District 113A Could Be Removed Early from State's Financial Difficulty List

Lemont-Bromberek Combined School District 113A could be removed from the Illinois State Board of Education's financial difficulty list a year early should its standing continue to improve, officials said.

District 113A Board President Cindy Kelly reported the news during the July 17 Board of Education meeting, following a conference call with Deb Vespa, ISBE division administrator for business services.

Kelly said she was "pleasantly surprised by the call," and that Vespa sounded "very upbeat and very positive" regarding the district's financial progress. 

During the call, Vespa said that if the district's audit for fiscal year 2013 is favorable, she and her supervisor will review the district's financial standing and may review decertification from the financial difficulty list, Kelly said.

In previous calls, Vespa said the state would not consider decertification until next year, Kelly said.

"That was a pleasant surprise," Kelly said. "It was very nice to hear. She was very positive."

Kelly said she is optimistic about the possibility of decertification, but emphasized that nothing been confirmed in writing, Kelly said.

District 113A was certified in financial difficulty in December 2009, six months after depleting its working cash fund. Since then, it has been following a state-approved financial plan, includes information on enrollment, staffing plans, borrowing, cash flow analysis, and budget expenditures and reductions—all of which requires final approval from the state board.

Over the past few years, however, District 113A has managed to improve its financial standing through severe budget cuts—including 25 percent of staff, extracurricular activities, the gifted program and the closing of Central School.

The district has adopted a balanced budget in each of the last three years, and has eliminated its reliance on short-term borrowing.

Although ISBE officials have been closely monitoring the district's every move for the past four years, Vespa indicated that they have no intention of "micromanaging" staffing in the future, so long as the district continues to operate within its current financial plan.

"She said, 'Your staff knows what is required. We do now know as well as your staff does what is needed in your buildings,'" Kelly said. "That was very nice to hear."

Fiscal year 2013 concluded June 30. District 113A is required to submit its Annual Financial Report report by Oct. 15, at which point the state board could consider decertification, according to Superintendent Susan Birkenmaier.