District 116 not immune from budget problems

Round Lake Area Unit District 116 is considered financially stable enough to have local elected officials running the show again, but that doesn't mean it's immune from budget woes striking many school systems.

Nearly $4 million in cuts - from employees to supplies - are recommended to fend off a deficit projected for the 2010-11 academic year budget. School board members are to vote on the recommendations March 18.

District 116 has been overseen by a special school finance authority since 2002 because of budget problems. The panel in January agreed the district has enough stability to return control to local elected school board members.

Chief Executive Officer Ben Martindale said District 116 is heavily dependent on state funding, which no longer is viewed as dependable. He said the proposed cuts are needed because the district budget must be braced to receive much less state money.

Martindale said 31 jobs would be eliminated under the plan presented to school board members Thursday. Ten classroom teachers districtwide are among those who would be cut for a savings of $568,900.

"We're giving the board a couple of weeks to mull those (recommendations) over," he said.

Martindale said $703,100 in annual savings is projected by eliminating 18 noncertified staff members at the elementary, middle and high schools. Office employees and classroom aides would be among those affected.

Cuts proposed in supplies and materials purchases are projected to account for $1.28 million in savings. Another $816,500 would be pocketed annually in reductions in purchased services, such as attorneys.

All administrators' salaries would be frozen for the 2010-11 school year.

District 116 was near collapse because of its sorry financial condition when the school finance authority received the oversight powers in 2002. The state board of education appointed the finance panel.

The authority's work will officially end July 1, but it is allowing District 116's elected board to pick a new superintendent and decide the 2010-11 budget.

Six other Illinois schools were operating under a state financial oversight panel soon after District 116 joined the list in 2002. Only District 116 has been deemed financially strong enough to fly solo again.

District 116 takes in portions of Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Heights, Round Lake Park and Hainesville.