RANKIN – The Rankin Village Board voted 5-1 Thursday night to fire the village's part-time police chief, Chris White, despite the threat of lawsuits from White's private attorney.

White's termination, effective immediately, came one day before he was scheduled to return to his job. For undisclosed reasons, the board had voted to suspend White without pay for two weeks on Aug. 5. White has said the suspension was due to concerns over the police department's budget, but the board declined to confirm that.

Mayor Aaron Warren and the six village board members declined to comment on the decision. White also declined to comment.

The board met for nearly an hour in executive session to discuss terminating White as police chief, a job he had held for five years.

Before the closed session, White's attorney, Mike Zopf of Champaign, warned the board that legal action would be imminent if White were to be fired.

"If the concern is about your budget, I can tell you right now that if you fire him tonight, you will exceed your legal budget by five times in 35 days," Zopf said.

Warren said the village's most experienced officer, Tim Condon, will continue to serve as interim police chief until a permanent replacement is appointed, likely next month.

Warren said it is possible the board will not hire a new officer, which would mean the department would be left with three part-time officers, instead of the four it had with White as police chief.

White, a Paxton resident, ran unsuccessfully for Ford County sheriff in February's Republican primary election.

WILL BRUMLEVE

Read more in the Paxton Record

UNIT 7 SCHOOLS

Unity superintendent presents deficit budget

TOLONO – The tentative 2010-2011 Unity school district budget, OK'd by the school board Wednesday, is $330,000 in the red.

Some cuts were made, but district Superintendent Andrew Larson said the budget was difficult to gauge when state payments for transportation are 50 percent of last year and a 10 percent decrease (about $500,000) in general state aid is forecast.

Larson said the district would continue to maintain programs and do what is best for the children. About $483,000 is reported to be coming from federal funds recently approved by Congress.

"Everything revolves around how the state impacts us," he said.

The budget is available for review at the superintendent's office through Sept. 14. A budget hearing will be held at the next regular board meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at the district's central office.

In other business, the board approved advertising for a part-time treasurer for the district. The position would close a gap noted by auditors for several years. A treasurer would handle semimonthly financial duties now performed by the district secretary.

LINDA GOERSCH

Read more in the County Star

HERITAGE SCHOOL BOARD

Stimulus money to help with state aid deficit

BROADLANDS – About 13 percent of the Heritage district's projected $600,000 state aid deficit will be offset by the latest federal stimulus package. Superintendent Allen Hall said the district stands to receive $78,000 in stimulus money.

In another matter, Hall said construction at the high school is proceeding on schedule. He said the new kitchen and gym should be ready for use by early to mid-October. The new kitchen and gym at the Homer building will not be available until late January.

The district plans to open the new additions for public viewing about a month after their completion, he said.

Principal Chris Kerns said the junior high and elementary school will cope with limited space during construction by serving hot lunch in the hall, so that all students fit in the cafeteria for lunch.

SIV SCHWINK

News Gazette Correspondent

ST. JOSEPH GRADE SCHOOL BOARD

Award honors high performance at low cost

ST. JOSEPH – District 169 has been given a Bright Star Award.

The award is given to districts that "shine in spite of low funding." The award is based on districts with highest student performance at lowest cost.

The award given by School Search honors 81 Illinois school districts (out of 869) whose students' academic performance (average ISAT scores at or above 87.73 percent) ranks in the upper third of Illinois districts, but whose expenditure per pupil (at or below $7,939 per pupil) ranks in the lower fourth of Illinois districts.

NORA MABERRY

Read more in the Leader