The District 58 Board of Education held a Regular Meeting on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 at the Downers Grove Civic Center. View the agenda. The meeting video will be posted on the District 58 YouTube page.
School Report: Highland School
Highland School Student Council representatives led the Board and audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and shared some of the spirit days, service projects and school fundraisers they led last year, along with a preview of plans for 2024-25. PTA Co-President Hope Vecellio and Vice President Julia Maschek highlighted the many school activities and fundraisers that the PTA provides, along with an overview of the PTA’s budget. Highland Principal Zac Craft and Assistant Principal Sandy Cristobal presented Highland’s school improvement goals and assessment results. Last year, they used the Dreambox Learning resource to enhance math instruction; since implementing this resource, students achieved 1.3 school years of math growth in one year. Other goals for last year focused on District 58’s Be Respectful, Be Responsible and Be Safe tenets and the new writing curriculum. Highland’s school improvement goals for 2024-25 focus on implementing the District’s new English-language arts and social-emotional learning curriculum resources, as well as a deeper use of data to drive instructional strategies. Highland’s spring assessment data shows that students overall are making expected growth in English-language arts, mathematics and reading, with some variations at individual grade levels.
View the Highland School presentation.
2024-25 Budget Presentation, Public Hearing and Approval
Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell presented a balanced final 2024-25 budget that includes a $2.36 million surplus ($87.31 million in operating revenues, $84.95 million in operating expenditures), and an estimated year-end fund balance of 35.24% of the budgeted expenditures. The budget also includes approximately $130 million in capital expenditures, which will be paid with referendum funding. Referendum dollars can only be spent on related projects and not used for other purposes.
The 2024-25 budget accounts for many financial impacts beyond District 58’s control, including significant increases in homeless transportation costs, special education/private placement student needs, and insurance costs. Additionally, after District 58 presented its tentative budget in August 2024, the State announced it was reducing corporate personal property replacement tax (CPPRT) funding and transportation reimbursements for all school districts. While the District’s tentative budget had prepared for a decrease in State funding, District 58’s actual State revenue was $541,583 less than initial projections.
In light of this news, District 58’s administration met several times this past month to balance the budget and meet the Board’s 35% year-end fund balance requirement. Since District 58 receives nearly half of its operating revenues during the final month of the fiscal year, the Board’s 35% fund balance policy was created to ensure District 58 has sufficient funding during low-cash periods in the late spring.
The administration focused on making budget reductions that would have the smallest impact on students. The reductions included decreasing supply budgets, reducing 6.4 FTE job positions that were currently open, and reducing professional development meetings that would require subs. The administration restructured some existing jobs to fill gaps created by the staffing reduction. Additionally, District 58 had planned to transfer $750,000 of operating funds into its capital fund this year to save for future capital needs; this transfer was not included in the final budget. The District anticipates issuing the second set of bonds as part of its capital campaign before the end of the school year, and if so, this would require the District to amend the budget before the end of the year.
Going forward, District 58 anticipates that the financial impacts outlined above will continue and future budgets will be tight. Dr. Russell will work with the administration to improve its budget forecasting models, continue to seek additional revenues via grants, and conduct kindergarten roundups and registration earlier in the school year to more proactively plan staffing.
No public comments were received. Later in the meeting, the Board approved the budget with a 5-1 vote. Board Vice President Gregory Harris cast the lone “no” vote. While he commended the administration for their work balancing the budget and meeting the 35% fund balance requirement, he cited his decision based on concerns that the District was not saving enough money for future capital expenditures and unexpected emergencies.
View the 2024-25 budget summary.
Spotlight on our Schools: Enrollment Report and Key Legal Updates
Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Staff Development Justin Sisul presented an enrollment report and recent education-related legal updates.
For the 2024-25 school year, District 58 has 4,825 enrolled students, virtually the same as last year. District 58 has continued to improve staffing allocations to decrease class sizes and make average class sizes more equitable districtwide. District 58’s class size targets are:
- Grades K-2: 80% of classrooms will have 24 or fewer students
- Grades 3-8: 80% of classrooms will have 26 or fewer students
This year, 94% of elementary and 83% of middle school grade levels met the targets, achieving the goal. Mr. Sisul acknowledged the District’s budget constraints, and said that one potential future cost-savings measure could be to allow a few additional classrooms to exceed their class size target, reaching 27-29 students, while still keeping well above the 80% districtwide class size goal. District 58 will review and discuss staffing targets and priorities for 2025-26 throughout the school year.
