Belvidere PTO president: 'Too fast, too soon"

BELVIDERE - Tuesday night's curve ball by the Belvidere School Board has parents frustrated.

The board rejected the administrations plan to balance the budget, and asked them to present one that would include closing Perry and Kishwaukee elementary schools by next fall.

Many people in the Belvidere School District had seen the recommendation online and for the most part thought it was fair and that superintendent Michael Houselog did a good job, that's why many chose not to attend last night's board meeting.

"I was very frustrated and upset," said Perry Elementary School PTO president Jamie Effler.

So were most people who attended Tuesday night's school board meeting in Belvidere. 

They were completely caught off guard by the school board's desire to direct District 100 administrators to present a plan with even more cuts.

"And then all of a sudden, Perry and Kish are back on the chopping block, with three weeks to make a decision," said Effler.

Effler's children live near and attend Perry Elementary School.  In the past few years, the district has spent 700-thousnd dollars on improvements, an investment that might be washed away if the board votes to close the school.

"We're not exactly sure what school my kids will be attending in the fall," said Effler.

But the idea to close Perry and Kishwaukee elementary schools wasn't a part of superintendent Michael Houselog's initial recommendation, and doesn't change his min that his recommendation will work for district 100.

"We think it's a good one, there may be some give and take in it," said Houselog.

In fact, he didn't know the school board was considering closing the grade schools until hours before the meeting.

"Late in the afternoon on Tuesday, I became aware that there could be some discussion," said Houselog.

School board members have said that declining state funding and fear that pension costs will be shifted to local districts is what's prompting deeper cuts.

But Effler says it's not the right time to prepare for a doomsday that hasn't been forecasted yet.

"I think its too fast, too soon," said Effler.

While Houselog stands by his recommendation, he too fears any cuts they make now won't matter if the state shifts pension costs.

"The likely hood that it will be enough, still may not be enough," said Houselog.

Houselog has until March 1st to post the options the school board has directed him to do, to the district's website.

The board will make a decision at it's March 18th board meeting.