NL_020118

4 | February 1, 2018 | The New Lenox Patriot News
newlenoxpatriot.com
‘Back on the road to financial recovery’
Lincoln-Way D210
officials paint rosy
picture for financial,
academic future
F. Amanda Tugade
Freelance Reporter
According to the Lincoln-
Way High School Community
District 210 Board of
Education, the year 2018
will offer more opportunities
for students to grow
independently and academically
in a supportive learning
environment.
Whether it is expanding
the curriculum to include
more AP classes or exploring
different options to integrate
technology into the
classroom, the Board of Education
is committed to providing
their high-schoolers
a chance to discover themselves
and prepare for the
next steps ahead.
The Board of Education’s
State of the District, which
was held Thursday, Jan. 25,
at Lincoln-Way Central’s
Performing Arts Center, became
a platform for Superintendent
Scott Tingley to
tout the district’s achievements
as he reviewed a list
of goals and expectations
for the current school year
and a look ahead into the
future.
While Tingley pointed
out that the district’s 98
percent graduation rate is
impressive, he shared that
one of his main concerns is
the students’ performance
on the SAT exams. At the
event, he presented a chart
that compared the district’s
overall SAT scores in 2017
with other high schools in
the south suburbs of Chicago.
Out of 10 schools ranked,
Lemont High School came
Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Superintendent Scott Tingley addresses the crowd during the district’s
first State of the District Thursday, Jan. 25. Tingley and other staff discussed the district’s academic and financial outlook.
Geoff Stellfox/22nd Century Media
out on top with an overall
average score of 1132, followed
by Lincoln-Way East
and Lincoln-Way Central
with 1123 and 1108, respectively.
Plainfield North was
fourth with its score of 1091,
and Lincoln-Way West came
after with 1085.
The highest possible score
that students can earn on the
SAT is 1600.
“You know, I was disappointed
that we were not
one, two and three,” Tingley
said, adding both Lemont
and Plainfield North “snuck
in there.”
“Our goal next year when
we come back is to be one,
two and three. I think that’s
very possible,” Tingley said.
In 2016, the state of Illinois
replaced ACT exams
with the SATs. Tingley said
district students’ scores will
improve when they become
accustomed to the SAT format,
and that progress will
take place over time.
Tingley and Director of
Instruction Aimee Feehery
talked of ways the district
is also preparing their highschoolers
for college. The
two discussed their effort in
broadening the curriculum
to make room for more AP
courses.
District 210 offers 34
out of the 38 possible AP
courses available through
the College Board, Feehery
said. New this year were AP
Chinese language and culture,
and computer science
principles.
AP classes are typically
geared toward upperclassman,
but, by next year, freshmen
will have the chance to
take AP human geography.
“[Science, technology,
engineering and math] isn’t
just for our college-bound
students, though,” Feehery
said. “Our career and tech
department offers opportunities
for apprenticeships, internships
and certifications.
“Our welding courses, for
example, continues to lead
the way in local and national
competitions. Our newest
course, entrepreneurship, offers
University of Iowa dual
credit.”
Feehery added that the
Lincoln-Way high schools
have programs designed to
serve students at every level,
especially those who are atrisk
or have special needs.
Overall, the district is invested
in understanding and
caring for their teens’ social
and emotional needs.
Making money moves
As for the district’s finances,
Tingley and Assistant
Superintendent of Business
Brad Cauffman maintained
that is a work in progress.
“In fiscal year, ‘17, the
district achieved a surplus of
$4.81 million; $2.9 million
was from normal operations,
and $1.9 million was from
land sales,” Cauffman said.
“The district is on track to
receive a $6.8 million surplus
this year, including land
sale proceeds of $4.5 million.”
Taking that into account,
Cauffman said the district
is “back on the road to financial
recovery,” and by
the end of the school year,
it “may be off the financial
watch list.”
According to the Illinois
Board of Education, the
School District Financial
Profile is comprised of four
categories: financial recognition,
financial review,
financial early warning and
financial watch.
Cauffman explained briefly
that there is a chance the
district could move to the
early warning status, as long
as it stays determined to repairing
its financial health.
He said that the Board of
Education has been proactive
in repairing its finances.
Monitoring internal control
policies, holding a financial
forum to discuss
revenue enhancement and
developing a five-year financial
forecast are just some
of the ways the Board has
sought change.
To that effect, Tingley assured
that the district can
manage Lincoln-Way East,
Lincoln-Way West and Lincoln-Way
Central.
“The district can effectively
and efficiently operate
three high schools, as long
as we have 6,000 students,”
Tingley said. “I often get
asked, ‘What’s going to happen
with West? Can you operate
three high schools?’
“The answer is as long
as there is 6,000 students,
there’s no discussion of
anything other than three.
For a discussion of four,
we’d have to be at 8,000,
but, for now, we’re effective
and efficient operating
three outstanding high
schools.”