On January 30th
I will hold my annual financial forum at the elementary media center. At the forum I will discuss the financial
status of the district the impacts of reductions and the benefits of a county
wide 1% sales tax. Below I have listed
the reductions of the district the past three years and also the ways the
reductions have impacted the district.
Reduction of Expenses since 2010-2011
- Reduction
of 7 support staff
- Reduced
1.5 Administrators
- Reduction
of 19 certified staff
- $400,000
reduction in supplies/materials
- Reduced
one bus route and bus
- Outsourced
the Driver’s Education Program
- Contractual
Salary Negotiations with DEA
- No
Salary increase 2011-2012
- Soft
freeze 2012-2013- No increase to base salary
- Reduction
in contract salary 2013-2014
Elementary Impact
- Higher
class sizes in the lower elementary
- Less
Pre-K sections
- Removed
the Reading Recovery program
- Less
special education classes
- Reduction
in Summer School staff
- Less
extra academic support
- Teachers
spending more of their own money on books and supplies
- Special
programs effected
- One
PE teacher with aide
- Part
time Art teacher with aide
- Share
service with Music/Band
Jr./Sr. High Impact
- Moved
to traditional schedule
- 20
less electives
- 37
less sections
- Little
or no electives in core courses (Science, Math, English, Social Science)
- Reduced
Voc. Ed
- Reduced
Special Education Teacher
- Less
Administration
- Teachers
spending more of their own money on books and supplies
District Impact
- Reduction
in Transportation personnel and route
- Contractual
Salary Negotiations with DEA
- Drop
in Library programming due to reduction in faculty
- Future
Reductions
- Cut
programs, raise class size, reduce extra-curricular activities (sports
and organizations)
The Dakota School District
is no different than other small town school districts in the area. The district continues to have to reduce our
educational offerings, transportation, and other expenses that have an impact
on student achievement. Even though the
district continues to currently excel the long range educational impacts are
not known. The District now has to start
looking at ways to increase the revenue of the district. One way to increase this revenue is through
the passing of the 1% county wide sales tax.
What sets Dakota apart from other districts is the pride and dedication
that the school board, administration, faculty, staff, students, parents and
community have for the school district.
With the support of all of these individuals the district still remains
one of the elite in Northwestern Illinois.
Below are some ways that the Dakota School District has weathered and beaten
the storm to this point.
Dakota Pride
Still Elite in the Northwest
- Excelling
in the classrooms
- Adding
to Professional Development for the teachers
- Maintaining
and increasing test scores
- 2011
and 2012 Academic State recognition in the elementary
- Dakota
schools ranked 19th and 20th overall among the Rock
Valley Schools (115 schools).
- Dakota
Elementary ranked 7th among Rock Valley Elementary schools
- Dakota
Jr./Sr. High ranked 8th among Jr./Sr. High Schools in the Rock
River valley.
- Doing
more with less
- Less
failing grades at Jr./Sr. High
- College
Now program through HCC
- Technology
enhancements for tomorrow’s leaders
The District has in the past and will continue in the future
to provide superior student services. In
order to be successful the district needs to adapt to the students’ needs and
ability levels. The Dakota School
District is driven by a high standard of excellence. The district continues to prepare students to
make positive contributions in an ever changing world. The District’s overall goal is to continue to
build positive relationships with parents,
families and community members
in order to provide a strong support structure.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact any of the offices
in the district.
Mike Schiffman,
Superintendent