Mr. Sisul also reviewed recent law changes that affect education. District 58 has established Board policies regarding threatening statements/gestures, bullying, harassment and Title IX. The State approved a law in June 2023 that expands the definition of bullying and requires a school to inform the parents/guardians of all students involved in an alleged bullying incident within 24 hours after the school’s administration is made aware of the students’ involvement. The updated definition of bullying is (new verbiage is bolded):
"Bullying" includes "cyber-bullying" and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following: (1) placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student's or students' person or property; (2) causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student's or students' physical or mental health; (3) substantially interfering with the student's or students' academic performance; or (4) substantially interfering with the student's or students' ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
These updates have required additional administrative communication and investigation time, as the definition of bullying has expanded to include one-time occurrences.
In addition, a federal law regarding Title IX went into effect in August 2024. This new law expands the definition of prohibited sex discrimination and sex-based harassment, expands Title IX coordinator duties, and expands employee training requirements. The law has been challenged in many circuit courts, but these challenges do not apply to District 58 at this time. District 58 is working to develop Title IX family communications and PTA presentations; additional staff training; and additional age-appropriate student education on bullying and harassment.
Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Dr. Kevin Russell provided several departmental updates, including:
Personnel: The annual 2024-25 IMRF compensation report and 2023-24 Teacher and Administrator Salary and Benefits Report are attached to the agenda and will be posted to the District 58’s “Finance and Transparency” webpage, as required by law.
Curriculum and Instruction: Curriculum Nights were very well attended; the District thanks families for their partnership and support. Last week, IAR score reports were sent home with students in grades 4-8.
Technology: The Technology Office provided significant support to the middle schools and Phase I elementary schools to ensure all renovated spaces had functioning wireless radios, phones and displays; Technology staff also helped implement new access control and intercom systems in Phase I buildings.
Special Services: As a reminder to families, all new students, as well as students entering kindergarten, second grade and sixth grade, must submit proof of specific health requirements listed here by Oct. 15. Failure to comply with these requirements will require the student’s exclusion from schools until they are met. If a family needs assistance meeting these requirements, please contact the school nurse.
Facilities: Contractor Bulley & Andrews and Architect Wight & Company are working on Phase I construction completion lists. Middle school construction continues on schedule. Planning for Phase II construction (summer 2025 work) continues, and the second Phase II bid group will be bid in October with Board review in November.
Community Relations: Downers Grove Oktoberfest takes place this Friday and Saturday in downtown Downers Grove. This festival is the Foundation’s biggest fundraiser, and all proceeds will support the Foundation’s programs for District 58 students and staff. Oktoberfest includes music, authentic German food, and a Kids Zone, among other activities. The festival needs more volunteers in order to be successful. Visit dgoktoberfest.org to learn more, sign up to volunteer, or buy tickets.
District 58 also thanks Community Christian Church of Downers Grove, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Duravant, the Kim Moustis Realty Group, and the DuPage Regional Office of Education for their generous school supply donations.
School Board Governance Award: The District 58 Board of Education earned the 2024 School Board Governance Recognition from the Illinois Association of School Boards. District 58's Board is one of only 46 Illinois school boards to earn this prestigious two-year honor. In addition, this is the second consecutive time that our Board has received this award.
“District 58’s School Board comprises seven community members who are deeply committed to District 58’s mission, and who work tirelessly and collaboratively to carry out our school district’s work,” Dr. Russell said. “We are fortunate to have these individuals representing our School Board, and they are very deserving of this honor! Congratulations!”
Business Report
Assistant Superintendent for Business Todd Drafall reported the Health and Wellness Committee will be meeting in September to review the District’s self-insured health insurance fund and will be bringing a recommendation for health insurance premiums at the October Board meeting. The District is also preparing to launch its annual employee wellness program this month for any employee and spouse who is covered by the District insurance plan.
Committee Reports
Board President Darren Hughes reported on the Sept. 6 Financial Advisory Committee meeting. The meeting discussed the challenges and complexities of public education budgets, noting how the State of Illinois cut its funding for District 58 after the District approved the tentative budget last month. The committee also discussed rising costs related to low income student lunches and homeless transportation.
During the Meeting, the Board Also:
- Approved the 2024-25 outdoor education fee of $60 per student.
- Approved minutes from the Aug. 12 regular meeting and all items in the consent agenda.
To view documents related to the above actions, please view the meeting agenda.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, at the Downers Grove Civic Center
District 58 Board of Education members are: Darren Hughes, president; Gregory Harris, vice president; Kirat Doshi, Melissa Ellis, Emily Hanus, Steven Olczyk and Tracy Weiner, with Dr. Kevin Russell, superintendent; and Melissa Jerves, board secretary.