Beecher 200-U Tries Again
By Jeff Vorva
Let’s try it again.
The Beecher District 200-U referendum, to try to ease a $1 million shortfall, failed last June and Superintendent Jack Gaham is in the process of making painful cut recommendations to the board.
He is ready to make even more suggestions – including only allowing eighth grade teams at the junior high level and only varsity teams at the high school level, doubling registration fees, and increasing athletic fees.
But all that doesn’t have to happen, as he is taking another swing at a referendum on the April 4 ballot. Instead of a 5.75 percent referedum rate, he is seeking a 5.35 percent rate that would cost taxpayers roughly a dollar a day more.
“I’ll get us in the black,” Gaham said. “I have no doubt about it. I’ll get you in the black, folks. Now, whether that black is April 4 or that black is initial cuts, it’s not my decision.”
While he said that by law he is not allowed to tell voters how to vote, Gaham is able to throw out some facts and figures on how he would have to get into the black if the referendum fails.
“It makes me – I get it – the bad guy,” he said at the February 13 board meeting. “It is me being the bad guy. It is also me being the bad guy when I tell you what else is on the chopping block if (the referendum on April 4) gives me a certain result.”
Since June, the board either approved or discussed the elimination of Prairie State dual course and advanced placement reimbursements, adding a technology fee, increasing sports fees, not replacing an elementary school art teacher and general education teacher, eliminating freshman sports, and other decisions that will result in $333,000 of savings.
“I need to get to a million,” Gaham said. “I am a very far way off.”
The next round of potential cuts includes all extracurricular programming and classes over the summer being eliminated.
Budgets will be cut another 10 percent.
An art teaching position in the high school, currently being manned by a substitute teacher, will be eliminated.
Registration fees will be doubled.
All sports levels except high school varsity and eighth grade will be axed.
I told you I need a million bucks, and I found $700,000,” Gaham said. “It’s ugly, but I found you $700,000. I’m 2/3rds of the way there. There’s nothing else I can cut, folks.”
He said he is staying away from cutting current teachers.
“I said this in June, and I’ll say it now, this is not the fault of the board, and it’s not the fault of the community,” he said of the need for money. “But sooner or later it catches up with you, and it’s caught up with 200-U.”
It will make Gaham’s life – and the life of the students and staff – easier if the public will side with the school on the referendum this time around.
“These are not threats, folks, I’m telling you the truth,” he said. “I wish I could come up here and give you a wonderful presentation.”
4 Comments
Illinois News
Classifieds
Weekly Farmers Markets
Spread the loveThis week at the local Farmers Markets: Beecher – Saturday, July 13, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 540 Oak Park Avenue; Peotone – Market in the Park, Tuesday, July 9, from 4-8 p.m., Peotone Park; Crete – Mondays, from 4-8 p.m., at Main and Exchange, held in conjunction with Classic Car…
Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care Offers Treatment to ALS Patients, Families
Spread the loveProgram sees 2,400 percent census increase during past seven years. June is National Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness month, and the ALS Association estimates the number of people living with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in the United States to be more than 30,000. This number fluctuates daily because every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed…
BJHS Fourth Quarter Honor Rolls Announced
Spread the loveBeecher Junior High School recently announced students named to its fourth quarter honor rolls. Congratulations to the following students! High Honors Sixth Grade: Domenick Anaclerio, Natalie Bonilla, Vince Bonomo, Kerrigan Cucio, Mackenzie Davis, Michael DeMase, Sophia Grutzius, Mason Haddon, Benjamin Jerkatis, Dario Jimenez, Emilie Johnston, Finley Lause, Mason Moore, Faith Napierkowski, Luna Nikolic,…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. The library will close at 4 p.m. on July 3 and 5, for the Beecher Fourth of July Festival and will be closed on July 4. Sign-up for our summer reading program! Patrons of all ages can win prizes for reading during the…
Beecher School Board Moving Meetings to Wednesdays
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Starting in July, Beecher District 200-U Board of Education meetings will be moved from Mondays to Wednesdays. The board voted on the change during its June 10 meeting. For the next school year, meetings will take place July 10, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13, December 11, January…
Golden Brew & Creamery Opens in Beecher
Spread the loveJust in time for summer! Beecher has a new business and just in time for residents to enjoy some delicious summer treats. Golden Brew & Creamery, 755 Penfield, held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Monday, June 10. They are open Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday…
Will County to Hold Healthy Lifestyle Pop-Up Event June 21
Spread the loveA “Healthy Lifestyle Event” will be held in Joliet to provide produce, vegetables, and healthcare resources on Friday, June 21, at All Nation Church of God, 507 Water Street. Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant is partnering with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, the Will County Health Department and Community Health Center,…
Beecher Got a Grant
