Warrensburg-Latham Schools Overcome State Mandated Reduction Plan For Budget Stability

Oct 9, 2013 7:37 AM

Justafewyears ago, the Warrensburg-Latham School district faced large deficit spending patterns, and after adjusting their budget for several years, administrators feel they are on the right path.

Superintendent of Warrensburg-Latham Schools, Kristin Kendrick explains a few years ago, they had to put together a deficit reduction plan for the state of Illinois. She says that entailed how they planned to reduce their deficit spending long term while trying to predict what the state would provide them each year.

Kendrick says that was difficult because of the lack of predictability and continued reductions in funds provided year to year. She says they are receiving almost $1-million less in state funds from around six years ago.

It was just a few years ago, the district had to sit down and make some tough decisions. She explains when it came to time to evaluate critical positions, they analyzed each retirement or resignation to determine if each position should be filled, or if they could adjust their staff from within.

Last year, Administrators within the district took a voluntary pay freeze. Kendrick says they were fortunate to find ways to not have to make many cuts. Last month, the Warrensburg-Latham District adopted the FY 14 budget.