U-46 board approves $32 million in bills and upholds student suspension; November finances reflect tax-timing deficit

The U-46 Board of Education on Jan. 26 approved a recommended list of bills totaling $32,017,137.98 by roll-call vote. Administration presented the payments as part of the consent/discussion agenda; the motion passed with all board members recorded as voting yes.

Separately, the board voted to affirm the findings of a hearing officer and uphold the suspension of a student identified in the record as Student A. The motion to affirm was moved, seconded and approved by roll call with all members voting yes.

Robin Cornelison, executive director of financial services, presented the November 2025 monthly financial report and said the district reflected a November deficit driven primarily by Cook County property-tax timing: she reported November ended with a deficit of about $32.3 million and a year-to-date actual deficit of $47.3 million, noting that last year the district received $73.9 million from Cook County earlier in the fiscal year. Cornelison said the district’s audited fund balance and combined cash and investments total about $822.7 million and that recent December and January deposits of $50.6 million had improved cash flow; she said final distributions were anticipated to be completed in February.

Board members asked whether Cook County had resolved its issues; Cornelison said the county provided correspondence indicating distributions would continue and that the district expected to receive outstanding receipts within 30 days of receipt by the county. Administration framed the deficit as timing-driven and said liquidity metrics (about 307 days cash on hand reported) provide the district a stable position to manage the temporary shortfall.