New Summit SD 104 board president says budget is top priority

New School District 104 board members were sworn in by state Rep. Silvana Tabares.

By Bob Bong
Desplaines Valley News

New Summit School District 104 Board of Education president Joe Kaput says his first priority will be to start easing the burden on district taxpayers.

"We have to start working on the bottom line," he said. "We'll start by tightening the purse strings."

Kaput said he is most concerned with a $34 million outstanding bond issue.

"I think it's ridiculous that a district our size has that kind of outstanding bond debt," he said. "That is way too high for the district."

Kaput said he would stop the previous board's policy of routinely asking for a 4.95 percent tax increase, the maximum allowed without asking for voter approval.

"That poses too great a burden for taxpayers," he said.

Kaput said one thing he has going for him was his experience as a school board member and president at St. Patricia Catholic School in Hickory Hills.

Kaput said he had an ally in his thrifty ways in Supt. Dr. Troy Whelan, who was hired last year.

"(He) has already saved us some money," Kaput said.

"We have been running $800,000 to $1 million under budget this year," Kaput said. "That's a really good start."

Kaput said he would try to save more money in negotiations with teachers on a new contract. 

"The contract is up at the end of June and we are in negotiations," he said.

He did say school closings were not likely to be a part of his cost consciousness.

"I don't know if that's feasible because of the number of students we have," he said. The district now operates five schools with an enrollment of more than 1,700 students.

Kaput also said he hoped curriculum changes would start improving test scores and help the students.

"It's all about the kids," he said. "We hired a curriculum coordinator to make sure all of the schools are teaching the same things so all of the kids are on the same page. That hasn't always been the case."

That will also eliminate having to teach some of the same things from year to year, he said.

Kaput downplayed the April election, which saw three independent newcomer candidates knock off three incumbents in a bitterly contested election.

"We're all going to work together," he said. "I think we have a very good board."

Joining Kaput as a school board leader was newly elected board member Sergio Garcia, who was elected vice president of the new board.

A crowd of about 100 was on hand to witness state Rep. Silvana Tabares swear in the new board members earlier this month.