Question 7b

Kathleen Weiss Boyle -

To lower our OEPP, building and facilities upgrades and improvements should be planned, reviewed, and based on maintenance, immediate need, and forecasted need. There should be scheduled comprehensive reviews of District 219 Administration compensation from the top down, ensuring commensurate compensation for the job served.

Elana Jacobs -

Some of the cost saving measures would be to reduce some of the middle management, find ways to make buildings more energy efficient, and help insure that TIF money is spent on schools instead of corporate businesses. I will continually evaluate the OEPP and help look for savings in an equitable ways. At times the savings can be from other foundations and federal and university partnership so that financial investment is shared by other organizations.

Ross Sawyers -

Student experience is the most critical aspect of public education, any cuts should come from areas of the district budget that has the least impact on student experience. Programs that support lower income families, students with special needs, and food programs should be the last to see cuts.

Naema Abraham -

When I learned having a debt balance increased the amount of tax homeowners paid to the district, it was an easy decision to vote to pay off our debt. We need to continue to look for other opportunities to save our tax payers money...it is an all too common complaint we hear from our tax payers.

Irena Petryk -

If I was charged with implementing cost-saving measures to lower the OEPP, the first place I would look for these savings is expenditures on facilities upgrades.

Choosing to lower upgrade expenditures doesn’t indicate a belief that additions to our buildings are unnecessary or wasteful. Instead, it demonstrates an understanding that teachers and support staff are critical to student success. Attempting to save money by spending less on salaries or benefits for teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, social workers, security guards, and nurses — each of which perform a valuable service at our schools — will only hurt student outcomes in the long run. Focusing on upgrades also allows our district to preserve academic and extracurricular opportunities, which are essential for college and career readiness. Though the downscaling of facilities upgrades would certainly present challenges, it is my opinion that there would be fewer direct impacts on student achievement.

Joseph Nowik -

Great question!

The first place I looked was to eliminate the interest payments on our outstanding bonds that we now have paid off. Every interest dollar not paid out is an immediate saving to the district.

The next place is a reduction in utility costs. These costs are necessary, but by implementing energy saving initiatives like LED lighting, energy efficient heaters, better insulation, proximity and motion sensors, water flow regulators, solar panels… we can save costs on our utilities, lowering the OEPP without impacting curriculum. That is critical... without impacting curriculum and student services.

I would have a thorough review of all expenditures of non-educated related costs (procurement of office and maintenance supplies, as examples) in the district. Asking the question - What can be done to eliminate or reduce these expenses?

Also by reviewing and prioritizing the facilities master schedule we can push out some non critical projects spreading out their costs over more years reducing OEPP.

Richard Evonitz -

I was one of the voices on the District 219 Board advocating for the reduction of long-term debt. We have been able to do so, resulting in lower tax levies and saving property taxpayers millions of dollars in interest payments.