On Thursday, November 6th, the District 118 community came together to voice strong concerns regarding the management of district-level finances and operations, as well as the accelerated pace at which the district is advancing the proposed Strategic Budget Deficit Reduction (BDR) Plan.

Despite thoughtful questions and substantial testimony from staff, parents, and community members, answers were not provided, nor was clarity given. The Board of Education did not request follow-up information, additional review time, or further explanation regarding unresolved concerns, including but not limited to:

• The root causes of the approximately $5 million deficit
• How long has the strategic budget deficit plan been in development, and by whom
• The rationale and urgency behind voting on the plan next week
• If adjustments are possible, why have staffing decisions already been communicated
• What other expenditures were evaluated to reduce the deficit, including overtime costs and unpaid school fees
• The criteria used to determine reductions and role eliminations
• Whether a third-party review or an independent audit has ever been conducted
• Why those previously responsible for financial oversight are leading the proposed solution
• Whether role redundancies and operational inefficiencies were evaluated before the classroom-level impact
• Why have district administrative roles and responsibilities not been reviewed, consolidated, or restructured
• What data supports preserving roles without direct student impact over those that directly serve classrooms
• The discrepancy between public assurances and the district’s own presentation materials
• The long-term academic, operational, and equity impacts of this plan

The district has repeatedly stated that proposed solutions would be student-centered and would not impact classrooms, yet the district’s own materials and communications directly contradict these statements.

At the meeting, community members urged the Board and Administration to uphold District 118’s stated goals and challenged leadership to:

Show your work.
Do what is right, not what is easy.

There was a consistent request for transparency, evidence, and a clearly communicated plan grounded in data and accountability.

The community also noted strong year-over-year improvement on District 118’s State Report Card. While those scores are not a complete comparison across Lake County, they demonstrate meaningful progress within our schools. If these gains are cited as markers of district success, that success must be correctly attributed to the teachers and staff who drive those outcomes. Those individuals should be recognized, supported, and prioritized in decisions that impact student learning.

Therefore, we respectfully petition the Board of Education to:

1). Issue a public Request for Proposal (RFP) for a qualified, independent auditing firm
2). Select a third-party auditor with no current or prior relationship to District 118
3). Conduct a comprehensive Financial and Operational Audit that will:

• Review five (5) fiscal years of district financial records, expenditures, forecasting, and budget practices to identify the root cause of the deficit and ensure full financial transparency
• Evaluate organizational structure, administrative roles, operational efficiency, and opportunities to protect classroom support before non-classroom reductions
• Deliver a public report of findings and provide actionable recommendations for long-term financial sustainability, operational integrity, and improved oversight
  For clarity: This petition does not assume fraud or unlawful intent. However, even in the absence of misappropriation, mismanagement, insufficient oversight, and flawed financial planning are equally harmful when they result in deficit, instability, and loss of trust. Regardless of the cause, a full independent review is necessary.

4). Ensure that the audit findings and recommendations are completed and publicly presented before any final Board vote on the Budget Deficit Reduction Plan

Decisions of this scale and impact must be grounded in verified data, independent analysis, and full transparency, not assumptions or incomplete information.

This independent review is essential, a non-negotiable. 

Our district cannot move forward with clear, verified answers. 

Our students and staff need support and stability.

Our community expects decisions rooted in transparency, accountability, and a commitment to protecting those who learn and work in our schools. It is time for district leadership and the Board to meet the same standard.