Is the Patch going to report on cost cutting plans for the Lincoln Way district? There are rumors of cuts to the school day from 6 to 5 classes, extra fees for everything including a third year or science, and a lot more.

@BGresident:

Yes, we have a story planned for Friday on this. Let me stress that what's being talked about and passed around is not official, and in some cases, not even options that the district is thinking about.

Joe Vince
Local editor, Frankfort

This seems unlikely, LW requires 22 credits to graduate, a plan like this would require them to change the current graduation requirements.(5 classes x 4 years would only be 20 credits). I guess in this type of environment, anything is possible.

PLEASE move your story up because the emails are sure flying around. Citizen - according to the email the number of requirements goes down to 19. I am not happy about these possible changes and would LOVE to know the real story or the real options in front of the board of ed!!!

Yep, one of the proposed options is to change the class day to 6 period (5 classes and lunch) from 7. This means grad requirements would go to 19 instead of 22, possibly affecting how qualified/ready LW students could be for colleges. The 19 credit requirement would still meet most IL colleges and university requirements but definitely not all. And definitely not all colleges outside of IL. Other options are increasing text book fees, requiring all sport participants to pay $100 fee, increasing summer school and zero hour fees, etc. Can't wait to hear the public outrage on this one.

Everyone:

The D210 story will be running tomorrow. Clearly, this is a topic that needs

Also, take what you're reading in the e-mails with a grain of salt. Everything there is simply a possibility, not yet a formal proposal, let alone a done deal. And there are few of them that I was told aren't even possibilities. And I'm not trying to be coy by not saying what they are. I just don't want to say something inaccurate without having reviewed my interview notes.

Also, the Saturday meeting is a public workshop. This is not uncommon. It will then be presented at a board meeting.

By the way, I really appreciate everyone's interest and the fact that you're discussing these topics. It's great to have residents and parents engaged like this.

Joe Vince
Local editor, Frankfort

Everyone:

Here's the link to the article on the L-W School District cuts. http://frankfort.patch.com/articles/a-new-budget-reality-d210-board-will-talk-cuts-added-revenue-at-workshop

You can move your discussion over there (not that you can't stay here and talk, too). I'm curious to hear what everyone thinks about what Supt. Wyllie has to say. Also, leave questions that you might have. We'll keep following up. New Lenox local editor Michael Sewall will be attending Saturday's meeting, so we'll have plenty of coverage.

Joe Vince
Local editor, Frankfort

Can someone please explain how letting go of 35 teachers is only a $570,000 savings. The average teacher with benefits, on the low end, makes $40,000/yr. Shouldn't that be a $1,400,000 savings? Also, knowing they will target the more expensive ones regardless if they are good or not the savings will be more. What are the details for the $570,000 savings? If this $570,000 number isn't correct how did they come about the other savings numbers? Should this be left up to people who have no financial background. Either they don't know what they are doing or they do know. You decide. Joe, maybe you can find this out for the taxpayers as this sounds like fuzzy math to me.

@ED, read the full article and take a look at the power point before you throw stones.
So, @Ed are you trying to say that LW210 and Mokena and New lenox are all stealing?
Did you put your name on the ballot or are you one of them that sit behind your computer and critize?

The way the article reads, the 35 teachers @ $570,000 is a separate line item and I agree that the estimated savings is way too low and I would like to see how that number was derived. Also, it may be just me, but what is "cuts in onsumables"?

In these financial times, it is unfortunate the cuts that need to be made and justifiable. I would like to state that I would lean towards poor math skills before accusing people of theft. People really should have to at least post a real, honest first name before throwing accusations around without proof.

Thanks Joe, I look forward to seeing what you come up with regarding the details of the $570,000 savings. It just seems like these numbers are being thrown around and there is no detail to back them up, judging by what has been posted so far.

@Ed- your implication that ANY member of the school board is probably "stealing" the funds is dangerous! Do you have any reason or proof to suggest this? You also reference people "without credentials." What credentials would you like to see? All of the board members meet the requirements set forth by the state of Illinois to hold their seat.

Just finished listening to the Podcast. At the very end J. Murphy asks with a attitude ..."I want to know why Mr. Doyle is such a hero? Sean is part of the reason why we are in this position we are today! We are struggling with this!" J. Murphy needs to explain why Doyle is to blame, details please. Taxpayers deserve the truth.

