy" but the bottom line is "it's got to be done."

State law requires that school districts operate under a balanced budget, something Isom says the Cairo School District hasn't done for the past 10-15 years.

However, since Cairo requested and received approval for a Financial Oversight Panel, it is mandated that Cairo operates under a balanced budget.

"When looking at this years' figures, we see that we paid $7 million in salaries," Isom said. "Looking at next year's projected revenue, the district will be $839,000 in the red without the cuts.

"Calculating in the projected reductions in force and the building closures, we have an estimated savings of $250,000." Isom said.

The devastation is unimaginable but by the same token in order for the district to survive, to provide any education program for the students, the district has to live within a balanced budget, Isom explained.

In past years, according to Isom, the district has borrowed money, moved funds from one program to another, sometimes not legally, just to meet the payroll obligations.

"Our main objective, our main concern was to meet the payroll," Isom said. "But if you continue to move monies, use next year's revenue to meet this year's obligations, the eventually you will run out of money. This district is in a situation now that we have no where else to go."

Isom told those at the meeting that when the district requested the FOP in December, some thought it was a bad move.

"If we hadn't requested the FOP today (March 31) would have been our last day of school because we wouldn't have had the money to operate through the end of the school year," Isom said. "With the FOP came a $231,000 grant that helps us stay open and continue providing these students with an education."

Isom said there are districts in Illinois in worse shape financially than Cairo. "Our request for assistance was timely," Isom said. "This grant provided some relief for the district and its employees and now the state board of education is out of funds."

Of the 58 positions being considered for layoffs, approximately 21 are aides, four custodial positions, three secretarial positions, 28 certified positions and two administrative positions.

Isom said that the district intends to make recalls as money becomes available and as grants get funded. "However, we need you to understand with cuts this massive, not everyone will be recalled," Isom said.

"We did not want to go as far as we had to go, but by law, the district must have a balanced budget," Isom said. "These cuts will occur, we have no choice in the matter. If we want to save the district we have to cut costs. The reality is that sometimes we have to do painful things and this is one of those times."

The district didn't release any of the names that are being looked at for the reductions. Isom told everyone he intends to meet with each of the individuals personally and explain the situation in that particular case.

Other things being considered for cuts will be transportation costs, athletics and extra curricular activities.

Teachers voiced their concerns about classroom sizes, stating that state test scores will suffer for lack of one-on-one instruction time.

"Classroom sizes will be bigger, there is no way around that," Isom said. "But if that is what it takes for the district to survive, we must do that."

Isom said the district doesn't look lightly at any potential RIF — each position is important.

"We have to anticipate the worst case scenario," Isom said. "We are sincerely hoping that things will be much better than we are anticipating tonight."

Isom plans to meet with those individuals in the RIF by Thursday.