Districts 57, 59 want to abolish 4 government positions

Officials from Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 and Mount Prospect Elementary District 57 want to abolish four little-known governmental positions that manage and oversee the districts' investments, arguing they can save money and handle those responsibilities in-house.

Township trustees of schools and treasurers have jurisdiction over investments for 100 school districts in Cook County, but 43 school districts have abolished the positions, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. The only other districts in the Northwest suburbs still using the school trustee system are four in Maine Township.

The three elected Elk Grove Township trustees of schools who oversee investments for Districts 59 and 57 - Art Niewiardowski, Dale Niewiardowski and Steve Schneider - attend quarterly meetings to review investment reports and approve operating budgets of the appointed treasurer, Dennis Saviano, an Elmhurst certified public accountant. The trustees serve 6-year terms and don't get paid, but District 59 pays Saviano about $50,000 annually, while District 57 pays him about $20,000. That money includes Saviano's fee and costs of a treasurer's bond and annual audit.

Vickie Nissen, District 59's assistant superintendent of business services, said there's been no problem with Saviano's job performance, but many of the functions originally intended for his position have been absorbed by the district over the years.

The treasurer and trustee of schools positions were established in the late 1800s, but they now remain only in Cook County. Districts that have ended the use of the positions include Northwest Suburban High School District 214, which it's believed left the system about 20 years ago. No one there could immediately recall details of the departure or the impact on school operations.

The District 59 school board Monday night approved a resolution to notify Saviano and the three trustees of the board's intent on July 11 to put a referendum question on the November ballot seeking to abolish their offices. District 57's school board will be discussing the issue May 19.

District 59 board member Tim Burns was the lone "no" vote Monday, arguing the trustees and treasurer provide an important external check and balance on the district's investment process.

Saviano, who has been treasurer for 20 years, said the move to abolish his position would be good if it saved money, as long as the district didn't hire investment firms or additional employees to take over his duties.

Art Niewiardowski, president of the Elk Grove Township trustees of schools, said abolishing the offices could cost the school districts in the long run if they hire additional staffers.

Nissen, who would assume the responsibility in District 59 if the office is eliminated, said she'd have business partnerships with investment firms but wouldn't hire more staffers or ask for a raise herself. In previous jobs, Nissen said, she simultaneously served as the chief business official and treasurer handling investments at school districts in DuPage and Kane counties.