2010-2011 RBHS Retirees

Say goodbye to some familiar faces by visiting our interactive retiree web site.

Visit the site here.

No. Community votes down referendum 3-1.

On April 5^th, the new school board members and the pending referendum were voted on.

The referendum failed with very lopsided results. 1,720 community members voted yes, while 5,682 community members voted no.  77% voted no to 23% of voters who wanted the referendum to pass.

“Unfortunately the timing just wasn’t right,” said interim superintendent David Bonnette.

John Keen, Tim Walsh, Lauren Hruska, and Garry Gyczan are the four newly elected board members. The new board members will be seated May 3^rd at the board meeting.

Even though the new board members won’t be seated for another month, the administration is working on a new budget proposal. 2.2 million dollars worth of cuts have to be made to stay within the budget.

“The kinds of cuts we posted on our web page are the kinds of cuts we’ll need to make to get to that minimal 20% fund balance,” said Bonnette.

The final budget will be displayed in July.

Administration excited to work with Skinkis

On Thursday, February 17^th, 2011, the new Superintendent, Dr.  Kevin Skinkis, was officially announced and confirmed by the school board. Though only 34 years old, Skinkis is ready to confront his new job head on.

“I’m elated and excited for this great opportunity. I grew up around here and I watched and played against RB. This school has a lot to offer and I am looking forward to working here with the staff and students,” said Skinkis.

Along with his eagerness to join District 208, Skinkis is also sad to leave his former job as principle of Bartlett High School.

Skinkis said, “I told my staff this afternoon; I had to pause because I started to tear up. It will always hold a place in my heart.”

It is hard to leave a school you love behind and start over a new tradition. As Skinkis is making the transition to RBHS, the existing administration at District 208 is welcoming him with open arms.

“We’re very excited about him coming to RB. He has great experiences with students and culture. He also had Character Counts at his old school. He is very energetic and has a ‘can do’ energy. He is strong, fearless, and focused. He will bring great things to the district,” said Principal Pamela Bylsma.

Interim superintendent David Bonette was hired by the district two years ago. He was originally only going to serve one year, but District 208 asked him to stay on until they found a new superintendent. After his two years as interim superintendent, he is glad to welcome Skinkis to district 208.

Bonette said, “Great, I can’t wait to hand off the baton. He in some respects reminds me of myself when I had my first superintendent job. I had very good interesting experiences before I got to be the superintendent, like him. He is young, ambitious and energetic, and I think he will be a good fit for this school district. “

As well as Skinkis, Bonette will also miss the school he is leaving.

“I really enjoyed working with the faculty and the board. One thing I regret is not spending more time with the students. Being an interim superintendent really made it hard to do so,” said Bonette

Skinkis will start his new job as superintendent at RBHS on July 1^st.

“It is a great opportunity. It’s my first time as superintendent and I’m looking forward to building on the traditions here,” he said.

Board shares potential impact of failed referendum

On November 1st, a community meeting was held to discuss what would happen if the proposed April referendum does not pass. Approximately 55 parents attended the meeting.

According to Principal Pam Bylsma the effects could be more drastic than most realize. Moreover, Bylsma shared that RB is not the only school in this situation. Other surrounding schools are asking their communities to raise their property taxes.

Almost 85% of RB’s  money comes from local property taxes. On average in Illinois, only 59% of public school funding comes from local property taxes. Other schools receive more state funding than RB. According to Bylsma, right now the State is not paying all the money they said they would, which leaves RB and other local schools struggling for revenue.

The State funding has become so poor that 22,000 teachers in Illinois have lost their jobs in the past year, just behind the leading state, California.

Bylsma said, “We have had a benefit of some federal grant money, the stimulus money from the Obama Reinvestment and Recovery Act.  We’ve used that money for professional development, and we’ve bought some computers with it. But that money is gone.  Teachers’ salaries keep increasing because of contracts, but we have ten fewer staff members in the building than we had three years ago.”

RB’s budget is so tight that there is not any money to replace text books. According to Bylsma, Science Department Chair Brennan Denny is teaching Chemistry out of the textbook he used when he was in school.

If the referendum does not pass this year, the school board has indicated that it will seek to pass a referendum again next year. In the mean time, possible ways to cut down the budget would heavily impact students. At the November 1 meeting, the board released a budget showing the proposed cuts.

The proposed 2011-2012 budget would cut approximately 1.9 million dollars from RB’s operating costs.  The bulk of those savings would come from laying off 11.2 teachers, spread out across departments.

