The District 99 Board of Education held its monthly business meeting on September 21, 2015.
Highlights of the meeting:
- District 99’s Director of Physical Plant and Operations Jim Kolodziej presented the findings from the “life safety review” that was conducted for both schools. The review, which is required by the state and performed every ten years, determines what capital projects need to be addressed to ensure the safety and security of students and staff. To see the projects that were identified, please click here.
- District 99 Controller Mark Staehlin recommended requesting $3.5 million in Life Safety Bonds as a prudent and conservative way to finance the most critical capital project work. Although the district has financed facility projects out of its operating budget in the past, given the current, uncertain financial climate with the state, the district recommends issuing Life Safety Bonds for these new and larger capital projects. The Board approved the projects; the proposal will now be sent to the Regional Office of Education and State of Illinois for approval as qualifying for life safety work. A hearing will be held on October 19, 2015 before moving forward with the Life Safety Bonds funding recommendation.
- District 99 Controller Mark Staehlin reported about the 2015-16 district’s budget. Staehlin said no one from the public made any inquiries about the $85 million tentative budget, which had been on display since August 19, 2015. A formal hearing for the public was held during the meeting, and the Board of Education approved the budget as presented. For budget details, please click here.
- Staehlin also provided a five-year projection of the district’s operating fund balances. Creating a projection assesses and ensures the district’s ongoing financial stability and lays the foundation for developing the 2016-17 operating budget. Staehlin explained how 84% of the district’s expenditures, including salary and benefits, transportation and food services, are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban areas (CPI-U). The average rate of increase for CPI-U for the last 10 years was 2.1%; the average of the last five years was 1.7%. Staehlin conservatively selected 1.7% as the average CPI-U rate for the five-year analysis. He predicted that some of the conditions that will have a large impact on the district in the future will be: new construction (adding to tax revenue), uncertain funding from the state, short-term investment rates, possible increases in student enrollment, student-to-teacher ratios and major capital outlay for facility repairs and enhancements. To read the full five-year projection report, please click here.
To find additional information from the meeting:
- To view the complete agenda and related materials, please go to http://www.boarddocs.com/il/csd99/Board.nsf/Public, select the meeting date to the left, and click “view the agenda” to the right.
- To see a video of this meeting, please click here or below:
Upcoming Board Meetings:
- October 5, 2015 – Board of Education Workshop at the ASC, 7 p.m.
- October 19, 2015 – Board of Education Meeting at the ASC, 7:30 p.m. (Closed session begins at 6 p.m.)
This publication is for information purposes only; minutes approved by the Board serve as the official meeting record.