Board Approves Cutting 22 D161 Teachers; Raises Club, Band and Sports Fees

Because of decreasing enrollment, the Summit Hill school district board reduced its workforce, honorably dismissing teachers. The board also raised fees for clubs, band and sports at Wednesday's meeting to help with the district's bottom line.

CORRECTION: An early version of this story listed the wrong fee amount for clubs. It has been changed to the correct amount, $30. For the first time in its history, the Summit Hill School District 161 board of education approved the honorable dismissal of 22 teachers at its Wednesday meeting as part of an overall staff reduction in the district. The dismissals come as the district's student enrollment is projected to decrease and the board needs to cut more than $3 million from the D161 budget over the next three years. No tenured teachers were let go by the district, Supt. Barb Rains said, adding that a list of eliminated teachers would not be released in accordance with board policy. Rains said she would provide Patch with a full list of…

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UPDATE: D161 Board Will Vote Again to Close Mary Drew

The Summit Hill school district board has set a special meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 28, after a grievance was filed, claiming the public wasn't properly told that the board would be discussing closing the elementary school at last week's meeting.

The board of education for Summit Hill School District 161 will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the district offices redo its vote concerning the closing of Mary Drew Elementary School, said board President Mary Kenny on Sunday. A community member filed a grievance Friday that the board didn't sufficiently notify the public that it would be taking action to close the school at its Feb. 22 meeting, Kenny said. The closing was included under the "Planning for the Future" agenda item at last week's meeting, where board members voted to shutter the school next school year. READ: D161 Board Votes to Close Mary Drew Elementary School Although board members can discuss items that aren't on the agenda during a public …

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Connie

10:21 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012

We can leave all the comments we want and they are great, but please make it a point no matter what school you are from to come to this meeting tomorrow. Trust me, it isn't just about MD, it is about every school in this district. All kids will be affected and all schools will be as well. Come and hear what this board has to say, and what the community has to say. I just hope the board truly …   more ›

UPDATED: D161 Board Votes to Close Mary Drew Elementary School

After a fierce debate among members, the Summit Hill school board approved closing the elementary school for 2012-13 in a 4-3 vote.

Only a couple hours after Mary Drew Elementary School students gave presentations before its members, the Summit Hill School District 161 board voted 4-3 to close the school as part of its ongoing budget-cutting process. Two weeks ago, the board changed course with its three-year financial plan, voting to keep the full-day kindergarten program after deciding to drop it during a budget workshop earlier this month. After the vote, board president Mary Kenny asked that discussion concerning the possibility of closing one to two district schools in the 2012-13 school year be put on the agenda for the Wednesday, Feb. 22, meeting. Board members Sean William Doyle, George Perros and Stacey Borgens voted against the closing, saying more time and …

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Serioulsy?

5:13 pm on Tuesday, February 28, 2012

So, what are the class size maximums? Are they the ones presented on the model (25 for 1st & 2nd and 27 for 3rd & 4th) or were those what they were going to raise them up to if they didn't close a school?   more ›

VIDEO: What's Ahead for D210? Wyllie Looks at the District's Next Steps

The Lincoln-Way superintendent talks about what the district needs to do to overcome its financial challenges.

Recently, Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Supt. Lawrence Wyllie sat down with Patch for a series of video Q&As--with some of the questions provided by Patch readers--about the financial challenges facing the district.  WATCH: Why Wasn't Closing L-W West Considered? In today's segment, Wyllie explains what's ahead for the district, discussing what the board has already done and what questions still need to be answered. WATCH: What About Wage Freezes or Pay Cuts for the Superintendent and Administrators? Miss one of the previous videos from this week? Here's what was discussed: Wyllie's first video question dealt with closing Lincoln-Way West High School and why it wasn't an option the district's board of education has looked at. Part …

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Paul Dailing

7:59 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012

Thanks, Jane. However, Joe Vince of Frankfort Patch is the guy behind all of these.   more ›

VIDEO: D210 Board Hasn't Made Up Its Mind on Budget, Supt. Says

Some Lincoln-Way residents believe the district's board of education has already decided its course of action in dealing with D210 finances. But Supt. Lawrence Wyllie says that isn't so in the fourth part of Patch's video interview with him.

