Schools

Bremen District 228 Candidates Answer: How Can the District Operate More Efficiently?

The first in a series of issue-based questions directed at the candidates for Bremen High School District 228.

Patch wants you prepared when you head to the polls April 5, or earlier. Patch will provide you with Bremen High School District 228 candidates' answers to a different questions that deal with the financial and educational issues facing school districts statewide.

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Today's question:

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How can the district operate more efficiently in tight financial times?

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In spite of outstanding progress in cutting discretionary spending and tightening sectioning and in accessing additional revenues in available grants and creative funding approaches, we must always be conscious of the fact that it is not OUR money but that of our stakeholders, entrusted to us to use for the education of our priceless youth.  Nevertheless, education “on the cheap” is “cheap education.”  And even in the “tightest” of times, you get what you pay for!  Education takes dollars and “sense.”

We can always continue to look to tighten our belt as we had done. It is an ongoing process. We continue to seek other sources of revenue (creative financing) and any forms of grants that are available. We continue to look and cut any discretionary spending possible. Cost continue to go up faster than revenue, resulting in deficit spending.

District 228 can always find creative ways to operate more efficiently, stretching the dollars that we receive or deploying them differently. That certainly has been the focus of the School Board, District administration, and the four building teams since 2007. As a result, District 228 has reduced the amount of its discretionary spending for three straight years, and has cut its overall tax rate every year since 2006. Being fiscally responsible is an ongoing effort.

The district should look at pretty much everything that isn't mandated by law.  Each and every area in our district should be examined to determine how we can operate more efficiently from class scheduling options to transportation, maintenance and extracurricular programs.


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