I think the explanation to Ms. Murphy's comment seems obvious. Mr. Doyle is the only board member that has been there for a long period of time. It would appear that she is implying that he assisted in making the deficit. There is no "truth" involved, it is just the point if you file the timeline of the board and it's members, there may have been extra, unnecessary spending while the economy was good.

Kerri, Mr. Doyle was appointed in 2003. Mrs. Kenny was appointed in 1985. Why is she not blaming Kenny???? Certainly Mrs. Kenny has an explanation, she should she's been there long enough. As President and serving on the Finance Committee she should know why our district is in the worst financial shape its been in years. Talk about a fiasco.

All of this is so ridiculous it's not even funny. Anyone who attended last nights board meeting could clearly see that it was something out of a bad reality show, with J Murphy and S B as the star players. The fact of the matter is J Murphy spent WAY too much time avoiding the issue at hand and focusing way too much on the past. The past is just that, the past. We need to focus on the here and now and stop all of the finger pointing, it doesn't serve any purpose. We need to make it very clear to the board members that they are not to make any decision without investing the time, together, to review all of the information and make a decision based on what will help the district the best with as minimum amount of damage to our children's education, period. J Murphy, M Kenny and their pack need to stop all this infighting or ganging up on Sean Doyle and stick to the issues at hand. And by the way Mary Kenny was on the board during all of "Sean's" bad decision making and she was also one that went along with it as well, as so clearly pointed out by Sean Doyle at yesterday's meeting. Our board is divide and it is working against itself and therefore working against what they were elected to do, make educated, sound, without emotion decisions for the greater good of the community, period. We need a community committee whether Joy Murphy thinks so or not and no decision should be made this year, that much is clear!

UPDATE: Podcast is no longer on the district website.

I am just trying to be fair on both sides which most people don't seem able to do. I didn't Mr. Doyle created the ruin of our district, I just pointed out the one vote in which I totally disagreed with. I even voted for him the last election, though maybe I shouldn't admit that. :) There are just so many factors to consider instead of pointing fingers. That is my point.

Joe, any idea if they can stop a citizen from going to a meeting and recording the meeting or videotaping the meeting?.
Seems to me that they would not be able to stop that if someone wanted to do this...

Stick to what is valid. Mary Kenny and Joy Murphy have no right running that board and they clearly have no right running the financial committee. The fact that Joy can't answer a single financial question without referring to the outside guy, that our tax dollars pay for, is sad. These people are in charge of our money and a lot of it. They are making bad decisions against public outcry without care or regard. They have already made up their minds to close a school that it clearly present in the faces of Joy Murphy, Mary Kenny, Stacy and George, they are just going through the formalities to appease the public. If we don't stand up together as a community and put a stop to them who knows what further damage they are going to do. The simple fact is the economy sucks and it isn't getting better, there are some very tough decisions to be made and Mary Kenny, Joy Murphy, Stacy and George are not the right people in place to be making those decisions. They have proven that over and over with their carelessness. Examples, hiring a Superintendent without ever posting or interviewing a single person even though Pain left 5 months earlier, hiring back a board member without taking the time to interview all of the candidates and making an educated decision after doing so. And now making a haste decision like closing the school without taking the time to CAREFULLY review and analyze all of the information before making a decision.

BWM. great idea. Maybe we can get Channel 6 there :)

@Smith......RELAX you sound like your going to have a nervous breakdown.
There is alot of games going on not just with the above mentioned board members but with Mr. Doyle being a master manipulator and entertaining his audience at every meeting....he doesn't impress me. I haven't heard him come up with one act to show he cares about kids....actually I think it may be a case of gavel with drawals.
@Smith you sound like one of his followers...

I am one of his followers! If I had to chose between your favorites or Doyle I chose him every time. I am not the one that needs to calm down, you are. Every single posting that you have ever made has either been to call out people for hiding behind their "names" where you seem to live so comfortably or to rip on anyone that doesn't back you and your ridiculous rants that having nothing to do with issues at hand but more to do with ripping on people because in the big picture of things you have nothing important to contribute to the conversation, you are anything but "informed". Mr Doyle has been the only one apposed to the stupidity of this board and I for one commend him for standing his ground. He is not just going to roll over like Mary Kenny and Joy Murphy would like him to do so they can continue to abuse our tax dollars by their careless decision making! I would love it if someone would video tape one board meeting and post it on the news, maybe then "informed" would finally see what everyone who actually attends the board meetings see. The fact that Joy Murphy and the financial committee in unwilling to move their meeting to a time when the rest of the world would be able to attend is just another point in my favor of their carelessness. And yes thank you "Are you kidding me" I almost overlooked their carelessness once again in hiring the "Asst Super". Well informed what's your thoughts and opinions about that? Anything productive? Probably not.

