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The Reporter
Thursday, February 6, 2014
schools
Finances (Continued from page 1)
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Members of the (all-star) band A group of Worth Junior High School students was selected as South Suburban Junior High School Conference All Star Band Members. The students will participate in the All-Star Band performance during the Conference Band Festival on February 19 at Arbor Park Middle School. Members of the team are Crystal Gutierrez (tuba), Rebecca Harkala (trombone), Madelyn Powers (trumpet), Farah Elhoumaidi (flute), Adam Zatar (baritone horn), Zane Cook (tenor saxophone), Rebecca Ruger-Smith (tenor saxophone), Jillian Cabusas (bass clarinet), Matthew Brzeczek (trumpet) and Jakub Zolnik (basson)
Pappas, however, said the $37.5 million is the combined totals for pension liability ($25.3 million) and Other Post Employment Benefits ($12.2 million) which was collected by the district’s pension agency. The total for both pension and OPEB is calculated with the district’s unfunded $23 million, which leaves the funded ratio at 37.8 percent. “Those are their figures, I don’t make the figures or manipulate them in any way,” Pappas said. “Our calculations are done with simple math based on figures they provided.” Langert said the finances are not a ‘’mess.’’ “We have no issues paying our pension obligations, we’ve never missed a payment and we’re very proud of how well we manage debt,” Langert said. “The postretirement insurance benefits are a pay-as-you-go and when our employees retire they are replaced by less expensive employees.” Langert also said that the school district could pay off 100 percent of its pension and OPEB debt. However, according to officials at the Treasurer’s Office, one of the ways to pay off 100 percent would be for the school district to completely pay the debt is by terminating OPEB. By law, the school district is not required to
provide OPEB to its employees and could terminate the program at any time. “I think the intentions are good and they’re trying to promote transparency by providing the taxpayers with this information, but unfortunately they really missed the mark,” Langert said. Langert said he contacted the Cook County Treasurer’s Office to discuss the discrepancies in the figures published on the Cook County website and mailed to taxpayers in CHSD 230’s taxing district. Despite Langert’s concerns the numbers were provided by the IMRF who was overseen by the school district. The taxpayers are able to view the school district’s financial information on the Cook County Treasurer’s Office website, cookcountytreasurer.com, by simply entering their property index number or searching by name of the taxing district. After the meeting, some District 230 members were angry about the way they were portrayed in the media. School board member Tony Serratore called for the Southtown to retract the Jan. 27 column that cited the figures published on Cook County’s website. “The article in the Southtown really got me going on this and I think since they never show up to our meetings anyway, I think we need to address with
them the fact that there needs to be some sort of retraction,” Serratore said. “There was false information printed that is being shared with the residents in our district and I think that needs to be retracted.” Board President Richard Nogal and Gay sent out a statement to the District 230 community Monday with a chart and a message that said “We hope to make clear that the property tax bill inaccurately implies that District 230 has a ‘shortage’ in meeting its pension and healthcare obligations. The District 230 school board and administration have kept a keen eye on its financial obligations and have met and will continue to meet 100 percent of those obligations.’’ Langert said the school district does not want to get into a situation where they say the Cook County Treasurer’s Office numbers are inaccurate and the school district numbers are accurate. However, he hopes next year the numbers more accurately depict the school district’s financial strength. “I’m not surprised that the school districts are upset about the figures they submitted, it shows them in a negative light,” Pappas said. “Taxpayers are starting to see what’s going on in the school districts and municipalities and they are not happy with the way their tax dollars are being spent.”
Bulletin Board Chicago Ridge School District 127.5
Registration Coming Up for 2014-2015 Kindergarten Enrollment. Kindergarten Enrollment for Chicago Ridge School District 127.5 will be held from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17 at Ridge Central School, 10800 S. Lyman Ave. and Ridge Lawn School, 5757 W. 105th St. For more information, call Ridge Central at 636-2001, or Ridge Lawn at 636-2002. A child must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to be eligible
for kindergarten. Parents must bring the child’s original birth certificate and three proofs of residency.
Oak Lawn-Hometown Elementary School District 123
Birth certificates for children born anywhere in Cook County may be obtained from the FifthDistrict Courthouse Building, 10200 South 76th Ave., Bridgeview. For more information call 470-7233. Parents also may go to any local currency exchange and request a birth certificate. For children born within Illinois but outside Cook County, parents can contact the Division of Vital Records, 605 W. Jefferson, Springfield, or call 217-782-6553.
Kolmar Avenue School, 10425 S. Kolmar Ave., Oak Lawn, is hosting preschool registration from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. and from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28 at the school. For more information, call 422-1800.
