District 116 budget cuts blamed on expected state aid reduction

Nearly $3.9 million in cuts have been made at Round Lake Area Unit District 116 to bridge a projected budget gap for the 2010-11 academic year.

As part of the package, District 116 board members last week agreed to trim 10 teaching positions and some stipends for an expected savings of $568,900.

In addition, officials cut 15 noncertified staff members to conserve $615,700, and reduced supply and material purchases by $1 million. Office employees and classroom aides are among those considered noncertified staff.

Officials said an anticipated $3.26 million decline in state aid necessitated the $3.89 million in budget cuts.

"Cuts are always difficult," District 116 board member Nanci Radford said. "But I must say, it was a collaborative effort. It took about eight weeks."

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 financial stability to return full control to local elected school board members July 1.

Chief Executive Officer Ben Martindale said District 116 is more dependent on state revenue than other suburban school systems. He said the state cash no longer can be viewed as reliable income.

District 116 was near collapse because of its sorry financial health when the state's school finance authority received the oversight powers in 2002.

Constance Collins will take over July 1 as District 116's first superintendent in eight years, provided she gains approval from the school finance authority tonight. She received approval from District 116's elected board earlier this week.

Collins has been Oak Park Elementary District 97's superintendent since July 2005. Martindale will end his CEO tenure June 30.