District 308 Still in the Dark About State Funding

When it comes to what revenues they can expect from the state for the 2011-12 school year, all officials know is they really don’t know.

“There are a lot of rumors, but we still don’t know what’s going,” said Tim Neubauer, assistant superintendent for business and finance. “It’s still just guessing games.”

Facing an uncertain funding gap, board members Monday night authorized the non-reemployment of about 30 first-, second- and third year, non-tenured teachers, and part-time, non-tenured teachers. Those staff members had been hired for one-year contracts to fill in for other staff members’ leave of absences, or hired until grant funding ran out.

“This is an annual procedure we’re required to do 45 days before the end of the school year,” said Associate Superintendent Todd Colvin. “Right now they’re honorably discharged.”

Those teachers could be rehired, once school officials know what funding they can expect from the state.

Last month, the to help staff the district’s schools for the 2011-12 school year to accommodate future growth. That approval will allow the district to hire 12 elementary school teachers, nine junior high school teachers, 12 high school teachers, one speech pathologist and four special education teachers.

School officials project in the coming school year there will be about 170 more students in the district’s junior high schools and 360 more students in the high schools.

By next month, school officials hope to have a clearer picture of what level the state will fund the district next school year.

“We are aware the state is supposed to take a summer recess as of May 31, so we hope they at least have something by then,” Neubauer said. “But it’s not above them to take a vacation and not complete their work.”