Unit 5 School Superintendent Kristen Weikle gave her “informational speech” regarding the districts referendum asking for an additional $20 million annually again at Wednesday night’s board meeting.
When Weikle begins this speech she always begins with items the district offers that other districts don’t. Specifically she talks about;
- Elementary Students are offered; daily P.E. classes, music classes twice a week, art classes once a week, hands on learning opportunities and 5th grade band & orchestra.
- Secondary students are offered a model extensive academic curriculum that includes honor courses, 25 dual credit courses, 18 AP courses, an entrepreneur program, an associate’s degree in computer science, a seal of Biliteracy and STEM designation on transcripts, along with numerous co-curriculars and extracurriculars.
No doubt these are wonderful things. But are they necessary things? Apparently other school districts do not think so. Perhaps other school districts live within their means. Perhaps these are the first cuts Unit 5 needs to make.
Unit 5 has failed to address its budget problem for years. It has borrowed funds for operational purposes for several years and in doing so mortgaged its future.
Now the future is here and the district is asking taxpayers to bail them out to the tune of $20 Million a year.
Did Unit 5 seriously consider a moderate approach of cutting $10 million from its annual budget and asking for $10 million more each year? No. There is no real indication that it did.
Instead the district whines about having to cut $2 million in 2022.
When you may need to cut $20 million to balance a budget and complain about only cutting $2 million it shows your refusal to address the magnitude of the problem you created and face it head on.
Unit 5 has made its bed. Come November 9th we will see if it has to lie in it.
