La Grange-Area Agency Dwindles With Departing Schools

LA GRANGE, IL – An agency that manages the money for La Grange-area school districts is far smaller than before.

In July, five elementary districts left as members of the Lyons Township Treasurer's Office – La Grange districts 102 and 105, La Grange Highlands, Pleasantdale and Western Springs.

This followed the departure three years earlier of Lyons Township High School, the member with the most assets. The high school's separation was made possible after years of costly litigation.

The legal battles started when the treasurer's office became mired in scandal.

In 2015, the disgraced former treasurer, Robert Healy, was convicted of stealing $1.5 million in school money and sentenced to nine years in prison for the theft.

Another big change happened in July. Treasurer Ken Getty resigned after seven years, replaced by Jim Fitton, formerly the top finance official with Riverside District 96. (Fitton makes $185,000 a year, slightly less than Getty's $188,000.)

With the smaller agency, the staff was halved to three, including the treasurer, from six previously. They work in a Countryside office, moving from La Grange a few years ago.

The treasurer's office's remaining school district members are Argo Community High School and four elementary systems, which are in Lyons, Summit, Willow Springs and Justice. It also serves the La Grange Area Department of Special Education, commonly known as LADSE.

In an interview Tuesday, Fitton said he knows of no other plans for districts to exit his agency.

He said his predecessor, Getty, left with a lot of checks and balances in place over money.

"It's above reproach," he said. "Two people have to handle every transaction. There are two sets of eyes on everything."

The advantage of such an agency, Fitton said, is to share services, so districts don't have to do their own investing.

"When you pool the money, it can be invested for a longer term and better returns," he said.

Township treasurer's offices once existed throughout the state. But in 1962, the state Legislature abolished them everywhere but suburban Cook County.

Lyons Township High called the treasurer's office an antiquated, unnecessary unit of local government that served no useful purpose for the school.