On the heels of referendums in which two financial measures passed, Round Lake School District 116 officials are planning for the future, something that up until last week looked bleak.
Officials are now looking at making $2 million in program cuts, rather than $3 million, to help address a $9.7 million deficit.
Members of the school board and administration will meet with community volunteers at 7 p.m. April 10 in the district’s boardroom to prioritize program cuts. Officials will submit their list to the Illinois State Board of Education when that board meets April 20 to discuss Round Lake’s financial situation.
The state board has been considering appointing a special oversight panel to manage the district’s finances but staved off action to await the outcome of last week’s election.
Round Lake voters approved a $14.5 million building bond issue and a 45-cent property tax hike. The increase will cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $143 annually.
Officials credited strong community support for passage of the measures at the ballot box a year after similar measures failed.
“You have to have someone from the outside who is willing to spearhead this,” school board member Linda Molidor said.
Leading the Citizens for Round Lake Area Schools was Emily Rowley.
Rowley, who has been a resident of Round Lake for five years and has no children, said she got involved because of the district’s dire financial strait.
“I just saw the need,” she said.
The board also credited the teachers union and the school board for going into subdivisions where they knew they had strong opposition and pleading their case.
