Cahokia Unit School District 187 is hosting four parent meetings over the next two weeks to discuss the district's current financial situation and what cuts will need to be made if the state continues to decrease funding for school districts.

Superintendent Art Ryan said the district may have to layoff teachers, eliminate all extra curricular activities, cut art, music and physical education classes at the elementary schools and close a school building and consolidate students.

The Illinois State Board of Education is advising districts to plan to receive 20 percent less in general state aid during fiscal year 2014, according to Ryan, which would mean another $2.7 million hit to District's 187 budget.

"That's the worst case scenario," Ryan said. "We hope it's not that much, but we are going to have to plan for it."

In addition, Ryan said the district is expecting to receive $250,000 less from local property taxes with the drop in equalized assessed value.

All four informational public meetings will be held at 5:30 p.m. on the following days: Tuesday at the Freshmen Academy, 1700 Jerome Lane; Thursday at the Cahokia School of Choice, 1820 Jerome Lane; Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Maplewood, 600 Jerome Lane; and Thursday, Feb. 7 at Oliver Parks Elementary, 1900 Mousetta Lane.

Ryan said the meetings are being held now, because members of the teachers union must be notified of layoffs by the beginning of April.

Contact reporter Jamie Forsythe at 239-2562 or jforsythe1@bnd.com.