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D-428 Competing for mutual gain approves Castle Challenge hosting 15th football game fundraiser fiscal ’15 budget “It’s sad we’re begging and pleading and here we’re happy that our proration is going to be [89.1 percent], instead of 85 percent. Still not 100 percent.” Andrea Gorla Assistant superintendent of business and finance
By JILLIAN DUCHNOWSKI jduchnowski@shawmedia.com DeKALB – DeKalb School District 428 board members approved a budget for this academic year with a $3.1 million operating deficit, which is about $341,000 less than previously anticipated. Overall, the spending plan for the fiscal year that started July 1 includes $74.1 million in revenue and $77.2 million in expenses in its operating funds. District leaders expect to have an operating fund balance of about $20.5 million June 30, 2015, which is just more than 26 percent of the budgeted expenses. District leaders try to keep a fund balance of between 15 and 25 percent of the overall operating expenses. Board members passed the budget, 6-0, while board member Cohen Barnes was absent. In the month or so since school board members reviewed a draft budget, district leaders learned they would get $819,412 more than previously anticipated in general state aid, according to board documents. “It’s sad we’re begging and pleading and here we’re happy that our proration is going to be [89.1 percent,] instead of 85 percent,” said Andrea Gorla, assistant superintendent of business and finance. “Still not 100 percent.” In the past four years, state officials have prorated
See D-428, page A3
Photo illustration by Danielle Guerra
Sycamore’s Austin Kosusnik (left) approaches a tackling dummy during practice Tuesday while DeKalb quarterback Derek Kyler (right) takes a snap during practice. Both school teams are preparing to play in the 15th Castle Challenge set for Friday. To date, more than $850,000 has been raised for the two schools’ boosters programs, which provide funding for uniforms, equipment and other needs. By JESSI HAISH jhaish@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Fifteen years ago, Gary Evans was courtside at a middle school basketball game when he noticed the DeKalb team sporting three different varieties of jerseys. Although Evans’ son was playing for the Sycamore team, he thought there could be something done to get the DeKalb team some better, matching uniforms. He worked with Castle Bank co-worker Ron Bemis, who had children in DeKalb schools, to come up with a plan. “The original concept was to get the business community involved,” said Evans, Castle Bank business development director. “The DeKalb-Sycamore games had always been a big deal, and we didn’t
feel like they were taking advantage of all the people involved, and the sports boosters could make some money.” The Castle Challenge was created in 2000 by Evans and Bemis as several local companies bought sponsorships toward a football game between the rivals. Castle Bank still leads sponsorship of the event, inviting local businesses to contribute as well. This year’s football game will be Friday at Huskie Stadium; a basketball game will be held in January. To date, more than $850,000 has been raised for the two schools’ boosters programs, which provide funding for uniforms, equipment and other needs. Other Castle Challenge events have been added in recent years for additional schools,
See CHALLENGE, page A2
If you go n What: Castle Challenge: DeKalb vs. Sycamore n When: Friday – Sophomore game starts at 4:30 p.m., Varsity game starts at 7:30 p.m.; tailgate opens at 4 p.m. n Where: NIU Huskie Stadium n Cost: Tailgate tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for students (Includes porkchop sandwich dinner and admission) n Information: CastleChallenge.com
Voice your opinion Do you plan to attend the DeKalb vs. Sycamore football game Friday night? Vote online at Daily-Chronicle.com.
General: Ground troops possible to battle Islamic State in Iraq The ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON – American ground troops may be needed to battle Islamic State forces in the Middle East if President Barack Obama’s current strategy fails, the nation’s top military officer said Tuesday as Congress plunged into an election-year debate of Obama’s plan to expand airstrikes and train Syrian rebels. A White House spokesman said quickly the president “will not” send ground forces into combat, but Gen. Martin Dempsey said Obama had personally told him to come back
on a “case by case basis” if the military situation changed. “To be clear, if we reach the point where I believe our advisers should accompany Iraqi troops on attacks against specific ISIL targets, I will recommend that to the president,” Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, declared in testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee. He referred to the militants by an alternative name. Pressed later by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the panel’s chairman, the four-star general said if Obama’s current approach isn’t enough to prevail,
he might “go back to the president and make a recommendation that may include the use of ground forces.” Dempsey’s testimony underscored the dilemma confronting many lawmakers as the House moves through its own debate Gen. Martin on authorizing Dempsey the Pentagon to implement the policy Obama announced last week. In Iraq on Tuesday, the U.S. continued the military campaign, carry-
ing out two airstrikes northwest of Irbil and three southwest of Baghdad. Democrats in Washington spoke of a fear that the United State might inevitably become dragged into yet another ground war on the heels of Afghanistan and Iraq. “We must ... ask ourselves if we can truly ‘vet’ these rebel groups beyond their known affiliations, and ensure we are not arming the next extremist threat to the region and the world,” said Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind. The same question came up at the Senate hearing, and Ha-
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gel said the U.S. will monitor closely to ensure that weapons don’t fall into the wrong hands. “We have come a long way” in our ability to vet the moderate opposition, and the U.S. has learned a lot as it has funneled nonlethal aid to the rebels, Dempsey said. House Republicans said they worried Obama was responding tepidly to the current threat by terrorists who have overrun large sections of Iraq and Syria and beheaded two American journalists. “If it’s important enough to fight, it’s important enough to win,” said Rep. Jack Kingston,
R-Ga., one of the first lawmakers to address the subject in several hours of scheduled debate. A vote was expected in the House today, and in the Senate within days. In the Senate, Republican leader Mitch McConnell said he would support the measure and Democratic leader Harry Reid predicted bipartisan approval. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi also supports the legislation. The timetable was remarkably rapid by congressional standards, the result of a strong desire by lawmakers in both parties to adjourn quickly and return home to campaign for re-election.
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