While many of the students and faculty of Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 are on spring break, work continues across the district.
Throughout the district office and across all D123 buildings, members of the district office administration, support staff, and custodial/maintenance teams are diligently completing tasks essential to District 123.
“Even though spring break is just one week long, empty buildings give us the opportunity to get a head start on summer maintenance and cleaning routines that we have traditionally reserved for June, July, and August. We have found that cleaning key areas of the buildings like the libraries, give us the space necessary for the many activities and classes that our district hosts for the community each summer,” said Paul Anderson, the Director of Building and Grounds at District 123.
Members of the buildings and grounds team are not the only ones putting in the hours over spring break.
Staff members from the business office are hard at work preparing this year’s application for the Meritorious Budget Award (MBA) from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). District 123 has received the award for the past 4 years, and are confident they are heading toward another win in 2019.
“The MBA review process provides the district with feedback from other districts who also adhere to the MBA budget guidelines to create a comprehensive financial projection that is continually improved year after year. This provides a complete budget document to our community that transparently communicates to all who are interested in D123’s financial health, explaining both the why and the how,” said Dr. Mike Loftin, the Assistant Superintendent of Business at District 123.
The 2018 ASBO document and presentation of the District 123 budget can be found here on the d123.org website. Superintendent Dr. Paul Enderle knows the amount of work and resources that are poured into the 120-page document but also recognizes how important this information is to the broader community.
“Our new School District 123 Strategic Plan Goal 3, holds us accountable to the community for responsible use of funding and fiscal transparency, Dr. Paul Enderle said. “This award is one piece of evidence the community can use to ensure that our district continues to manage resources efficiently, effectively, and transparently to enhance learning and demonstrate high levels of fiscal responsibility. Receiving this award for the past 4 years reflects our district’s commitment to sound fiscal management and budgetary policy.”