About a decade after ending up on the Illinois State Board of Education’s financial watchlist, Lincoln-Way District 210 officials said the district has fully recovered and they are set to approve the budget for the 2025-2026 school year.

Michael Duback, the district’s assistant superintendent of business, said the current board instituted policies to ensure the district remains fiscally conservative, compared to neighboring districts. They include ensuring district fund balances hover between 33% and 35% of the district’s annual spending, while the state encourages balances of between 15% and 20%.

“Lincoln-Way does more with less,” Duback said.

The district reported in May an improved bond rating of AA- from firm S&P Global, a return to its highest rating ever, Duback said.

The improve

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