By Judy Rattner
The decision drew applause from the crowd in the South Side High School auditorium. But before they got down to a line-by-line examination of budget items, several trustees stressed that although redistricting would not be an option in the plan that will go before voters on May 19, it's not completely dead.
"I think that the [redistricting] idea does have merit in the financial climate we're in," said board vice president Kathy Horace, "but we need to explore it further, as the residents have requested, and I think we should use an outside independent group. I think we're all too close to it to make a decision. What we want to do now is explore ways to keep our taxes down and to educate our kids."
"We owe it to the community," said board trustee Stephen Kriss, "to do the necessary homework in the future."
In opening remarks at the meeting, board president Mark Masin said, "It was our intention from the very beginning... to present various options available to us in a fragile economy including, but not limited, to redistricting. We believe that the redistricting options... are viable. We also believe there are significant areas where cuts and adjustments can be made."
Masin explained that the district is faced with a $1.2 million cut in state aid. And he said it's still unclear what money might come to the district from the federal stimulus package signed last month by President Barack Obama.
Masin added that he's met, and was planning to meet again with representatives of the district's unions. "We had an open and honest conversation," he said, "and we've agreed to continue talking and listening to each other to come up with creative ways to help the district resolve our budgetary issues."
Contacted after the redistricting plan was pulled from consideration, Watson Elementary School Principal Joan Waldman measured her words, saying, "We're appreciative that the potential closing of Watson school and redistricting have been reconsidered and we're looking forward to working closely with the Board of Education to create a positive future for the children in the district."
Watson's co-PTA presidents, Liz Dion and Margaret McGuire issued the following "personal" statement (before the scheduled meeting of the school's PTA), "We are very pleased with the board's decision to table the redistricting proposal. There is much work to be done, and we look forward to working together to come to a budget which we can support and pass. We would like to thank all the members of the community whose support has been instrumental in achieving this outcome."
