LTHS In 'Excellent Financial Position'

LA GRANGE, IL – Lyons Township High School is in an "excellent financial position," expected to keep large surpluses on hand for years to come.

On Monday, Brian Stachacz, the school's business services director, gave the school board a five-year budget forecast.

Under his projections, the school's fund balances will increase to $49 million in five years, from $47 million now.

That available cash is enough to run the school for more than six months.

"We are in an excellent financial position moving forward based on what we know now," Stachacz told the board.

He acknowledged his numbers could be wrong because they are projections. To make his point, he said he could not have predicted the inflation over the last year.

Board President Kari Dillon said she appreciated that Stachacz did not present overly optimistic numbers.

Stachacz said that was his approach.

"I try to be reasonably conservative and not say things that are not true," he said.

Not all school districts are in the same position. In recent months, Elmhurst School District 205 has approved major cost overruns for building projects. That has led some board members to fear the district may not have enough cash on hand.