The nearly half a year the State of Illinois has gone without a budget has cast a cloud of anxiety over a bulk of Illinois institutions.
While being one of the more financially stable school districts in the area, Knoxville District 202 is looking ahead to actions they’ll need to take if the impasse persists or if the eventual budget makes hacks to education.
For one, Superintendent Steve Wilder tells WGIL that if the board goes ahead with selling $300,000 in working cash bonds to install air conditioning at Mable Woolsey Elementary they would have to do it by the end of February.
“We’re probably going to drag out feet on that until the end of February until we either get clear cut direction on that or we have to make our best guess.”
And with this being the final year of the teacher’s union contract Wilder says the budget wars in the state could effect negotiations.
The language on day to day operations likely wouldn’t have an effect on the district’s budget but salary and length of the contract could.
Contract talks will begin this spring.
“I think ideally we’d like to get it done before teachers leave for the summer,” says Wilder. “That way if there are things the teacher’s association has things they want to talk to the membership about they’re available, they’re right there.”
Wilder adds that he’s always held the philosophy that “we need to treat our staff as fairly as we can” but the district must “live with in it’s means”.