RB’s extracurricular clubs would be cut down to the minimum. 24 clubs would potentially not be available for students to participate in any longer. This would save the school $115,273, but would prevent many of RB’s students from being involved. 2011-2012 cuts might include Ecology Club, Chess Team, Spanish Club, French Club, German Club, Math Team, NHS, Ski Club, Science Club, Photo Club, Art Club, Forum Club, Fishing Club, Auto Club, Repertory Dance, Guard Club, Forensics, Facets, Men’s Ensemble, Tri-M, Madrigal Singers, The Spring Musical, and The Fall Play.

Athletics would be impacted by the elimination of girls and boys water polo.  Most athletic teams would also lose at least one coaching position as well.

Voting for the referendum will be open on April 5th.  During the same vote, there will also be four open slots for new school board members.

Senior Awards Night

The senior class of 2010 was honored this past Wednesday May 19^th during the annual Senior Awards Night.  Seniors who received awards in various areas along with their family members, attended the event which was held in the auditorium.  The night was sponsored by the Riverside Brookfield Board of Education and the RB Patron’s Council.

 Several different kinds of awards were given including general school awards, department awards, and Prairie State and Illinois Scholar Awards.  Students could receive honors or recognition in the four main subject areas as well as in technology and media, world languages, fine arts, and wellness.  Awards were also given for things like community service hours, the academic top 10% of the class and AP credit.  Students who received Student of the Month in the past four years were also recognized.

 The awards were announced by each department chair as well as several other administrators.  In between award announcements, various performances and presentations were given by seniors in fine arts and media.  Senior Madrigal Singers sang two pieces and the senior Orchesis dancers closed the ceremony with a performance titled “Our Last Dance.”  Senior Sarah Buksa also performed a piece on the clarinet and senior Bryan Smaller showed a video montage of many of the shows he produced on RBTV.

 After all of the individual awards were announced, each senior was called up to walk across the stage and receive their packet of awards.  Closing comments were then given by Interim Superintendent David Bonnette.  Following the ceremony, a reception for all of the students and their families was held in the Bulldog Inn.

RB’s Finances: What students need to know

On Monday, March 15, a pubic forum was held at RB in the little theater. The focus of the forum was the financial position of the school.

Students may have heard about RB’s financial situation through parents or by reading the local news. It may be confusing and difficult to understand, so here is a general overview of what students should know about.

What is the financial position of RB?

The school’s operating fund, the fund from which the daily operations of the school and teaching salaries are paid, was at a little over $7 million dollars for the fiscal year of 2010.  In other words, currently, RB has a “reserve” of approximately seven and a half million dollars.

Why is RB having this financial trouble?

RB’s expenses go up 5-6% a year. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) decides the amount of increase in money received. The average amount is an increase of 2.5% a year, but RB will only receive a 0.1% increase for next year. Therefore, we are spending more than we are receiving.

Different factors play into RB’s financial struggle, and they are not unique to RB alone.  RB’s enrollment is increasing and is projected to reach over 1,600 students by the 2014-2015 school year.  The state of Illinois has had a difficult time funding schools and has been cutting educational funding.  As the economy has suffered, property taxes – the basis on which RB receives a great deal of its revenue – have suffered as well.

What are possible solutions for this?

There are three scenarios laid out by Superintendent David Bonnette:

1)      One is to do nothing. If RB does not change the way it spends, by the end of the 2011-2012 school year, RB would have a reserve of only $2.2 million dollars.  By the 2013-14 school year, the school would face a $6.65 million dollar deficit. This means that RB will owe that much money. That deficit would increase as the years continued.

2)      RB can manage revenue and expenditures. One thing RB would do is increase fees, such as academic, athletic and activity fees. They would do facility rentals and look for commercial revenue, such as increasing revenue for the use of the school’s cell phone tower.

Reducing academic and support staff would cut costs along with reducing retiree services and coaching/activity stipends.

Supply and equipment costs have already been reduced 38%, but reducing them further would also manage expenses. Along with going green, the total would be around $646,488 in cost reductions.

In this scenario, RB would end the 2011-2012 school year with $3.8 million dollars in reserve.  However, that number would still be shrinking.

3)      The last scenario would be to balance the budget. The most drastic way to accomplish this would be to let go of 19 of the 1^st and 2^nd year teachers, and seven of the support staff. Cutting back on athletic and activity programs, and reducing supply and equipment costs would give RB a $2,350,219 net savings, effectively balancing the immediate budget.

