From a District 150 press release:

Planning and Budget Committee Members

As announced at the February 2 meeting, the Board of Education is establishing a special committee to assist with the school district’s budgeting issues. Below is a list of the appointed members to the Planning and Budget Committee.

Mr. Pat Roesler
Chief Financial Officer, G & D. Integrated

Mrs. Lois Boaz
Retired Caterpillar Executive with experience in accounting, business analysis and Six Sigma

Mr. Erik Bush
Chief Financial Officer, Peoria County

Mr. David Underwood
Vice President of Finance & Chief Financial Officer Proctor Hospital

Mr. Charles Randle
President, Illinois Business Financial Services

Dr. Bernie Goitein
Professor of Business Management & Administration at Bradley University

Mr. Ken Casper
Retired Banker

Mr. Larry Williams
Retired Superintendent and Business Manager of Illinois Valley Community School District

The main functions of the committee include:

• develop financial templates for presenting and outlining the district budget; allowing easy assessment and financial impact of proposals, suggestions and changes
• establish a “district finances” section on the district website
• create one-page documents explaining school district financial terms and how these issues impact Peoria Public Schools. Examples include: Title I, Special Education Funding, Corporate and Property Taxes, Public Building Commission Funding and TIF Districts.

This sounds like a real positive step for District 150. My hat’s off to these community members who have stepped up to lend their expertise to Peoria’s public schools. And I commend the board for putting this group together and setting goals for greater transparency in the district’s financial dealings. If these goal are attained, I think it will go a long way toward reestablishing some trust in District 150.