School leaders react over treasurer’s office

Updated: July 3, 2012 9:41AM

Superintendent Tim Kilrea of Lyons Township High School District 204 said he is monitoring the situation at the Lyons Township School Treasurer’s Office and has no concerns with how the office has handled the high school’s payroll or investments.

“I think it’s an internal issue and a transparency issue that has been raised,” Kilrea said.

Superintendent Warren Shillingburg of La Grange Elementary District 102 said Treasurer Robert Healy’s pay-out is a policy matter for the Lyons Township Trustees of Schools Board to work out.

“It’s a policy issue they need to really look at, either to fix or clarify,” Shillingburg said. “They would never be able to do that in the public school system. We don’t allow all that time to accrue.”

In District 102, for example, non-union employees can earn up to 15 vacation days a year, which must be used or forfeited. An employee leaving the district is paid for unused vacation days, but only for that year, Shillingburg said.

The superintendent said he’s satisfied with services provided by the office, which rents space from District 102 on the second floor of Barnsdale School, 930 Barnsdale Road, in LaGrange Park.

Superintendent Brian Barnhart of Western Springs Elementary District 101 said district officials are reserving judgment until the township conducts an internal investigation.

“They do a good job with payroll for sure, but we’ve had some concerns on the investments, which we’ve been in discussion with,” Barnhart said.

In reviewing the district’s assets of $150 million to $200 million, District 101 School Board members raised some questions a year ago whether the treasurer’s office is adhering to strict conservative guidelines set forth by state statute, Barnhart said.

“Our board is asking the right questions and looking for appropriate answers we can all be comfortable with,” he said.

Show / Hide Comments