Center Cass Gets Lower Financial Rating Than Most

DARIEN, IL – Nearly 90 percent of Illinois' school districts are considered at the top financial level, meaning they require little or no review from the state.

Center Cass School District 66, however, is one level below, labeled "review." It is seeking a tax increase, which may improve its status.

Center Cass serves students in parts of Darien and Downers Grove.

Statewide, 74 of the state's 851 districts are in the "review" category. Twenty-eight districts are in the two lowest levels – "financial early warning" and "financial watch."

For "review" status, the Illinois School Board of Education monitors a district for potential downward trends.

Most area districts are in the top category, labeled "recognition." Among the exceptions are Elmhurst School District 205, Western Springs School District 101 and Maercker School District 60, which all have "review" status.

On June 28, Center Cass voters are set to decide whether to increase property taxes by nearly 25 percent.

In an email to Patch, Superintendent Andrew Wise said the district is trending toward the even lower "early warning" status.

"If we do not obtain more revenue, we will eventually hit Early Warning, and when that happens, the State says they will be monitoring the District closely and offering proactive technical assistance as well as considering instituting a State run Financial Oversight Panel," Wise said. "We are one of five districts in DuPage County with a profile score of Review and are tied for the second lowest profile calculation in the County."

Wise also said Center Cass had the 40th largest annual deficit at $575,000 out of the state's 851 districts last year. The district, he said, spends $1,000 less per student than the county average and $2,000 less than the DuPage County average.

According to the district, it has the eighth lowest property tax rate of 27 DuPage County elementary districts.

Administrators in Center Cass make more money than the state and DuPage County averages. At the same time, the district says it employs fewer administrators per student.

The district also provided numbers to the public showing that teacher salaries are higher in Center Cass than the average of other elementary districts in DuPage County.

According to four-year averages, the pay for a Center Cass teacher is $75,917, higher than the county's $72,462.

Compared to other districts, a greater percentage of Center Cass teachers hold advanced degrees. Teacher retention rates are also higher in Center Cass.

Teachers with advanced degrees and more years of service make more money.