The District 58 Board of Education held a Financial Workshop and Candidate Forum on Monday, Nov. 26 at Kingsley School. View the agenda and presentation links. Meeting audio will be linked here.
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Chief School Business Official Todd Drafall gave a presentation on the District’s financial forecasts. Presentation highlights include:
2018-19 budget recap:
- The 2018-19 budget projects $66.67 million in revenues and $65.96 million in expenditures.
- Most (83 percent) District 58 revenues come from local funding. It receives local funding through two property tax payments in August and May. This means that the District receives nearly half of its revenues each May, requiring the District to budget carefully to cover all expenses through its education fund and working cash fund from July through May.
2019-20 budget forecast:
- Revenue: District 58 projects a 3.1 percent increase in property tax revenues. This increase takes into account the estimated $30 million in new property built within District 58 boundaries in 2018. The District also projects State revenue increases to be at 1-2 percent, which is a smaller increase than was received in 2018-19.
- Staffing: District 58 forecasts relatively flat staffing, with the possibility of adding up to five full time equivalent positions. As the District builds the 2019-20 budget, administration will evaluate the District’s priorities, as aligned to the Strategic Plan, to better understand which priority areas will need additional staffing.
- Curriculum and Technology: The District will budget for the implementation of new science curricular resources, the final (year three) payment of English-language arts resources, and the continuation of math and social studies consumables. The budget will also consider a faculty device refresh and replacement Chromebooks for eighth graders.
- Facilities: The District will review the prioritized District 58 maintenance plans to determine which facility projects to budget for in 2019-20.
View the entire presentation here.
Candidate forum:
After the Financial Workshop, the Board of Education held a Candidate Forum for prospective Board of Education members and interested community members. The forum offered attendees insight into the school board election process, board member expectations and responsibilities, school board organization, school board meetings, school finances and school board governance. Learn more about School Board elections. View the School Board candidate packet and candidate guide.
Reception of visitors:
The Board received comments from two visitors. A parent asked the District to carefully plan and budget for future curriculum adoption, and another parent asked the Board to consider adding an extended reception of visitors to another Board meeting, to make up for not hosting it during this evening’s meeting.
Upcoming events:
- Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 4:15 p.m.: Legislative Committee Meeting at the ASC
- Wednesday, Nov. 28 at 6:30 p.m.: Board Building Tour and PTA Meeting Visit at Hillcrest School
- Monday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m.: Regular Board Meeting at Downers Grove Village Hall
District 58 Board of Education members are: Doug Purcell, president; Elizabeth Sigale, vice president; Kirat Doshi, Greg Harris, Darren Hughes, John Miller and Jill Samonte, with Dr. Kari Cremascoli, superintendent; and Melissa Jerves, board secretary.