Pictured are Mara Petraitis, Sara Murczak., Cassidy McCormick., they present Fortuna as their Future City.
Schools registering kindergarteners and preschoolers. Kindergarten Registration will take place from 1 to 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14 at Hometown Elementary School, 8870 S. Duffy Ave. For more information and an appointment, call 857-5020.
program that gives students an opportunity to think like city planners and engineers. Students considered many issues including planning and maintaining their city, taxes and services, emergency, transportation and education matters, zoning and infrastructure, and location. “The girls worked on the proj-
Promotions
Julia Wheaton
21 years,” said Stagg Principal Eric Olsen in a news release. “Bob has been coaching student (Continued from page 1) athletes in the south suburbs staff members with an empha- since 1974 and is one of the most sis on serving the needs of our well respected individuals in Ilstudents throughout her tenure linois high school athletics. in the district. Her leadership, “As Bob closes out his tremenpassion and commitment will cer- dous career, we welcome Terry tainly be missed as she moves on Treasure back home to Stagg to the next chapter in her life.” High School where he began his Fabrizio has been synonymous career in District 230. Terry with Stagg sports over the years. comes to us with a wealth of The former St. Laurence and knowledge and experience in Elmhurst College coach stepped athletics and administration. in the Palos Hills’ school door He has worked closely with col21 years ago and found a home leagues in the Southwest Subhe loved. urban Conference for a number “Coming here has just been a of years and is well respected blessing for me and my family,’’ by administration across the Fabrizio said Monday. “It’s been conference. His diverse expevery good. After this I would like rience, passion for high school to work part time somewhere, athletics and commitment to the maybe do some volunteer work development of young men and and kick back a little bit. I’m women in high school will be not ready just to sit on the side- an asset for the entire Stagg lines.’’ community.” Fabrizio said he and Piatchek Treasure has served District talked about when they would 230 students over the past 20 retire four years ago. years as assistant principal for “I’ll be short of being 62 years athletics and activities, dean of Submitted Photo old when it happens,” Fabrizio students and coach at Sandburg Nancy Kane and Mary Doran, as said. “We both thought overall it and physical education teacher would be the best decision.’’ and coach at Stagg. Stagg bosses say they will He coached numerous Divimiss him. sion I college athletes in football, “It has been an honor for baseball and wrestling, a profesthe students, staff, and admin- sional player in baseball and an ect for months, putting in count- istration at Stagg High School Illinois High School Association less hours after school and on to work with Bob over the past state champion wrestler from weekends, mostly with the help of their families,” said OLHMS Math teacher, Mary Doran. Both Doran and OLHMS Art teacher, Mara Petraitis, said they enjoyed their time at UIC cheering the girls on. — Submitted by Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School
Area students look at the future Three seventh grade students at Oak Lawn Hometown Middle School competed in the 2014 Future City competition at the University of Illinois at Chicago on Jan. 25. Nancy Kane, Sarah Murczek, and Cassidy McCormick, were awarded fourth place in the competition. Future City is an education
Mike Dwyer
Terry Treasure Stagg. Prior to joining District 230 he served as physical education teacher, athletic director and coach at Conrady Junior High School. The School Board also approved Dwyer as athletic director at Andrew High School to replace Piatchek. “We have been blessed with an athletic director who over the past two decades who has been viewed as a leader and resource throughout the State of Illinois,” said Andrew Principal Robert Nolting in a news release. “Rich Piatchek has been a leader in the development of sports like bowling, competitive dance, and cheerleading at the state level and Andrew has been a marquee venue for IHSA for years due to his ability to organize and run top notch events,’’ Andrew Principal Robert Nolting said in a news release. “I have confidence that Mike Dwyer will maintain that leadership while making important changes to move our athletic programs forward.’’ Dwyer has served the Andrew High School community since 1998 as a social studies teacher, assistant athletic director and coach. He has coached varsity football and boys track and field for 16 years, serving the last eight as the offensive coordinator and head boys track coach since 2005.
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Shaping up at the Bulls/Sox Academy First through eight-grade students at St. Bernadette Catholic Academy attended a field trip to the Bulls/Sox Academy in Lisle on January 30. Students participated in cutting-edge exer-gaming activities. They also listened to various health-living messages from professional athletes. Students who participated were Romeo Hughes, Dameon Hall, William Sullivan, Ifechukwumere Okolo, Hannah O’Neill, Anna Fitzpatrick, Kathleen Jacobson, Jeremiah Powell, Reginald Sykes III, Ja’Niya Williams, Chiomo Okolo, Mia Tolbert, Zachary Zawisza, Daniel McKeown and Magnus Gertonson.