Here’s what’s going on at District 205…
By Chris Fox
For The Elmhurst Independent
The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board held a regular meeting on May 26. Six of the board’s seven members participated in the meeting, which took place remotely, with the board and staff members communicating online. Board member Christopher Kocinski was absent from the meeting.
Approval of networking equipment, needed services
Board members voted unanimously during the meeting to approve the consent agenda, which featured several items, including the approval to purchase nearly $8,700 in networking equipment and pay up to $56,400 for professional services to implement the upgrade of the district’s wide area network (WAN) and Internet. In April, the board approved the purchase and lease of network equipment for the upgrade of the district’s WAN and Internet. According to the district, subsequent design iterations revealed that about $8,700 in additional hardware was needed to complete the desired upgrade. The expense of up to $56,400 will provide project management, design, implementation and testing. The district said the actual expense is expected to be significantly lower than $56,400—perhaps half of that cost.
Middle school science program approved for $286K
The consent agenda also included the amended cost of about $286,000 for middle school science resources with Amplify Science. A quote of about $230,000 was submitted in February. The amended quote includes additional material and digital licenses.
Hospital’s nursing services approved
The consent agenda from the May 26 meeting also included the approval of a contract with Elmhurst Memorial Hospital for district-wide nursing services for the 2020-21 school year. The average salary increase is 1.9 percent, which is consistent with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
D205 Foundation donates toward pandemic emergency relief
The consent agenda also featured the approval of a $5,000 donation from Foundation 205 to support the costs associated with providing emergency relief for district students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
New equipment from Emerson PTA approved
One more item in the consent agenda was the approval of a $6,500 donation from the Emerson Elementary School PTA. The donation will pay for a GaGa ball pit, as well as three benches and a table that will be installed into the new blacktop at the school.
Standard funds transfer done for summer projects
The board unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the transfer of $2.6 million from the district’s operations fund to its capital projects fund. District 205 Superintendent David Moyer described the transfer as a standard practice that happens each year to pay for various summer projects. The projects scheduled for this summer include district-wide work, such as concrete and sidewalk repairs, seal coating, door replacement and the replacement of classroom flooring.
Timeline for detention projects amended
Board members voted unanimously to approve an amendment to the district’s 2019 intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Elmhurst related to detention projects at York and Jackson schools. Moyer stated the amendment pushes back the scheduled timelines on those projects. Moyer added that as part of the amended agreement, the district will clean its maintenance lot outside of Bryan Middle School this summer, but will not pave the lot this year.
Agreement approved with local IFT/AFT
The board unanimously approved a one-year agreement with the Elmhurst Paraprofessional and School Related Personnel Council, local 571, IFT/AFT, for the 2020-21 school year. Moyer said the district and its paraprofessionals typically enter into a three-year agreement. He said the district was interested in a one-year agreement for the upcoming school year due to financial uncertainties.
Resolution to consider salary adjustments tabled
The board tabled a resolution considering salary adjustments for district employees not covered by other negotiated agreements. Moyer said that each May, the district brings forward a recommendation regarding those adjustments. He said that with some exceptions, those adjustments were consistent with the CPI, which would be 1.9 percent for the upcoming school year. Moyer said that food-service employees would receive increases of 3.5 percent to bring the district in line with updated minimum-wage laws.
Under the proposed resolution, some employees would receive raises above 1.9 percent, effective July 1. Moyer noted what he described as a fairly significant amount of administrative turnover in the district when he discussed some increases related to longevity and the pursuit of additional degrees. According to the proposed resolution, Moyer would receive a longevity-related increase of 2.9 percent.
Board member Jim Collins stated he was in favor of the proposed increases for hourly employees, including food-service workers, but he wanted to defer the approval of the non-hourly employees until the board’s June 16 meeting. Collins noted that the first installment of property tax payments was due on June 1. He said that 85 percent of the district’s revenues come from property taxes. Collins said it would be very telling to learn of the amount of property taxes paid during the June installment.
Chris Whelton, the district’s assistant superintendent of finance and operations, noted that the district would learn of June property tax collections on two dates—June 1 and June 15. Whelton said that last June, the district received one disbursement of $32 million in early June, and another disbursement of nearly $27 million in mid June.
Collins reiterated during the May 26 meeting that he wanted to know what the June installments of property tax payments would indicate. He referred to uncharted territory during the current COVID-19 pandemic and stated that the unemployment rate among the segment of the population making $40,000 or less per year currently stands at 40 percent.
Moyer said the proposal being discussed affected about 40 of approximately 1,000 district employees, at a total cost of about $200,000. Moyer also mentioned some of the district’s plans to defer spending, including the decision to defer about $400,000 in spending on furniture.
The board ultimately voted 5-1 to table the entire resolution until its June 16 meeting. Board member Courtenae Trautmann cast the lone vote against the motion to table the resolution. Trautmann stated during discussion of the issue that the district’s leaders define and direct the educational experiences of the district’s students.
Board hears presentation on plans for Lincoln, Field
The May 26 meeting also included presentations from representatives of the district’s architect—Wight & Company—regarding the plans to replace Lincoln Elementary School and Field Elementary School. The presentation offered renderings of the future exteriors of each school. Craig Siepka of Wight & Company stated that the new building at Lincoln would be located more or less in the center of the school property. The play fields will be located on the north end of the property. There will be about 80 parking spaces on the south end of the property. The main entrance to the new school will be located off of Fairfield Avenue.
The new school building at Field will be on the north end of the property, said Siepka, who added that the play fields and dropoff lanes will be located on the south end of the site. Siepka also said that the nearby sound wall that runs along North Avenue will remain in place.
Siepka said he and his colleagues will continue to refine and update the exterior plans for the two new school buildings.
Finance committee considers COVID-19 impact on future revenues
In discussing a recent meeting of the board’s finance committee, Collins spoke of the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and said it was likely that this year’s revenues would come in as projected. He went on to state that it was also very likely that the district’s revenues would come down considerably in a few years as the result of greater uncertainty, reduced construction of new houses and less construction and investment by businesses. Collins said the district’s administration has the opportunity to think how it could lower the cost of education in the district over a multi-year time frame.
Whelton added that he was concerned about the tax levy in December of 2021. That levy will impact property tax revenues in June and September of 2022, which will impact the district’s 2023 fiscal year.
Hopes next meeting to be in person
The board will hold its next regular meeting on June 16. Board president Kara Caforio stated that she hopes board members will be able to conduct that meeting in person at the District 205 Center, located at 162 S. York St.
