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Chester Board of Education hears audit results

Posted November 18, 2014 10:00 pm

CHESTER -- In tough financial times, the district's cash reserves are making a difference for Chester Community Unit School District No. 139.

The Chester Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday and heard the results of its annual financial report for the fiscal year that ended on June 30. The audit's report is dated Oct. 15.

"The thing that saves you is the Working Cash fund," said Bob Moore, the district's CPA with Belleville-based Moore, Renner and Simonin. "And the money that's in there."

Moore reported to the board that the district is in the category of "Financial Review" after its estimated financial profile summary was completed. The Working Cash fund had more than $1.17 million in it at the end of fiscal year 2014, with the current fiscal year beginning July 1.

The financial summary showed the district has 102 days of Cash on Hand, which corresponds to the amount of time the district would be able to pay its operating expenses without new income.

A full school year is roughly 180 days.

"Lord knows what (the state) is going to do with state aid (for education)," Moore said.

The audit showed a loss of $318,432 in educational receipts and a $82,106 loss in operations and maintenance, but also a $46,016 increase in transportation revenue thanks to $395,631 coming from state sources.

"The state's in such a fiscal mess, I'm not sure how they're going to revamp (state aid) without overhauling the pension system," Moore said. "The Chicago people want to shove it all downstate and not pay for it through state funding."

The board approved a new security system for Chester High School and the district office through Evansville, Ind.-based company Sonitrol. The bulk of the system will cost $46,000 for cameras and other equipment, while an additional $13,000 will go toward keypads and wireless receivers.

Included in the cost is a "panic button" in the school office that will connect directly with the Chester Police Department and 170-degree cameras with night vision.

Seventy-five percent of the costs will be paid through a grant with the state's Capital Development Board. A similar system is being installed at Chester Grade School.

"At both schools, this would be a tremendous upgrade over what we have," said District Superintendent Chris Diddlebock. "I'm hoping to move on it over Christmas break."

Diddlebock said Sonitrol installed a system for Trico CUSD No. 176 at the beginning of the school year and that the company has done projects for other school districts in the area.

In other board action, 2 percent administrative raises for Diddlebock, Chester Grade School Principal Tim Lochhead, Chester High School Principal Tim Keefe and CGS Dean of Students Dave Kaiser were approved.

The raises are the same level as to what the district's teachers received earlier this year.

The board also approved Charles Colvis and Boyd Miles as fifth and sixth grade volunteer basketball coaches at Chester Grade School and increased CGS custodian Roger Surman's hours of employment from six hours to eight hours per day.

The board approved the district bills in the amount of $1,150,751 and payroll in the amount of $408,535.

Principals' Reports:

Both Lochhead and Keefe reported on truancy prevention programs at their respective schools. At each facility, teachers are assigned to help struggling or at-risk students.

At CGS, teachers Jennifer McBride, Lynne Gonzalez, Mary Bohnert and Connie Clendenin have volunteered to participate. Missy Meyer, Bryan Lee and Kristin Petrowski are the student mentors at the high school.

"I really want to pat those people on the back because it does take a lot of time," Lochhead said.

Keefe said students who fail to take upcoming semester exams will result in a failing grade for the class. He said this would prevent students from "self-exempting" out of exams.

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