District 113 Gets Glimpse at 2012 Spending

With the end of the school year in sight, there were some thank you's in order as well as some big questions about what's to come for Township High School District 113.

On Monday night, the board of education heard an update on the fiscal 2012 and 2013 budgets. It also recognized some exceptional students and programming in the district for Deerfield and Highland Park High Schools.

Board member gave a report on the finance committee, which met earlier in the evening, about the budget proposals and noted that preliminary data would be available online starting Tuesday.

Smith said there would be $3.7 million in expenditure reductions that would result in a balanced budget for fiscal 2012.

"Those sacrifices are as far away from the classroom as possible,” he said. “We are pleased, although we know there are many questions still outstanding.”

Total  2012 expenditures are projected to be 2.38 percent higher, said Smith, who noted it was made clear the increase would occur if the did not pass during . Servicing bonds and interest will consume most of the increase, he said.

Additional expenditures include special education costs, teachers costs and health care costs, all of which are out of the committee’s control, Smith said. A 0.8 percent rise in teachers and health costs is significantly less than what a cost-of-living raise would have been, he explained.

13 seniors honored

The board also recognized 13 graduating seniors who are part of the College Bound Opportunities (CBO) program, an organization started in 2007 to assist first-generation college students achieve their goals with financial support and encouragement. CBO assigns one of its 90 mentors .

Cliff Bregstone, the organization’s founder, spoke to the and left them with some parting words.

“The most important thing you can do is keep in close touch with us, because we truly want to, and can, help you,” said Bregstone. “Don't be afraid if you have a problem--we all have problems.

"The greatest thing you can do is rely on us," he added. "I hope you all have dreams, and I hope your dream right now is going to college and graduating."

Bonnie Shlensky, a school board and CBO member, spoke emotionally about the first wave of CBO students to graduate from the University of Illinois on Saturday. One student will attend law school this fall, she said.

“We will not let [you] fail, through college, graduation and beyond,” Shlensky told the students at the meeting.

Also recognized were graduating student representatives to the school board, a Deerfield High School independent study that began this year and other achievements during the 2010-11 school year.

Spending approved

In other business, the board voted to trade in the three oldest school buses to purchase three 2012 models for the fleet, at a cost of $189,500.

Approval was also given to a $107,000 bid from Hardin Paving Services in Hillside to complete the Highland Park High School and Wolters Field parking lot and paving improvements. The total project, including contingencies and engineering, is not to exceed $130,000, said Barry Bolek, assistant superintendent for finance.