The Rock Island-Milan School District is facing a $4 million deficit for next school year. The board met last night to present possible reductions and there are two options on the table.
Option 1 includes $2 million in reserve funds and $2 million in cuts.
The cuts include -- one special education teacher, not replacing textbooks for next year and increasing class sizes by one. The class size increase could mean layoffs for up to nine teachers.
Option 2 includes $4 million in cuts, unlike Option 1, reserve funding would not be used. Dr. Mike Oberhaus, the Rock Island-Milan Superintendent, said Option 2 would be devastating.
It includes less funding for athletics, less funding for building supplies, cuts to custodial shifts and more job cuts overall.
Many Illinois school districts, like Rock Island-Milan, say they wouldn't be faced with such harsh cuts if state funding wasn't reduced year after year --
"If the financial landscape if Illinois doesn't change dramatically, further reductions of this magnitude may be required," said Dr. Oberhaus.
"It shows the pain that may come if the state doesn't remedy some of its funding in the near future."
The school board will make a decision on a budget option at the next meeting, which is on February 26.
