Dist. 95 looking for handouts to keep school programs
Lake Zurich Unit District 95 board members decided Thursday to accept donations from the community to help retain extracurricular programs districtwide.
The money will be placed in a special fund and will be tracked to ensure each dollar is used for its intended purpose, board members agreed.
The board has explored guidelines for donations in the face of possible cuts to programs. Donations will be used for all of the extracurricular programs that were recommended to be cut as well as fourth- and fifth-grade band and orchestra. General donations will also be accepted to the same fund, which will be used for all schools.
The other items on the list will not be considered for donations at this time because, board members say, such contributions could lead to an inequity among the schools.
Board member Jan Putbress expressed similar concern about the extracurricular programs, saying that the district should either raise enough money to bring all of them back or none of them should come back.
However, the rest of the board agreed that each of those programs should be able to be restored individually and that the district is not in a position to turn down money right now.
Last month administrators presented a recommended list of cuts to combat an anticipated $4 million shortfall resulting from the drop in the consumer price index from 4.1 percent to 0.1 percent. The CPI determines how much of an increase the district can request of the property tax levy.
The board was also set to hear a presentation from the village of Lake Zurich on the necessity of extending the downtown Lake Zurich TIF district, but village officials decided earlier this week to delay seeking that extension.
The school board had been critical of the village's pursuit of an extension because of a projected surplus at the end of the normal life of the taxing district. The school district had also received the village's $532,000 payment for tuition reimbursement from the TIF district months late.
Last month the village refinanced the debt from the TIF district, now at $28 million, by issuing bonds. Village officials have said this will ensure the school district gets paid on time in the future and bondholders are paid as well.
Delaying the extension will give downtown redevelopment plans some time to unfold and start producing additional revenue for the village.
"There's a lot of confidence that we have in the plan," said Village President John Tolomei.
However, if the economy worsens and there is no growth in the redevelopment, the village may find itself asking for an extension in a few years, officials said.