Recently, Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Supt. Lawrence Wyllie sat down with Patch for a series of video Q&As--with some of the questions provided by Patch readers--about the financial challenges facing the district. WATCH: Why Wasn't Closing L-W West Considered? In today's segment, Wyllie responds to D210 residents who believe the board has already decided what it's going to do when it comes to developing new revenue streams and making budget cuts. Tomorrow, the video series ends with the superintendent outlining the districts financial goals and obstacles in the years to come. WATCH: What About Wage Freezes or Pay Cuts for the Superintendent and Administrators? Wyllie's first video question dealt with closing Lincoln-Way West High …

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VIDEO: Referendum Was Never Considered for D210

In the third of Patch's video interviews, Supt. Lawrence Wyllie explains that the district needs to live within its means, which is why a referendum wasn't an option at this time.

Recently, Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Supt. Lawrence Wyllie sat down with Patch for a series of video Q&As--with some of the questions provided by Patch readers--about the financial challenges facing the district.  WATCH: Why Wasn't Closing L-W West Considered? In today's segment, Wyllie talks about why a referendum wasn't one of the options on the table during his presentation of solutions to the district's budget issues.  Tomorrow, the superintendent will discuss whether the board has already made up its mind when it comes to how it's going to handle creating new revenue streams and making cuts. WATCH: What About Wage Freezes or Pay Cuts for the Superintendent and Administrators? Wyllie's first video question dealt with closing …

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VIDEO: Wyllie Talks About Administrators, Wage Freezes and Pay Cuts

The D210 superintendent answers a reader question in the second of Patch's video interview on the district's budget issues.

Recently, Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Supt. Lawrence Wyllie sat down with Patch for a series of video Q&As--with some of the questions provided by Patch readers--about the financial challenges facing the district.  WATCH: The First Part of Patch's Video Interviews With Wyllie In today's segment, Wyllie answers this reader question: What's the possibility of instituting wage freezes or pay cuts for the superintendent and other district administrators?  Tomorrow, the superintendent will discuss why a referendum wasn't considered as a solution to deal with the district's budget issues. VOTE: Are You Scared for Your Kids' L-W Education? Wyllie's first video question dealt with closing Lincoln-Way West High School and why it wasn't an …

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Get the Facts

8:36 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Many of the positions needed in today's schools - due to the needs of students and federal red tape - (teaching assitants, campus monitors, additional office staff) do not require teaching degrees. Today's school looks nothing like the school from "years ago".   more ›

VIDEO: D210 Superintendent Explains Why Closing L-W West Isn't an Option

In the first in a series of video segments, Supt. Lawrence Wyllie answers questions about the budget issues affecting the district.

Recently, Lincoln-Way High School District 210 Supt. Lawrence Wyllie sat down with Patch for a series of video Q&As--with some of the questions provided by Patch readers--about the financial challenges facing the district.  READ: Superintendent Lays Out Options to Balance D210 Budget In today's question, Wyllie explains why the district isn't considering closing Lincoln-Way West High School, an option some parents and residents thought should be looked at.  Tomorrow, the superintendent will answer if wage freezes or pay cuts are a possibility for administrators and himself. READ: D210 Equalizes Summer School, Zero Hour Fees

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Editor's Notebook

D161 Parents, Residents Prove Why Politics Work Best When Local

Last week's public forum to gather ideas concerning Summit Hill's budget cuts was an example of what happens when people come together to find solutions.

How does that saying go? All politics is local? It's something that gets lost when we're in the midst of the boisterous excesses of a national presidential campaign. But last week, at a public forum to discuss the Summit Hill District 161 cuts, I witnessed an example of that adage in action as more than 30 district parents and residents hashed out ideas and vented frustration over finding ways eliminate a $2.5 million shortfall in the 2012-13 budget. This wasn't about guys with names like Newt and Mitt and Rick and Ron. This night was about Jim Olsen and his brother-in-law, Brian Mapeli. It was about Jen Vargas and the other Jen Vargas, who is a mother of five and president of the Athletic Boosters for Summit Hill Junior High and Hilda …

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VOTE: Are You Scared for Your Kids' L-W Education?

Faced with difficult economic situations, the school districts around the Lincoln-Way area are facing tough decisions when it comes to the future. Staff cuts, increased fees and closing schools could be options. What could that mean for students?

The recession. Reduced property tax revenues because of a bursting housing bubble. Disappearing state aid. The past few years have been a perfect economic storm for the school districts in the Lincoln-Way area, a storm that has challenged their boards of education and administrators to maintain the same high quality education for students with fewer funds.   Naturally, parents in these districts are concerned and have questions. How will possible cuts or layoffs affect a student's education? What will this mean for extra-curricular activities? What can a parent do to ensure his or her child gets the best schooling possibility? YOUR TURN! Take our poll and tell us your thoughts about your children's future in the Lincoln-Way school systems …

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