District 159's Board of Education Will Try for Another Referendum, but Amount is Still Unclear

The District 159 Board of Education voted during its regular meeting Wednesday night in favor of a referendum for the April ballot, but Mokena residents will have to wait a little longer to find out how much of a tax increase the board will seek.

"As a person who supports a third referendum, (I think) it doesn't send a clear message to the community," resident Mark Berardelli said after the vote.

The board put off deciding on a dollar amount after board member John Troy, who said he supports a referendum, expressed a desire for more information on the proposed cuts to the district's budget. Earlier in the evening, Lawrence Heidemann, a financial consultant to the district, had presented several scenarios on how the district could reduce its deficit, including varying combinations of a 29-cent increase per equalized assessed valuation, administrative pay freezes, cuts to personnel and the closing of Mokena Intermediate School. 

Troy initially proposed the vote be postponed. Board member Anthony Bruozas agreed and questioned why the budget cuts did not include reductions in administration.

"I don't see anything, and I have no faith that we are ever going to see cuts to administration," he said.

Superintendent Karen Perry said the board could vote on whether to pursue a referendum, but could discuss later what the amount of the referendum would be. 

Board Vice President Kathy Moore said the decision on whether to pursue a referendum needed to be made soon so the committee could have time "to get moving" on it. 

A motion to table the referendum motion failed 4-3. Bruozas, Troy and Denise Falbo voted in favor. The original motion to pursue a referendum was approved 6-1. Bruozas voted against it.

Last February, the board placed a 48-cent per $100 equalized assessed valuation on the ballot. After it was voted down by residents, the board pursued a 29-cent increase in November, which was also defeated.

The board also tabled action on budget cuts until further discussion has taken place. The items on the agenda included cuts to enrichment testing, cuts to transportation, charging for transportation and cuts to extracurriculars.

Bruozas asked the board to table the transportation measure.

"It is extremely reckless to eliminate busing without consulting safety experts," he said.

Falbo said she didn't support either of the transportation options.

"I don't think it's fair with the impact on so many people," she said. 

Bruozas also spoke out against cuts to extracurriculars.

"I don't see why these are up and cuts that don't affect administration are not," he said. "This should be voted down with a strong 'no'"

After the meeting, Board President Tim King said he was not in favor of cutting administrators.

"There are a lot of other things we need to do before we get to that," he said.

King said the tabled measures would be discussed at a special board meeting on Dec. 13.