East Maine School District 63

1. If salaries were frozen, that is, the staff received the same annual pay next year as this year, the estimated approximate salary savings by employee group are as follows:

EMEA	$800,000
EMCMA	$68,000
EMTAA	$53,000
Administrators	$35,000
EMSPA	$33,000
Exempt ESC	$21,000
Total	$1,110,000

There would also be other related savings for retirement plan contributions that are based on a percentage of salary, as well as some insurance costs that are tied to salary. A pay freeze is subject to collective bargaining for most employees. The above number for the EMEA group excludes those employees participating in and eligible for salary increases under the retirement program provided for in the EMEA contract.
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2. Yes, it is not uncommon for school districts to have multiple year contracts for everything in it except the salaries, which are negotiated annually. In the case of our 4 unions, we would need to agree to open the salary portion of the contract only for renegotiation.
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3. Library clerks/assistants make it possible for the librarians to better perform their professional duties. They assist with all of the following to allow teacher/librarians to teach, implement programs and collaborate with teachers regarding curriculum:

a. Assist the staff in the use of print and non-print resources, procedures, care and repair of print and non-print materials.

b. Assist with book check/in check/out while librarians are teaching lessons and assisting students with appropriate reading level book selections.

c. Help to maintain library/media materials, records, and inventory by repairing books, entering new books into the computer system, running bar codes/spine labels to attach to books, covering books and stamp books to prepare for student check out, and running reports such as overdue notices.

d. Serve as a resource person to staff and students.

e. Assist in supervision of student aides.

f. Provide assistance to the staff/students in the use of library materials.

g. Assist the staff and students in the use of various software applications for research and developing keyboarding skills, how to access the Internet, online databases, and computer programs.

h. Support the staff and students with reading programs, such as guided reading.

i. Shelve books properly so they can correctly be located by teachers and students.
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4. District 63 is already a member of cooperatives for insurance. It belongs to the Education Benefits Cooperative (EBC) for health insurance and to the Collective Liability Insurance Cooperative (CLIC) for property, casualty, liability, workers' compensation and related insurance.
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5. This is possible, with most of the savings resulting from salary reductions. This would be similar to taking furlough days where staff members take days off without pay. There would also be savings in transportation, utility, and similar costs on those days. Reducing the number of days would require collective bargaining with employee groups to renegotiate the length of the school year.
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6. Student fees are set annually by the Board of Education. Currently there is a $35 per sport athletic participation fee and a $105 instrumental music fee. Students also pay a Universal Fee that supports extracurricular activities primarily by supporting staff extra-duty stipends. These fees are subject to fee waivers as provided by Illinois law.
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7. Closing a school is possible provided there is room in other schools to accommodate all of the children from the closed school. Even if we closed our smallest school, that would mean making room for more than 360 students and the programs necessary to educate them. This is a very unlikely option considering the lack of space in most of our schools.
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8. The food service program has two components. The first is revenue, which is associated with providing free and reduced price meals to students. This revenue is primarily from student meal payments and the federal government (under the National School Lunch Program - NSLP), but the State of Illinois also provides a small portion. A reduction in the number of free and reduced price meals served will reduce the reimbursement (revenue) to the district. The second component is the cost. The cost of the program is based on a per meal price, and any reduction in the number of meals served will reduce the cost. Generally speaking, meal costs are offset by the paid meals and reimbursements. The district can opt out of the NSLP and stop making meals available to all students. The district, however, will still be obligated to provide meals to those students eligible for free meals, but will no longer receive government reimbursement for the meals served. Approximately 55% of meals served during the school year were to students eligible for free meals. Back to Top

9. No, board members are not compensated for their service to the school district.
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10. The district is required to offer free and reduced price meals under the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP). The federal and state governments provide reimbursement to the district that currently covers the cost of the meals not paid by the students. If the district ceases to participate in the NSLP it is still obligated to provide meals to those students eligible for a free meal, however, no reimbursement would be provided.
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11. Fee waivers are required pursuant to State of Illinois law.
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12. This is allowed and would require a longer school day the remaining four days. The savings would come in the form of one less day per week of busing, food service, and utilities. A change to four day school weeks would require bargaining with employee groups.
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13. This is allowable but not very workable. The buildings would be without a principal at least 50% of the time plus any meeting time that took them out of the building. Our principals play a vital role in the education process as instructional leaders, building managers, disciplinarians, liaisons to parents and community members, supervisors of staff, etc.
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14. It is possible to eliminate bus transportation for regular education students. It is also possible to charge all regular education students for bus transportation. Transportation for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) is required at no cost if stipulated in an IEP.
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15. No.
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16. The house on the property adjacent to the ESC is used to store records. The storage of these records is required by law, some for as long as 60 years. Without the house, we would have to purchase other space for this purpose.
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17. TLC is a self-funded program. It does not use district funds.
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Questions #18 - #31

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Last Updated: 01-07-2011