Published: May 22, 2008 09:03 am      

Eight county schools showing improved finances

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Nearly 70 percent of Illinois school districts showed improved financial health, according to information from the Illinois State Board of Education. One local school, Summersville, was notified last month that their 2008 School District Financial Profile has placed them in the Financial Recognition range with a 3.9 out of 4.0 total score.

This designation, according to information from Summersville Superintendent Steve Danner, denotes that the school district is in the highest category of financial achievement based upon their 2007 fiscal year financial statements and the 2008 School District Financial Profile. As a result, ISBE has commended Summersville for achieving excellent financial status, with state Superintendent of Education Dr. Christopher A. Koch requesting the district administration to consider mentoring other districts in the areas of educational finance.

ISBE’s annual financial profile of the state’s public schools shows a growing number of schools making financial improvements. Other Jefferson County schools receiving Financial Recognition are Bethel Grade School, Bluford Grade School, Farrington Grade School, Grand Prairie Grade School, Opdyke-Belle Rive schools, Waltonville District 1 and Webber Township High School.

“There are no easy decisions when it comes to school funding, but this clearly shows that local boards are being good stewards with the resources the governor and lawmakers have been able to provide them,” said Koch. “It’s very promising to see districts making these financial improvements.”

The School District Financial Profile was designed to better illustrate information on school district finances and to establish financial designation lists for all school districts. The Financial Profile is based on the State Board’s analysis of school districts’ June 30, 2007, Annual Financial Reports.

Each district in the state receives a designation in one of the following four categories (highest to lowest): Financial Recognition; Financial Review; Financial Early Warning; and Financial Watch.

For the 2008 Financial Profile of 873 districts, there are:

— 602 Financial Recognition school districts, up from 356 in 2004 and 513 in 2007;

— 182 Financial Review school districts, compared to 193 in 2007;

— 59 Financial Early Warning school districts, compared to 115 in 2007; and

— 30 Financial Watch school districts, down from 53 in 2007.

The 2008 Financial Profile can be found online at http://www.isbe.net/sfms/P/profile.htm.