Lincoln-Way Board Talks Budget, Honors Employees

School Board meeting highlights: Destination Excellence awards, closing the fiscal year, public hearing for proposed 2012-2013 budget

The Lincoln-Way School District 210 Board of Education discussed its 2012-13 budget Thursday, closing the previous year with a $3.2 million deficit.  The main order of business was the closing of the district's 2011-2012 budget and the passage of a resolution to display the proposed 2012-2013 budget for public inspection through Sept. 11, followed by a public hearing. The board will vote on the approval of the budget on Sept. 13. The district closed its 2011-2012 budget with a deficit of $3,274,621 as of June 30. Supt. Lawrence Wyllie said the deficit was caused by a discrepancy between the amount of tax dollars and categorical grants the district was supposed to receive and the amount that was actually dispersed. "The categoricals, we …

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Teachers Dominate List of D122 Board Candidates

The New Lenox school board interviewed candidates to replace Sue Gillooley on Wednesday after she resigned last month following stalking accusations. Key issues discussed were fiscal responsibility and quality education.

The New Lenox School District 122 board Wednesday interviewed eight candidates to fill the position of Sue Gillooley, who resigned last month after accusations for stalking. The board is expected to review the candidates' qualifications and an announcement of the selection is expected soon. The New Lenox residents vying to fill-in until the April 2013 elections are: Susan Bultman, Rhonda Starklauf, Michael Burke, Phil Adair, Therese Barrett, Amy Zale, Bill Pender and Nikki Kline. A ninth candidate withdrew an earlier submitted application.   Interviews conducted in executive session ran from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Board President Nick DiSandro stepped out to welcome each of the candidates as they arrived. What at least half of the candidates …

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VOTE: Are You Scared for Your Kids' L-W Education?

Faced with difficult economic situations, the school districts around the Lincoln-Way area are facing tough decisions when it comes to the future. Staff cuts, increased fees and closing schools could be options. What could that mean for students?

The recession. Reduced property tax revenues because of a bursting housing bubble. Disappearing state aid. The past few years have been a perfect economic storm for the school districts in the Lincoln-Way area, a storm that has challenged their boards of education and administrators to maintain the same high quality education for students with fewer funds.   Naturally, parents in these districts are concerned and have questions. How will possible cuts or layoffs affect a student's education? What will this mean for extra-curricular activities? What can a parent do to ensure his or her child gets the best schooling possibility? YOUR TURN! Take our poll and tell us your thoughts about your children's future in the Lincoln-Way school systems …

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Superintendent Lays Out Options to Balance D210 Budget

Because of decreasing property taxes and state aid, the Lincoln-Way High School District is considering various cuts and fee increases. The school board got a budget update Jan. 28 and took questions from hundreds of concerned parents and staff.

The Lincoln-Way High School District is considering millions of dollars in possible budget cuts or fee increases, and while speaking to hundreds of community members Saturday morning, District 210 Supt. Larry Wyllie put the blame squarely on the state. Parents, students and Lincoln-Way employees filled the auditorium at Lincoln-Way West on Saturday morning for an annual planning meeting the school board has to review revenue and expenditure projections. Did you miss the meeting? Read Wyllie's presentation in the PDF attached to this article. Wyllie explained the cash flow for stakeholders and board members before fielding questions, and tried to make his point clear that none of the ideas to cut postions or increase fee is final. "This is …

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nick

11:17 am on Sunday, February 19, 2012

The LW Dist. 210 has 130 employees that are paid over $100,000.00 http://familytaxpayers.org/   more ›

D122 Board President: 'We're Trying to Make Decisions That Will Help People'

School board President Nick DiSandro answered five questions about the priorities this academic year and what he's learned during his time on the board.

Editor's note: Every day this week, we'll publish a new Q&A with someone involved in New Lenox School District 122. Check back each day for a new interview. Nick DiSandro was elected to the District 122 school board in April, and was surprisingly chosen as board president by his peers later that month. As he heads into his first full academic year on the school board, DiSandro talks about what he's learned so far and what will be important in the year to come. What is the biggest priority for the school board heading into this year? My instant reaction to that is money. The board is focused now on truly making sure we’re making the right decisions and making sure we’re not affecting our children poorly. We'll address our bond debt, tax …

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Board Etiquette, Public Comments Addressed During D122 Meeting

Following a year in which school board members were criticized by the public and each other, they're looking at policies to limit public comments and encourage etiquette during meetings.

Following a year in which school board members were criticized by the public and each other, they're looking at policies to limit public comments and encourage etiquette during meetings. During a strategic planning session on Monday night, the New Lenox School District 122 board talked about policies that regard how they interact with each other, district administrators and the public. Dialogue With the Board  Some who spoke during previous meetings wished for more of a dialogue with the school board, which previously would listen but not respond to public comments. New board President Nick DiSandro also said he was interested in seeing more dialogue, and a new policy the board read Monday states that the board president would act as a …

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Financial Forecast Brighter Than Expected for D122

Thanks to an additional state payment and less spending than expected, the school district will be about $1 million in the black after anticipating ending fiscal year 2011 in debt.

Every six months, the New Lenox School District 122 board is updated with the district's five-year financial forecast to stay on top of district finances and get a glimpse into the future. During a strategic planning session Monday night, the board was happy to hear that six months after facing a $3.2 million budget deficit, the school district have a surplus of about $1 million at the end of fiscal year 2011. That's thanks to an additional and unexpected state payment and less spending than the district had budgeted, business manager Harold Huang said. The surplus will also offset a projected deficit in fiscal year 2012. Additionally, in 2012 and 2013, the district will get some help from local tax revenue sources as more development …

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PatchCast: A Daily Video Report

Daily PatchCast: Low Turnout, Superintendent Pay Raise and Local Olympian

A daily video recap of the Southland's top stories

Outgoing SD161 Board Members Extend Superintendent's Contract in Controversial Vote Oak Forest Resident Takes It Higher for American Lung Association It's No Stretch of the Truth to Call Stagg Graduate Pukstys an Olympic Treasure Analysis: See How Your Precinct Impacted the D122 Election

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