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Even though Beecher officials didn’t put the Village Hall parking lot repairs on the top of their to-do list, they were given an offer that was hard to refuse. It will be done for free. Thus, plans are in the works to replace the parking lot and possibly the roadway…
Weekly Farmers Markets
Spread the loveThis week at the Local Farmers Markets: Beecher – Saturday, June 22 and July 13, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 540 Oak Park Avenue; Peotone – Market in the Park, Tuesday, July 9, from 4-8 p.m., Peotone Park; Crete – Mondays, from 4-8 p.m., at Main and Exchange, held in conjunction…
Beecher Police Blotter: June 3-6
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. On June 3, Blake Krueger, 30, of Momence, was stopped for a traffic violation and charged with adult use cannabis in a motor vehicle and having an expired registration. Two other occupants…
BHS Fourth Quarter Honor Rolls
Spread the loveBeecher High School recently announced students named to its fourth quarter honor rolls. Congratulations to the following students! High Honors Seniors: Quinton Allen, Alexis Barkus, Katelyn Bol, Adriana Cabrera, Tyler Cochrane, Sergio Delgado, Riley DeRoos, Nathan Diachenko, Julieta Dominguez, Ariana Fernandez, Giada Garza, Olivia Geringer-Spagnola, Caitlin Gill, Jack Hayhurst, Andrew Hering, Mihya Hernandez,…
Beecher Community Library News
Spread the loveCall the library at 708-946-9090 for programs that require registration. Sign up for the summer reading program! Patrons of all ages can win prizes for reading during the summer! Outdoor Used Book Sale: A number of used books are for sale at $1 each, on our front veranda, including children’s, juniors, teens, and…
Lightways Hospice/Serious Illness Care Helps Community Understand Advance Care Planning
Spread the loveGrant project funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH). Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care will join a nationwide project and host a community game event at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital Wallin Conference Center, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 24, to engage communities in important conversations about medical decision making. The…
Beecher Police Blotter: May 5 – 29
Spread the loveDisclaimer: Charges against each defendant are merely accusations, with all defendants presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. On May 5, Diego Garcia, 32, of Chicago, was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, possession of adult use cannabis in a…
This Week at the Farmers Markets
Spread the loveThis week at the Local Farmers Markets: Beecher – Saturday, June 22, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Peace Lutheran Church, 540 Oak Park Avenue; Peotone – Market in the Park, Tuesday, June 18, from 4-8 p.m., Peotone Park; Crete – Mondays, from 4-8 p.m., at Main and Exchange, held in conjunction with Classic Car…
How did we get to this point? I moved back to Beecher in 2018 and at that time 200U supposedly had plus 12 million dollars budget excess. I do not have children or grandchildren in the Beecher school system, so I did not pay much attention to the goings-on of District 200U. Likewise, I have heard accusations against certain board members and faculty, including the release of a Superintendent that seemed popular in the school system. Apparently some bad decisions have been made in the last 5 years. I would certainly like to hear opinions and thoughts as to why we are now in this situation.
Mr. Letterer here is a short video that explains how the district is only getting 64% of the money needed to educate children from the government. https://youtu.be/RVlt4WkqCq8 As Dr. Gaham stated this is an operating budget problem not a reserves problem. The amount in reserves could potentially be used as a bandaid to help keep the district afloat short term, it is not a long term fix to adress the problem. All of the cuts stated combined STILL don’t fully address the yearly deficit. It has nothing to do with mismanagement of funds and everything to do with inflation and underfunding. Reach out to Beecher 200u Superintendent Dr. Gaham as he would more that happy to answer your questions.
I do hope that we are doing the best we can to apply for every Federal/state grant possible yes I know grant writing is a pain it takes a lot of work it takes a lot of data we’re not in the best position because we aren’t super low income but I do hope we’re reaching out for every federal and state Grant possible to help close this shortfall and keep our Sports programs alive.
I don’t pretend to know all of the fine details of the school budget over the last decade, but I don’t think anyone currently serving holds any blame. I know the reserves were partially used towards new boilers in the elementary school, as the old ones were shot. The elementary school could use a new building frankly, and reserves would need to be strengthened for that.
I do know that the cost of everything is up everywhere. Labor, energy, technology, household staples, and we don’t live in a vacuum. It cost money to provide the technology, infrastructure and salaries to keep good teachers. I don’t want to lose any of the great teachers that we already have, to a neighboring district. Our kids deserve a quality education, with access to current and future technology, arts, music and athletics. Let our kids grow and thrive in a competitive world.
We invested in a needed Public Safety Building and we need to invest in our children’s education. With all the tax money spent by government, this is a cause that deserves our attention. I wish more often I was given the choice like this to vote on how my tax dollars were spent. More on our kids education and less on the hundreds of other pet projects our state has. The increase seems modest and worth the investment.
If we can’t support our kids education, I worry for the viability of our village and keeping our young families local going forward.