HIT>HOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS CAN SAVE MONEY

[Fran Spencer <FKS@CU220.NSLSILUS.ORG>]

Thank you to all of you who took time to respond to my query!  It was wonderful
to receive so many tried and true ideas as well as some cyberbrainstorming
thoughts.  Isummarized and catagorized and presented to the powers that be.
Ones that I could do something about I've already implemented, leading by
example.

I've also included some ideas gathered at this end that might benefit others in
the same boat.  Many of these would be worth considering, even if you aren't in
a budget crunch.


Here goes!

Buses:

*       charge flat fee - $10 - $20 per family
*       no late (activity) buses - kids make own arrangements - It's been done
in a rural area where all kids are bused, and people worked it out - Don't
assume it won't work
*       no buses to away games if we really do middle school and only have
intermurals with no cuts

Heat:

Lower thermostat 2 - 4 degrees - kids will learn not to wear only t-shirts in
the winter

Lights:

*       have only "night lights" on from 1/2 hour after school until 1/2 hour
before school
*       remove up to 1/2 of florescent bulbs wherever possible
                - still plenty of light
                - use removed bulbs as replacements

Sports/Band/Chorus/Clubs:

        *examine actual and "hidden" costs carefully
        *assess fees to help defray cost of coaches - defer kids elgible for
free lunch
        *form parent booster groups to carry financial burden for these
        *cut back on purchase of uniforms and equipment, but don't cut programs

Paper and photocopying:

        *if your district has internal e-mail, insist people use it whenever
possible instead of using paper and photocopying; for example, use it for staff
memos, attendance, agendas, lists of kids excused for field trips, meeting
reminders, etc.... Administrators need to take the lead here.
        *insist on doublesided photocopying whenever possible
        *severly limit photocopying; use blackboards more
        *will see savings not only in paper, but also in copy machine
maintenance contract costs, when dramatically fewer copies are made
        *use cheapest paper possible for all routine stuff
        *buy one color only in the more expensive paper, so it is obvious when
that choice has been made
        *investigate getting in on state and county contracts for all supplies,
including paper and textbooks



        MAKE THE POINT THAT OUR PRIMARY MISSION IS ACADEMIC - CUT EVERYTHING
ELSE BEFORE CUTTING PROGRAMS.



I told you there were some great ideas!  I'd be happy to hear from anyone with
any additional ones.  Thanks again, everybody!

Fran Spencer
Media Center Director
Barrington Middle School - Prairie Campus
Barrington, IL 60010

e-mail   fspencer@cu220.nslsilus.org
phone    847 842-2066
fax      847 304-3986