each district. Over the last seven years, the latest report noted, the statewide average score has risen steadily.
The overall financial health of Illinois school districts has been improving in recent years, according to a recent state report, but a bill moving through the General Assembly seeks to rein in the amount of money some districts are saving.
Senate Bill 1994, which passed unanimously out of the Senate last week and now awaits action in the House, would put a cap on how much money school districts could hold in reserves. Districts that exceed it would be required to file a report with the state.
“They’re kind of like a nonprofit where, you know, money comes in and resources come in, and then it needs to be spent,” the bill’s sponsor Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, D-Shorewood, said during an interview. “Like, yes, you need to have savings. Yes, those are good practices. But you can’t just be sitting on all this cash and then not doing anything with it.”
The Illinois State Board of Education publishes a report each year measuring the financial health of all 852 school districts in the state. The report looks at several factors such as their expenditure-to-revenue ratio, shortterm and long-term debt, and how many days’ worth of cash on hand they keep.
ISBE uses those factors to generate an overall “financial profile” score for
To receive ISBE’s highest rating, districts must keep the equivalent of 180 days of operating expenditures on hand. The agency also notes that bond underwriters and financial advisers typically recommend 144 to 180 days of operating expenditures.
According to the most recent report, which includes data from the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2021, 70 percent of districts had cash reserves of between 100 and 359 days of expenses. But 197 districts, or 23 percent, had reserves of 360 to 720 days, and 10 districts had reserves greater than 720 days.
The report does not identify which districts have those large reserves.
SB 1994 would require districts to calculate their three-year average operating expenses each year and report their cash on hand. If their cash reserves ever exceed 2.5 times their annual average, they would have to submit a plan to ISBE for how they intend to spend those reserves.
Districts would not be required to spend excess reserves, but only to submit the plan detailing how they intend to do so over the next three years.
Cappel said that limit was negotiated with superintendents and other officials involved in school district budgeting who had pushed back against the original version of the bill, which would have required districts
to immediately spend down any reserves beyond 250 days of operating expenses.
She noted that there are many reasons why a district might build up large reserves. Some, she said, might save up so they can pay cash for capital expenses like a new security system or to build a new elementary school. Others might be bracing themselves for the possibility that their heating or air conditioning system might go out.
“I don’t want to stop any district, if they’ve got plans to build something that’s appropriate, you know, a kindergarten building or whatever,” she said. “Of course, we want you to be able to use that. So that’s kind of where this came from.”
Edward-Elmhurst Health and the Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network are inviting the community to participate in the annual Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Organ Donor Registration Campaign.
The purpose of this initiative, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration in collaboration with Gift of Hope, is to expand awareness about the benefits of organ, eye and tissue donation and increase donor registration. More than 1,700 hospitals and healthcare organizations participate in this program nationwide.
There are more than 106,000
people in the U.S. who are waiting for an organ transplant. While 90% of U.S. adults support organ donation, only 60% are registered as donors. Organ, eye and tissue donation benefits people of all ages, including the very young and very old. Only 1% of deaths occur in a way that allows donation to take place, so the more donors who are registered the greater the opportunity to help others. By becoming a registered organ and tissue donor, people could someday:
• Save up to eight lives through organ donation
• Restore sight in up to two people through eye donation
• Heal more than 75 people through tissue donation
Since the program’s inception in 2011, the campaign has generated more than 630,000 donor registrations. Organ, eye and tissue donation offers life and hope to those in need and their loved ones. Join Edward-Elmhurst Health and Gift of Hope in this effort and “say, yes” to becoming a registered organ and tissue donor today. It’s easy. Register at https:// www.eehealth.org/ways-to-give/ organ-and-tissue-donation .
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is a not-for-profit organization that coordinates organ and tissue donation and provides public education on donation in Illinois and northwest Indiana. To learn more about organ and tissue donation visit GiftofHope.org.
Project Acclaim made a surprise announcement at the Joliet-Area Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service held on Monday January 16th at Joliet Central High School. “It shall be of no surprise to people in this room that I am here to give Ericka Williams, the co-founder and organizer of this Day of Service, the Reverend James E. Allen Award for Service to the Community,” Project Acclaim member Jayne Bernhard announced to a crowd of over 200 people.
The Reverend James E. Allen Award for Service to the Community recognizes individuals who show selfless devotion of community by direct action that is above and beyond the usual call of duty as well as perform actions that have a community-wide impact and enhance the community. Honored individuals also perform actions that promote Project Acclaim’s Mission. Project Acclaim was founded in 1985 by the Reverend James E. Allen as a civic pride
recognition organization. Its mission is to promote a positive image of the Joliet area and its people, engage residents and organizations to make their neighborhoods better, and partner with anyone or any organization working toward the same end.
Ericka is the Co-Founder of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, along with R. Dale Evans. When R. Dale moved out of state, Ericka kept the legacy of service alive by working with Joliet Township High School. “The MLK Day of Service is 16-year tradition in the Joliet-area community, drawing between 750 to 1,000 volunteers who complete service projects for organizations throughout the community,” said Ericka Williams. “It is an event for all ages where families can volunteer sided-byside. Whatever the age or ability, there is a project for everyone as we make our community stronger while honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”
She estimated that in the 16 years, the community has come together to complete 17,110 hours of service donated to 369 community projects.
Projects can include painting, cleaning, organizing, volunteering in food pantries, making blankets for the homeless, decorating valentines for veterans and much more. “We invite residents of all ages and backgrounds to help advance Dr. King’s vision of equality and opportunity for all by making the holiday a ‘A Day On, Not A Day Off,” said Ericka Williams.
Ericka is also a leader of the annual Family Fun Fest held at the Joliet Slammer’s Ball Park in the summer. The event is free to the public and includes community resources for children and families, free food, music, games, and more.
Ericka Williams serves as the Manager of Family and Child Support Services for Catholic Charities of Joliet. In this
role she goes above and beyond, donating hours of her time to plan community events while serving as a volunteer.
She is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. where she dedicates service throughout the community.
SUBMITTED PHOTOThe Joliet Central High School Speech Team finished 7th in state at the IHSA State Finals in the short film category for their film titled, “Gone.” This is the third year in a row that Central’s short film has been named a State Finalist, placing in the top 8 each year. The IHSA Short Film competition is a newer event that requires schools to create a 5-minute short film that is written, produced, filmed, and performed by high school students. This year, 40 schools participated in the event this year from all over the state and the number of participants is expected to grow next year. If it does, it will be the most competitive spring drama event hosted by IHSA.
Joliet Central’s state-placing film was directed by Micah Gabriel, filmed by Jay Granados Flores, sound-teched by Arielle Parker, and starred in by seniors Alexandra Widlak and Zoey Denson. The Joliet Central Short Film Sponsor is Joe Hoyt.
The award-winning short film can be viewed on Central’s drama website, www.jolietcentraldrama.org, under the Short Film tab.
