The number one Budget Assumption that the members of the Schools Board read and endorse each year when beginning budget preparation is, “The constraint of the tax cap will limit the amount of revenue available to the school district. Therefore, the School Board will honor the philosophy of presenting a budget that represents fiscal constraint balanced with the goals of maintaining a high quality program.”

Tax caps call for the highest level of scrutiny in all areas of the budget. The School Board and Administrative Team have been engaged in an on-going process of budgeting, purchasing, and cost containment that will use the taxpayer’s dollars in the most cost effective manner. Below are some examples of some of the cost saving measures that have been instituted in the most recent years and the estimated savings to the taxpayer.

Cost Saving Measure

Estimated Savings

INSURANCE

Cooperative purchasing with several other school districts for workmen’s compensation and property liability insurance.

$40,000 annually

FACILITY SAVINGS

Reduced the 2000 bond referendum request for identified necessary repairs and capital improvements.

$3,000,000

Delayed 2003 facility work at the Washburne School necessary to provide proper space for foreign language, music, and kinetic wellness.

$3,250,000

Developed an in-house maintenance program for mechanical, carpentry, locksmith, and annually electrical work.

$20,000-$50,000

Conducted an energy audit which resulted in a state grant for energy efficient lighting fixtures.

$65,000

Installed new computerized mechanical systems to manage energy usage in the schools, installed energy efficient windows in all buildings

$50,000 annually

Centralized cleaning supply purchasing process.

$20,000 -$25,000 annually

Joined a gas purchasing cooperative resulting in 20-25% reduction in cost

$15,000 annually

Collaborative relationship with the Park District and Village ($15,000-$20,000 per year) annually

$15,000-20,000

Park District uses our buildings and they provide grounds upkeep Village works with staff on traffic issues and provides cost effective materials, e.,g. salt, resurfacing of asphalt

  

Restructured communication systems and vendor relationships for cost efficiencies

$40,000 annually

PERSONNEL SAVINGS

Outsourced Business Office technology network estimated savings

$24,000

Changed Long Distance Service from Ameritech to SBC

$9,000 annually

Instituted a new salary schedule for buildings and grounds staff.

$33,000 annually

Through careful networking, the district is able to hire highly qualified staff cost effectively.

$60,000 annually

Froze K-4 building level administrative and secretarial staff while enrollment has increased between 30% and 40%

$240,000 annually

Reorganized the administrative team and increased their duties to avoid hiring new staff.

$80,000 annually

Business office has increased only one secretarial position while responding to 56% more students with accompanying parents, and staff.

$240,000

Eliminated teaching positions called for in the 1999-2003 Long Range Plan

$900,000 Total

  • Resource Facilitators
  • Science Facilitators were supported by WPS Foundation for two additional years
  • Math facilitators were delayed for two years
  • Three sections were not added at Skokie as planned
  • Kinetic Wellness teacher was not added at Washburne
  • Half-time Spanish teacher was reduced
  • $247,500
  • $135,000
  • $135,000
  • $270,000
  • $270,000
  • $45,000
  • $67,500

STAFF DEVELOPMENT

Creation of a Consortium of schools funded through the Joyce Foundation annually

$15,000

Staff development in the area of special education is cost shared through NSSED annually

$5,000

Work with other organizations to offer staff development for our teachers at no cost, annually i.e. Book Stall and Winnetka Alliance for Early Childhood. ($5,000)

$5,000

Teacher facilitated staff development at a reduced cost.

$15,000 annually

SUPPLIES

Replaced and updated copiers with new pooling cost program

$9,000 annually

Increase in school supplies held to 3 to 4% each year (resulting in less usage)while vendor costs in many cases have increased to 20%

  

Bulk paper purchasing in cooperation with 37 $15,000 other districts.

Realized cost savings in contracts due to effective negotiations and bidding process

$3,333,333
  • Technology lease
  • Bus Contract
  • Architectural Fees
  • Copiers
  • $74,000
  • $10,000 annually
  • $233,367

Savings through use of in house publications department and teacher made materials.

PROVIDING SERVICES COLLABORATIVELY

Provide special education services for our low incidence students in a cooperative manner.

$360,000

Provide a Before and After School Program in collaboration with the Park District at no cost to District 36

  

Purchase internet access through the New Trier

$60,000 annually

Total:

$8,860,367.00-$8,942,367.00