State Delays Discussion of Financial Oversight in District 113A

State education officials will not discuss the possibility of a financial oversight panel for at their meeting later this month, a spokesperson for Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) announced Tuesday.

“After numerous and lengthy discussions, ISBE Superintendent Christopher Koch agreed with our position that is premature to take action in Lemont,” Radogno said in a statement. “The State Board staff will be gathering additional information as it becomes available before proceeding with any formal discussion with its Board."

District 113A Superintendent Tim Ricker that Koch and Chief Financial Officer Linda Riley Mitchell were planning to forward a recommendation for an oversight panel, which—through legislation—places school districts under state oversight when they are certified in financial difficulty and unable to sustain a state-approved financial plan.

The recommendation was originally set to go before the state board during its next board meeting, scheduled for Sept. 27-28 in Bloomington, IL.

Just last week, the District 113A Board of Education met to discuss who would work on . District officials said during the meeting that the presentation needed to address the state's three areas of concern—academic achievement, marketability of tax anticipation warrants and a in the district's education fund at the end of fiscal year 2011.

In a phone interview Tuesday evening, District 113A Board President Mike Aurelio said he and Board Member Al Malley, the district's finance chair, have been working closely with Radogno's office since learning about the recommendation last month.

The two board members attended a meeting at Radogno's office on Monday for a phone conference with Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs). Together they put together information that addressed the state's concerns, Aurelio said.

Radogno spokesperson Patty Schuh said the senator spoke with ISBE officials Tuesday regarding District 113A and reported that she and Durkin felt that discussing a financial oversight panel later this month would be "premature."

"(The decision) is appropriate, given the hard work of Board President Mike Aurelio, Finance Chair Al Malley and others as they face head on the financial problems of the district and move it in the right direction," Radogno said.

Durkin also commented on Koch's decision, saying the district needs time to make their case to the state board before any decision is made.

"In light of the audit coming in, all relevant information needs to be taken into consideration," Durkin said. "It is why Sen. Radogno and I have stressed that state intervention is premature.”

Aurelio said he learned of the decision late Tuesday afternoon, and thanked Radogno and Durkin for their assistance with the state board.

"I'm thrilled and extremely satisfied," Aurelio said. "I really want to stress how important Radogno and Durkin were in this because 10 days ago (financial oversight) was all but certain. The decision to delay any action is really due to their hard work."

Ricker was not immediately available for comment.