PMA sees improved financial picture, still predicts deficits

Rebecca Rusiecki, News Editor
December 4, 2012
Filed under News, School Board, Top Stories

At the November 27th Board of Education Committee of the Whole meeting, PMA representative Howard Crouse gave a presentation about the financial future of RB. The report not only discussed the budgets of previous years, but also how changes in student enrollment and teacher salaries would play a role... Read more »

Will the SWiM team stay afloat in this year’s board elections?

Rachael Kluba, Staff Reporter
October 23, 2012
Filed under News, School Board, Top Stories

School board members Matt Sinde, Mike Welch, and Dan Moon are up for reelection this year.  Will the SWiM team remain or will things change amongst the board? Sinde, Welch, and Moon campaigned together in the 2009 election, calling themselves the SWiM team in reference to each of their last names... Read more »

Chicago teachers’ strike: could it happen here?

Rachael Kluba, Staff Reporter
September 21, 2012
Filed under News, School Board, Top Stories

As many may know by now, the Chicago Public School System has recently undergone an eight-day teacher’s strike.  After a vote by their delegates, teachers just returned to classrooms on Wednesday.  Central issues around the strike involved pay raises, the length of the school day, and a new teacher’s... Read more »

Budget, Skinkis contract discussed at 9/11 board meeting

Lauren Grimaldi, Staff Reporter
September 17, 2012
Filed under News, School Board, Top Stories

On Tuesday September 11, RB’s Board of Education met to discuss the budget for the upcoming year, as well as staff salaries and goals for the current year. The board cut 9.3 FTE from the budget for 2012-2013.  1.0 FTE (full-time equivalency) represents one full staff member’s schedule, even... Read more »

Parents react to increased $200 pay to participate fee

Rachael Kluba, Staff Reporter
September 10, 2012
Filed under News

In continuing fallout from a failed operating fund referendum in 2011, RB’s pay to participate fee has hit a new high this school year. Where last year a student athlete would have paid $75 to participate on a sport, this year the fee has jumped to $200 per sport. In addition, certain clubs now... Read more »

How did RB end up with a budget surplus?

Rebecca Rusiecki, News Editor
September 5, 2012
Filed under News, School Board, Top Stories

Contrary to the predicted budget deficit, RB ended the past fiscal year with a surplus of $333,158.  Although last year’s budget predicted a deficit of $920,000, the final amount varied mainly due to appeals in property taxes.  Last year, the school budgeted about $850,000 to refund businesses who... Read more »

New school board, one year later

Rebecca Rusiecki, Staff Reporter
March 9, 2012
Filed under News, Top Stories

From swearing in four new members, to approving the 2011-2012 budget, RB’s current school board has had a very eventful year. In April of 2011, Garry Gryczan, Laura Hruska, John Keen and Tim Walsh were all elected to the school board, representing a majority of the seven-member board.   In addition... Read more »

Goldberg, Specht, and McOlgan choose early retirement

Rebecca Rusiecki and Isabel Pena, Staff Reporters
January 30, 2012
Filed under Features, Q&A, Top Stories

 In a continuing effort to balance the budget, District 208 will be paying $25,000 early retirement bonuses to veteran teachers Jan Goldberg, Bruce Specht, and Kevin McOlgan at the end of this school year.  The move should save the district approximately $300,000 next year. Clarion took the time to... Read more »

New fees proposed to ease budget woes

Megan Welch, Features Manager
May 25, 2010
Filed under News

During the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 11, an initial presentation was made on proposed increases in school fees. For the 2010-11 school year, the Board is considering increases in fees for registration, student parking, and driver education. They may also be creating fees for athletics... Read more »

Budget crunch strikes RB

Brian Wilson, Layout Manger
November 20, 2009
Filed under News

Over the past couple year’s, RB has been experiencing a quickly escalating budget crunch. Many budget cuts have already been made, and more are expected to happen in the following year. Some of the budget cuts that already happened include, reduced catering, athletic supplies, and a change in food... Read more »