Round Lake Dist. 116 asks state for control

Round Lake Area Unit District 116 officials have petitioned the state to return control of the financially reformed school system to local elected leaders.

District 116 Chief Executive Officer Ben Martindale said he met with Illinois State Board of Education officials in Springfield on Thursday to formally request the transition process begin.

Martindale said authorities will have to change legislation to reduce state control of the one-time financially troubled district.

"We felt it's time to change the district's structure of oversight, and transition to having the standard structure of a school board and a superintendent," he said Friday. "The state was impressed with the progress that has been made in Round Lake so we are pushing ahead with that transition."

When the process is completed over the next two years, local elected officials will have control of all District 116 decision-making, Martindale said.

Starting in July, the special state finance authority - which has had direct control of the district for eight years - reduces its meetings from monthly to once every three months.

Martindale said the panel will keep tabs on board decisions to ensure they are in the best financial interest of the district. He will attend all meetings and provide advice as needed to the superintendent and school board.

"It will still be a very delicate existence, and district officials will still have to be really careful of the revenue that comes in and expenditures going out," he said. "But there is strong leadership in place and stronger board governance, better labor relations in place, so it's time for the district to begin to stand on it's own."

The finance authority was put in place by the state in 2002 to control District 116's operations because of budget problems. At the time, the district was near collapse because of its poor financial condition.

District 116 had $14 million in short-term debt, and its bond rating was so low, it was having trouble borrowing money when needed.

Since then, the short-term debt has been erased, long-term debt is stable, and the district has an improved bond rating. The rating is important, Martindale said, should District 116 ever need to expand to accommodate for more students.

"It's really a great step for the district and the community," he said. "This district has had a lot of challenges, but they are really ready to move ahead. They have learned to live within their means and manage themselves much better."