Thank goodness all that wasted time Joy Murphy put in in the last few board meetings that we were finally able to resolve the issue of when we should have parent/teacher conferences and Thanksgiving break. Boy I am so glad that we wasted precious minutes away from something so trivial as closing a school to get that setting, I'm sure they will all be able to sleep better now knowing that they were able to accomplish that! Thoughts "informed"?

Really informed???? Last night Mr. Doyle had more "followers" than Kenny, Borgens, and Murphy. I think we, YES followers as you put it have you outnumbered now. We were really entertained last night by Murphy and Borgens. Wonder who called the poor tech guys and had them remove the Podcast? So much for TRANSPARENCY Mrs. Murphy.

@Are you kidding me? and @Smith - You guys are giving Murphy alot of credit.
It sounds to me that Doyle just likes to hear himself talk and he should have spent more time keeping track of finances....if the other board members say white Doyle says BLACK.....if the other board members say its sunny Doyle says it's cloudy.....if the other board members say it's snowing he says it's raining....if the other board members say it's purple Doyle says it's green. Get my drift....

Borgens did a wonderful job last night. Mary Kenny was super duper. We missed Lenz and those awesome looks that she gives Mr . Doyle when he is challenging their every last word.

@Smith it sounds like you attend board meetings for amusement. If you don't like hearing the board discuss issues on the agenda then don't go...why have a board meeting if they don't discuss issues. You don't complain when Sean holds up all progress on any subject by pontificating. Sean can discuss issues on anything he wants, but the other board members can't...I believe that is a double standard.
Talk about biased.....

@Mary- I was not threatening anyone. In fact, your comment seems threatening itself. If Ed was unclear on my comment to him, I will answer him directly. No need to speak for anyone but yourself.

I understand that parents (including myself) do not want to see ANY school closed. We do not want class sizes to increase, we do not want 1/2 day kindergarten, we do not want teachers to lose their jobs, and we do not want our taxes raised. BUT honestly, something has to give. We will not see another housing boom for many years to come. Placing blame for this mess is mute and pointless. It does not change the fact that our district is in the red. We can blame the old board, the new board, Mr. Pain......how does this fix the problem?? It doesn't. Not everyone will be happy with whatever happens. Are the homeowners of this community ready to pay higher taxes so things can remain the same??? I am not sure if I am. I think that is only a temporary fix for a year or 2, then what?? I have the utmost respect for Ms. Rains, and believe she will do what she thinks is best for the district with the least impact on our children. I also think that people of 161 need to think about what they are willing to sacrafice......a school or 2, higher class sizes, higher taxes, etc. Sadly, saying neither isn't an option.

Well said taxpayer.

Joe, can you find out why the Podcast from the 25th was removed? and when it will be posted for taxpayers/parents to listen too?? Thank you,

Hello from Mokena 159. We went through all of this beginning two and a half years ago and all we heard was how we needed to emulate 161 and their finances. It just goes to show how everyone is in the same boat. It is just that 159 is a little ahead of you in the rapids. 159 is through most of it now and although it has been painful, it is now going in the right direction. We have a new board, a new superintendent, we are looking at every expenditure and we have had to make serious painful cuts. The state did this to us all and we all must suffer through the incompetence of the State government. Good luck 161...then 122... then 157c... then 210... Be kind to one another and do what is best for the whole LW area.

Joe, the Podcast was up yesterday as I mentioned above, then removed. Looking forward to what you find out.. Thanks for your help!

So how many of you blogging here were at the meeting last night? Well I was and I thought it was a great meeting!!! I felt that we had the chance to speak our peace and ideas. I think we all agree that the board the other night were acting like children on a playground and all I can say is that I hope they can move past it to make the right decision. It was brought to our attention last night that they are looking at a 3 year plan. So they will make some decision in February and then evaluate it over the next school year and see what more needs to be done. Unfortunately, using only one model will not result in enough money to cover the 2.5 million needed. A lot of us just asked for the streaming of the current model to be considered first then maybe in one year see if the need to close a school is there. At least by then it might be a less bitter pill to swallow. No one likes change and it is easier to go from a tight budget to spending big than the reverse, but it needs to be done!! The economy is crap and we all know it! Let's just hope they can make a sound decision for our children's future!