Orland Dist. 135 Creates Committees As Promised

ORLAND PARK, IL —The Orland Dist. 135 parents pushed back against steep budget cuts the school board made last winter because they said the board needed more public input to avoid cutting too deep into academic quality. The board promised a host of changes, and this week, officials announced new committees that will help guide the district's policy- and decision-making.

The committees are communications, finance/operations, policy/personnel, teaching and learning, and technology. Members will gather information and feedback from the community to guide the board's decisions. They will not be voting members, but will serve in an advisory role.

The committees can be found on the district's website.

Last February, the board rescinded more than $1 million in controversial budget cuts it made to make up a $3 million shortfall in its $80 million budget. Officials said they reversed their decision in an attempt to address parents' outrage over the cuts that they said would damage school quality.

The board, guided by the new committee's input, will be tackling how to cut that $3 million from its budget this year. It is also likely to form committees to study technology use in the classroom to help understand what is a healthy and effective amount to integrate into student learning — another promise from earlier this year.