However, in this scenario, the school would immediately begin losing money, again.  By the end of the 2011-2012 school year, it would have a $7.1 million dollar reserve and would still be facing rising costs in the face of shrinking revenues.

According to Bonnette, all three of these scenarios would eventually lead to a referendum, where the school will ask the community to raise their property taxes in order to support the school.  The last time a property tax increase discussion occurred (the increase never actually happened), was in February 2008, and the .38 cent increase proposal meant $282.00 more a year of taxes for a home valued at $250,000.

Where does RB’s revenue come from?

RB receives 84% of its money from property taxes. Property taxes increase an average of 2.5% a year, but that number looks to be low for next year.

What kind of things will be cut back for next year?

RB will cut back on technology expenses, supplies and textbooks. There will be cuts on clubs and sports and less money will be spent on equipment. Fewer field trips will also decrease expenses.

Where does all the money go?

Salaries and benefits for the staff account for 76% of the budget. RB also has to pay for technology and energy costs, textbooks and supplies.

What’s the long term picture?

Regardless of which solution the School Board adopts, Bonnette believes that a tax referendum is in the school’s future for next year.

Familiar faces, new jobs

With the resignation of former Superintendent-Principal Jack Baldermann over the summer, the look of RB’s administration has changed.  Dr. David Bonnette has taken over the role of Interim Superintendent, while the role of Interim Principal has gone to Tim Scanlon, formerly the Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instructions.  The assistant’s role has been passed to Troy Gobble, formerly the school’s Science Department Chair.

Dr. David Bonnette, Interim Superintendent
Educational Backround:
Undergrad, Hope College – Holland, MI
PhD, University of Michigan- Ann Arbor

1. What was your previously held office?
I was the superintendent for District 96 for 13 years and I retired in June of 2005. For two years after that I directed a school leadership program at Northeastern Illinois University. I was then contacted to be interim superintendent for District 90 in River Forest. After that I thought that I was really retired.

2. When did you decide to start working at RBHS/ How were you notified about the opening?
I was approached by a board member regarding the interim position after [former Superintendent Principal, Jack] Baldermann resigned. From there, I was interviewed by the Board and hired for the position.
Since I live near the school and have always had a vested interest in RB, I accepted the position.

3. What’s your favorite part of your job?
Being able to renew relationships with kids I knew from Hauser and being able to form friendships with new acquaintances with kids who went to Komarek and Gross. What attracts me to my job is being able to help kids be successful.

4. What are your goals for the 2009-2010 school year?
My goals for the school year are to really involve the community, work with the staff more, and take RB’s already strong reputation and build on that. The district is facing some financial hardships, and I have been working with a state wide group for a few years now and our goal is to increase school accountability and better the method by which the state funds schools.

Mr. Tim Scanlon, Interim Principal
Educational Backround:
Masters Degree in English from St. Xavier University in Chicago
School Administrative Certificate from Governor State University

1. What was your previously held office?
For the past few years at RBHS, I have been serving as Assistant Principal.

2. When did you decide to start working at RBHS? How were you notified about the opening?
I came to RBHS because of the outstanding reputation of its staff and students. Additionally, at that time, the position at RBHS gave me an opportunity to concentrate on staff development and curriculum which constituted my dream job. Finally, Mr. Baldermann was an excellent educational leader, and I wanted an opportunity to work with him.

3. What’s your favorite part of your job?
Reflecting with teachers on strategies, assessments, and curriculum are my favorite aspects of this job. Lately, however, I seem to miss more and more being in the classroom, but there will be time for that in the future.

4. What are your goals for the 2009-2010 school year?
I want to maintain our academic excellence, spend more time in the classrooms, and finish the construction project. Also to help RBHS to make a smooth transition to a new administration

Mr. Troy Gobble, Assistant Principal
Educational Backround:
BS in Chemistry Education from University of Illinois at Urbana
MS in Physics from Eastern Illinois University
MS in Educational Leadership from Benedictine University
Plans to finish Doctorate in Educational Leadership from DePaul in 2010.

1. What was your previously held office?
I was the Science Department Chair and a Physics teacher.

2. When did you start working at RBHS/ How were you notified about the opening?
I began at RBHS in 2001 and served as the department chair for 8 years.

3. What’s your favorite part of your job?
As the Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction, I am very excited to watch teachers in the building practice their craft and talk about ways to improve instruction and student learning

4. What are your goals for the 2009-2010 school year?
Personally, my goals are to be a good dad and husband, and to complete my doctorate coursework. Professionally, I want to continue to learn and grow as an educator and help others to do the same