Plainfield SD 202 board hears $5 million FY27 shortfall; leaders outline three-tier reduction plan and approve technology lease and personnel dismissals
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Summary
Administrators told the board a projected $5,000,000 deficit for FY27 driven in part by a $7,000,000 shift in state funding tiers, outlined a three-level plan (operations, staffing, student programs) to close gaps, and the board approved a roughly $2.885M master lease for technology and multiple personnel dismissal resolutions.
Administrators told the Plainfield SD 202 board on March 25 that the district is facing a projected $5,000,000 deficit for fiscal year 2027, attributing part of the shortfall to a shift in state funding from tier 1 to tier 2 that reduced revenue by about $7,000,000 this year.
Finance presenters described a three-level mitigation framework designed to protect classroom instruction: Level 1 focuses on operational savings (vendor contracts, energy efficiencies, deferring nonessential capital projects), Level 2 focuses on staffing (evaluating vacancies, attrition and staffing ratios), and Level 3 would involve careful review of student-facing programs only as a last resort. Presenters emphasized six guiding principles for reductions: sequential action (do not skip steps), student-centered decision-making, transparency, sustainability, legal compliance (including collective bargaining and state law), and shared sacrifice across the district.
As examples, administration presented sample student-staff ratio changes: an elementary example moved from 20.8 to 22.6 students per staff member and a middle-school example from 26.3 to 27.6; the transcripted high-school ratio examples were unclear and are reported as noted by presenters. No final staffing decisions were made at the meeting; administrators said further analysis would continue and that recommendations could be brought forward at the next board meeting.
On finance actions, the board approved a master tax-exempt lease-purchase agreement with American Capital to finance technology equipment. The transcript records the lease amount as $2,885,104.04 in one place and $2,885,105.04 in another; the board approved the motion by roll call.
The meeting also included several personnel actions the board approved by roll call: a routine resolution authorizing dismissal of certain teachers (annual RIF notices for late hires, grant-funded and one-year positions), dismissal notices for educational support staff and nonunion support personnel at the close of the 2025–26 term, approval to dismiss probationary teacher Alex Bercofer, and motions to alternatively place two students as part of student-discipline actions. All those resolutions were moved, seconded and recorded as approved in public session.
Board members and administrators emphasized that the district will pursue non-personnel, operational measures first and that any move to staffing or program reductions would follow the sequence described and require additional board consideration.
