D-26 Savings Leads To More Teachers, Lower Class Sizes

In efforts to restore low class sizes, is planning to hire five teachers for the coming school year. 

The state has made good on one of their $550,000 categorical payments, which will be used to fund the remaining 2004 alternative revenue source bond payments.

Auditors agreed that the district could fully fund remaining payments making committed revenue available to use to accelerate the reduction of class size. 

With a proposed purchase of copiers, the annual lease would be eliminated and will provide additional funding for more class size reduction.

The state has awarded Xerox of supplying copiers, with their bid being the lowest at $107,000. With state funds being used for bond payments and ending the lease on copiers, beginning fiscal year 2013, the administration has recommended hiring five teachers. 

The Board of Education will have to vote on final approval at the May 29 regular board meeting. 

According to the 2012-13 staffing plan, the average fifth-grade class size at Briargate would decrease from 33.7 to 25.3 students, and second-grade class would decrease from 31.5 to 21. Deer Path elementary third grade class size would drop by almost eight students, from 34.3 to 25.8. Their fourth grade class would see a similar decrease.  

Cary Junior High School sixth-grade class would see the smallest decrease, 32.8 to 29.8 students. 

A sixth position is also being considered, which would be an instructional technology teacher that would coach teachers and help students in the classroom. 

The district would have to hire from the teacher recall list, according to Illinois school code.