District 113A Looks to Restore Confidence of State Board

Officials in will consider approval of the 2011-2012 budget Tuesday as they look to prove to the Illinois State Board of Education that the district is on its way to financial stability.

The District 113A Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the , 15425 E. 127th St. A public hearing on the budget for fiscal year 2012 will lead off the meeting.

Under the proposed budget, the district is projecting about $21.6 million in revenue and $18.6 million in expenditures—giving the district a positive balance of about $2.98 million at the end of fiscal year 2012.

The budget, along with the district's 2011 Annual Financial Report and state-approved financial plan, will be reviewed by ISBE staff to assess "the financial soundness of the district," according to ISBE spokesperson Mary Fergus.

Last week, Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) at the state board's Sept. 27 meeting, as was previously planned.

“After numerous and lengthy discussions, ISBE Superintendent Christopher Koch agreed with our position that is premature to take action in Lemont,” Radogno said in a statement. “The State Board staff will be gathering additional information as it becomes available before proceeding with any formal discussion with its Board."

District 113A Superintendent Tim Ricker  that Koch and Chief Financial Officer Linda Riley Mitchell were planning to forward a recommendation for an oversight panel, which — through legislation — places school districts under state oversight when they are certified in financial difficulty and unable to sustain a state-approved financial plan.

District officials were planning to put together a presentation for ISBE that addressed the state's three areas of concern—academic achievement, marketability of tax anticipation warrants and accounting issues at the end of fiscal year 2011.

Last Tuesday, however, Radogno and Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) released a joint press release to announce the state's decision to delay its recommendation.

"(The decision) is appropriate, given the hard work of Board President Mike Aurelio, Finance Chair Al Malley and others as they face head on the financial problems of the district and move it in the right direction," Radogno said.

In a phone interview last week, Aurelio said he and Malley have been working closely with Radogno's office since learning about the recommendation last month.

The two board members attended a meeting at Radogno's office on Monday, Sept. 12, for a phone conference with Durkin. Together, they discussed a strategy to address the state's concerns, Aurelio said.

Ricker was not included in the meeting, not was District 113A Business Manager Barbara Germany.

Malley said he reached out to the representatives "as a constituent," and attended the meeting with Aurelio because he felt "he could explain (District 113A's financial situation) a little better than most people."

Radogno and Durkin's conversations with ISBE officials were instrumental in preventing financial oversight, Malley said.

"I believe if it would have gone to a vote, we would have had an FOP," he said.

Though he received a phone call from Aurelio on Tuesday afternoon regarding the state's decision, Ricker said he wanted to wait to comment until he officially heard from ISBE Division Administrator for Business Services Deb Vespa, who contacted him around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14.

"The district is extremely grateful for the work of Sen. Radogno and Rep. Durkin," Ricker said. "In the next few weeks, we'll be working to provide ISBE our 2012 budget and our audit, and we'll continue to follow the approved financial plan."