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Schools

District 229 Board Delays Vote on Teacher Layoffs

The board will decide on the issue March 29 after allowing more time for the teacher's union to consider a proposal.

A decision to approve or reject layoffs at Oak Lawn Community High School District 229 to stave off looming budget deficits was postponed by the district board of education Wednesday, March 16.

The board will decide on the layoffs at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 29 at 8 p.m., giving  enough time to consider a cost-saving proposal.

"It's the board's understanding that [the union] is going to vote on the proposal," said board president Stephen Trotto. "Hopefully at that time, they'll agree to the proposal and we won't have to have [a reduction in force]."

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Union President Kelly Rumel wasn't immediately available for comment after Wednesday's decision.

The board's decision came after a public hearing Wednesday night, where there was standing-room-only crowd in Oak Lawn High School's library. The board heard impassioned pleas from students and parents to reject the reduction in force. 

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Superintendent Michael Riordan said the district has been putting short-term budget cuts in place every year to keep deficits at bay, but it's time for a more permanent solution. The district has already decided to cut some , saving about $119,000, but a reduction in force could result in a $2 million savings, he said.

The options the district has to avoid deep budget gaps and potential bankruptcy down the line include 1) negotiating salary increases and other compensation with the union or 2) a reduction in force that would eliminate 33 teachers, starting with those with the least seniority, according to Riordan.

'All Sides Have to Come Together'

Approximately 13 people -- parents, students and one retired teacher -- spoke to the board protesting the layoffs.

The common theme seemed to be how important various teachers' impact has been on students -- and what would happen if those teachers were no longer at the school.

Lissette Magana, a 17-year-old senior, sported a t-shirt  to Wednesday's meeting that listed ten reasons why being in the band is cool. She donned the shirt in support of band director Paul Levy, who would apparently be one of the teachers laid off if the measure goes through.

"I just think that these cuts would have extremely serious effects on our community and our school," Magana said. "Maybe I just focused on Mr. Levy, our band director, but I look around and see so many amazing teachers who have impacted me over the years ... I know that freshmen and younger students deserve the same experiences I had."

Retired teacher Tom Dzurison taught at Oak Lawn for 32 years and said the board must figure out a way to keep the teachers and work with the union.

Before the hiring the board honored the award-winning speech team and "they're letting go of teachers they just commended," Dzurison pointed out.

Monica Dymit and Paul Mancillas, both parents of students at Oak Lawn agreed that the district should come up with a dollar amount to agree on with the union.

"To reach a solution, all sides have to work together," Mancillas added.

Board president Trotto and other board officials commended the parents and students who addressed the board and the ones who attended the meeting.

"You know, we have a good group of kids and a good group of parents," Trotto said. "I'm a parent and I have a kid at the school. It's very difficult being on the other side of the table because we look at the numbers every day and we see what the numbers are. The stark reality is, we're just not getting the money from the state and the federal government like we've been getting in past years. 

"So, you can't pay your bills if you don't have the money. That's the bottom line," he added. "And we've stretched out our hand; hopefully the union will stretch out their hand and shake in agreement. Hopefully, that will happen."

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