Batavia school board honors outgoing superintendent, presents preliminary budget

The Batavia District 101 School Board honored outgoing Superintendent Lisa Hichens and presented the district’s preliminary budget for next year at its June 20 meeting.

Hichens is retiring at the end of the month after 22 years of service in Batavia. Her positions have ranged from teaching math at Batavia High School for three years to becoming dean of students to assistant principal of learning and superintendent for the past 10 years.

Board members thanked Hichens for her service to the district and offered congratulations on her retirement.

Board vice president Aaron Kilburg described Hichens as kind, curious, collaborative, strong, intelligent and humble.

“I can say without reservation to the community that Lisa has given her absolute best every day in service to the students and people of this district,” Kilburg said.

Hichens visited all of Batavia’s schools during her first day on the job and plans to do the same on her last day as superintendent.

“As I’m walking around the school, it’s a whole journey,” Hichens said. “And it’s so fun to meet people along the way. And all of the characters that I meet, I just feel like everybody, I’ll take you all with me. You’re the best.”

Incoming Superintendent Tom Kim will begin July 1.

Drew Ray, vice president of the Batavia Education Association, welcomed Kim to the district.

“The BEA is excited to roll up our collective sleeves with senior management and do the good work together,” Ray said. “It may be summer, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t time to work toward addressing the needs of our students and staff.”

At the meeting, Tony Inglese, the district’s chief financial officer, reviewed highlights of the preliminary budget.

“It’s still under development and it will continue to undergo revision for the next few months until we adopt it,” Inglese said.

The budget report estimates about $130 million in revenue and about $127 million in expenditures.

Inglese expects there will be about $2.7 million as surplus.

But with unforeseen expenditures, Inglese said he expects that amount to decline.

“I fully expect that number to dwindle as we sharpen our pencils and get more accurate on salaries and benefits,” Inglese said. “And so if that number gets too small, the very first place that we would turn to is that contingency.”

Based on his calculations, Inglese expects a need for an additional 8.2 full-time employees.

Inglese said school renovations taking place include a kindergarten classroom at J.B. Nelson Elementary School. He had said the bathroom had asbestos.

Sue Locke, the board secretary, said school repairs had to be completed in sections over an extended time because the district’s referendum did not pass in the April election.

“This is the safety and security of our children in this district that we’re worrying about simply because we did not pass this referendum,” Locke said. “And I think it’s disgraceful. Shame on those that voted no.”