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State Revenues Fall Short

June 30th marks the end of the fiscal year at Blue Ridge.  Work in the Unit Office is focused on completing year end reports and planning for the new school year. Both of these tasks have been made increasingly difficult by the structural deficit faced by the State.  The 2008-2009 fiscal year has been dramatically effected by significant shortfalls in State revenues to Blue Ridge.  Below is a list of the revenue shortfalls and the programs that were affected:

 EDUCATION FUND:

            Special Education Programs:                                  $174,803

            Pre-K Program:                                                    $  98,951

            Arts Education:                                                   $   5,600 

            Free Breakfast Program:                                       $   1,399 

TRANSPORTATION FUND:                                   

            Transportation of Students                                   $146,088

The revenues listed above are received during the year in which the program is being provided.  This means that the District has few cost control options when funding shortfalls occur during the program or after the fact (as occured this year).  While good planning by our past and current boards means that Blue Ridge is in a position to deal with revenue shortfalls of this nature without a reduction of program services during 2008-2009 school year, this cannot continue.  

In addition, the programs listed above are funded from the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) budget which is funded from the State's general revenue fund (which is comprised of taxes paid by Illinois citizens).  When local property taxes are required to replace the revenues from grant funded programs, we are, in effect, paying for these programs twice.  

As of this writing a State budget does not exist.  I have already received notification from ISBE that until a State budget is approved with funding for grant programs, we have no funding for our Pre-K program and our Reading Improvement program for the 2009-2010 school year.  Other grant funded programs are also at risk.  These programs are vital to the success of our students.  I urge you to contact you local legislator and demand that they find a viable solution to the structural deficit.  Our children deserve better.

Sincerely,

Jay Harnack, Superintendent                                                                     

 
E-Mail Change

Blue Ridge has upgraded its e-mail system, and with this change comes a new set of e-mail addresses!  All e-mail addresses now end in "blueridge18.org" instead of "br18.k12.il.us."  Easier to type, easier to tell to others, easier to say.

Example: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it becoms This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

E-mails addressed to the original e-mail address will still be routed to the correct user - if you send an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , it will still get where it needs to go.

 

 
PK - 8 Yearbooks Are In!

Yearbooks have arrived! Click the article title to learn more!

 
Welcome to Blue Ridge!
Click the article title to read more about Blue Ridge CUSD #18
 
 

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