March 30, 2010
BRISTOL — – Closing Bingham School, eliminating 21 full-time jobs and replacing dozens of veteran teachers with new hires will save the school system more than $1.6 million next year, Superintendent Philip Streifer told the finance board Monday night. However, that won’t be nearly enough to offset declining federal grants and state aid, soaring health […]
March 30, 2010
For much of the last two decades, Illinois schools have lurched from financial crisis to financial crisis, with no shortage of potential solutions floated through blue-ribbon panels, reform legislation, lawsuits and even a constitutional referendum. To date, the only clear winner has been inertia. Now with the state budget awash in red ink and Gov. Pat […]
March 30, 2010
Earlier this month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed cutting $1.2 billion in "school district central administration" to help balance the 2010-201 1 budget. But his definition of central administration is broad. According to Department of Finance officials, the governor wants total spending on the following areas reduced, on average, by 10 percent statewide: General administration: Central office expenses, […]
March 30, 2010
Simcoe County’s elementary teachers have a message for pa rents: Pay attention. In a series of radio ads, the Simcoe County Elementary Teachers’ Federation warns parents of cutbacks, including the likely elimination of the Reading Recovery program – which helps at-risk Grade 1 students to read. Other reductions could include special education teachers, English as a second […]
March 30, 2010
For the second time in about four months, a special education watchdog group picketed the Mansfield public schools’ administrative office Monday, braving pouring rain and heavy winds to protest the school system’s treatment of special education students. About 18 members of SPEDWatch, a Pepperell-based watchdog group, spent two hours marching around the South Common in […]
March 30, 2010
Leyden High School District 212, like other districts throughout Illinois, faces funding cuts proposed in Gov. Pat Quinn’s fiscal 2011 budget. "Next year, the governor’s proposed cuts could reduce our general state aid by $250,000 or more," Thomas Janeteas, Leyden’s chief financial officer and school board treasurer said. Quinn’s proposed budget slashes more than $2 […]
March 29, 2010
The region’s lowest-achieving schools can apply for a share of $61 million in federal stimulus funding awarded to the state Friday but will first need to commit to a series of reforms outlined by the U.S. Department of Education. The funds first will be used to help the state’s 64 schools identified as those with […]
March 29, 2010
The House this week approved HB 1369, the school finance act, but it was a vote that brought some legislators to tears. HB 1369 cuts $365 million in state funding for school districts statewide. According to the bill’s fiscal note, which explains the impact, the cut will result in a 6 percent drop in state […]
March 29, 2010
In February, Gov. Ed Rendell proposed giving Columbia Borough School District a $314,233 increase in state funding next year. Oops, make that $171,883. And School District of Lancaster? Forget about that $5.4 million hike you were promised. The actual number is $4.3 million. The Legislature is months away from debating possible cuts in Rendell’s school […]
March 29, 2010
The state of Missouri has over billed Medicaid by about $20.5million for administrative costs in schools associated with services for low-income students or those with disabilities, according to a federal audit released this week. Although the audit recommends Missouri refund that amount,it’s now up to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to […]