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Saturday, April 19, 2014
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Schools and their financials ISBE releases 2014 Financial Profile By Donna Barker dbarker@bcrnews.com
The Illinois State Board of Education has released the 2014 Financial Profile for school districts, including the 14 public school districts in Bureau County.
Eight of those local school districts received the highest “recognition” rating, followed by three with a “financial review” rating, two with “early warning” ratings, and one with the lowest “watch” rating. Statewide, 560 of approx-
imately 830 school districts achieved the highest financial recognition rating, which is down slightly from the year before. Forty-nine districts statewide received the lowest financial watch rating. Following the announcement, Illinois State Superintendent Christopher Koch said the Illinois State
Board of Education (ISBE) has been monitoring the financial condition of school districts since the 1980s. The overall goal of the financial profile is to objectively assess the financial health of school districts in order for the public to gain a better understanding of where their schools rank in com-
parison to others, he said. With the state’s budget in crisis, schools have been getting less money than they are entitled to receive under the formula used to distribute funds to schools, Koch said. At the same time, costs are going up, putting pressure on schools to make cuts or deal with red ink, he said.
80 percent
By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
See United Way Page 4
See Schools Page 4
“You cannot change the needed things above you for the benefit of students.”
Anderson on BCUW campaign: ‘A successful one’
PRINCETON — The Bureau County United Way has wrapped up its 2014 campaign with 80 percent of its $120,000 goal raised. BCUW Executive Director Andrea Anderson calls her first-year campaign “a successful one. “We did it. There were days when I didn’t know if I was coming or going, but to be able to serve the community… and make 80 percent of goal — not bad for just starting out last August,” she said. Keeping peoples’ minds on the awareness of what the BCUW does and who it supports plus how 99 percent of the monies raised stay in the county are reasons behind why Anderson believes it was an effective campaign. “You wouldn’t believe a county this size would have things like homeless and hungry, if it wasn’t for these 14 nonprofit agencies the BCUW supports. Where would they go? What would they do?” She questioned. “We’re keeping that message strong. This county needs these resources to survive and thrive, and without it, we would go the other way.” As the campaign winds down, there will be some time for Anderson to sit down and begin setting her own agenda for the next campaign kickoff.
One area school receiving the early warning financial rating was Princeton Elementary School District. That rating came as no surprise to PES Superintendent Tim Smith or the PES Board based on the audit report received last fall.
David Higgs
DePue principal resigns By Goldie Currie gcurrie@bcrnews.com
BCR photo/Mike Vaughn
A time for prayer and reflection Sunday is Easter, and many churches throughout the area will hold special Easter services to celebrate the holiday. In the Christian faith, the Easter holiday represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ with his death on Good Friday and his resurrection on Sunday morning. The day will also be celebrated with family gatherings, dinners and the traditional Easter egg hunt.
DEPUE — DePue Schools Principal David Higgs has resigned from his position effective July 1. The school board accepted his resignation at Wednesday’s board meeting. Higgs has held the position of principal for the past three years. While there was no discussion regarding his resignation before it was approved, Higgs agreed to an interview with the Bureau County Republican a day following the board’s approval. On Thursday, he admitted he had been considering the decision since last spring when the school board offered him a superintendent’s contract and the deal fell through. “The reasons are varied,” he said. “Some are the same as principals before me in that as a principal, you cannot change the needed things above you for the benefit of students.” Next year will mark the fourth principal in eight years at DePue, according to Higgs.
See Higgs Page 4
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