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Skokie SD 69 to remain with Niles Township treasurer; administration recommends appointing trustee under new state law
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Sonali Patil told the Board that House Bill 0305 requires Cook County districts to either withdraw from township treasurers or appoint a trustee; administration recommends staying with the Niles Township School Treasurer's Office to avoid duplication of services and appointing Dr. Patil as the districts trustee, with a resolution planned for Sept. 17.
Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Dr. Sonali Patil told the Board that a recently signed state law, House Bill 0305, gives Cook County school districts two options: appoint a school trustee or withdraw from the township treasurer's authority.
"House Bill 0305 requires School Districts that are part of Cook County to either appoint a school trustee or pass a resolution to withdraw from the township treasurer," Patil said, summarizing the statute and the 60-day timeline it creates for districts. She told trustees the Niles Township School Treasurer's Office currently provides consolidated treasury services (pooled investing, bank reconciliation, tax coordination, and financial software maintenance) for D69 and ten other districts and that a review of those services produced high satisfaction among member districts.
Patil said that withdrawing would require Skokie SD 69 to appoint its own treasurer and assume additional financial duties and staffing costs currently shared among the member districts. "By remaining with the Treasurer's office, we are able to reduce expenses and avoid redundant costs across districts," she said. The administration therefore recommended the Board not withdraw and to appoint a trustee of schools to represent District 69 on the Niles Township Treasurer Board. Patil said the administration is recommending that Dr. Sonali Patil be appointed as the trustee and that a resolution to continue participation and appoint the trustee will be placed on the Board agenda for Sept. 17.
No formal vote on the recommendation occurred on Aug. 20; trustees were presented the administrations evaluation and the forthcoming resolution. The decision deadline created by HB 0305 and the district's recommendation to remain with the township treasurer are procedural matters the Board will act on at its next regular meeting.
