Also discuss 2021 tax levy estimate, which was approved 5-2
By Chris Fox
For The Elmhurst Independent
The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board held a regular meeting on Oct. 26 at the District 205 Center, 162 S. York St. All seven board members attended the meeting.
The meeting also featured a presentation about District 205 results in state and national assessments during the 2020-21 school year. Scott Grens, the district’s interim associate superintendent of schools, noted the significant challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic created during the 2020-21 school year. That year included a significant period of remote instruction. Grens highlighted that the district’s students are engaged in five full days per week of in-person instruction during the current 2021-22 school year.
Following the presentation, which included numerous figures and results, some board members referred to learning losses that students suffered during the pandemic. Board member Karen Stuefen referred to significant decreases in the percentage of District 205 students meeting benchmarks in the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). She said she was specifically concerned with the drop in the district’s percentage of students who met benchmarks on the SAT math test, with the benchmark on that test being a score of 530 or greater. In 2018, 70 percent of the district’s students met that benchmark. The number dropped to 68 percent in 2019, 66 percent in 2020 and 57 percent in 2021.
Board member Christopher Kocinski noted his concern about the trajectory of some separate assessment figures regarding the district’s elementary and middle school students.
Whelton presents on estimated tax levy; discussion ensues
Chris Whelton, the district’s assistant superintendent of finance and operations, gave a short presentation during the meeting about the estimated 2021 tax levy. Following that presentation, board members voted 5-2 to approve the levy request. Stuefen joined board member Jim Collins in voting against the levy.
Whelton said there will be a public hearing regarding that levy at the start of the board meeting on Dec. 14. Whelton noted that in January 2021, the district learned the results of the Consumer Price Index from 2020, a figure of 1.4 percent. That figure applies to the 2021 levy.
Whelton said the district won’t learn the most recent numbers regarding the EAV (equalized assessed value) of new construction in the district until March 2022. Whelton stated that the levy is simply a request, and that the district’s request always includes a cushion because new construction is unknown at the time of the levy.
According to information provided by the district, the estimated total property taxes to be levied for 2021 are about $136.7 million. That figure represents an increase of nearly 6.7 percent over the previous year. The district’s total property taxes extended for 2020 were about $128.1 million.
Whelton referred to a district homeowner with a home valued at $500,000, with no new construction. He said that for a homeowner of that property, the District 205 portion of the annual property tax bill would increase by about 5 percent, or approximately $355.
One year ago, the board approved an abatement of about $3.1 million. That abatement reduced the District 205 property tax burden of district homeowners. At the Oct. 26 meeting, Kocinski stated he supported that abatement while there were interruptions in the district’s traditional service (because of the COVID-19 pandemic). Kocinski added that he was not in favor of an abatement this year.
After Stuefen said she could not support the levy, Collins said the District 2-5 community has been generous. He said the district has about $38 million in excess funds. He said he wasn’t against keeping a reserve fund, but he said that the district could use its reserves to cover the approximately $20 million cost related to the increased scope of construction projects and still have a reserve of about $17 million. Collins stated that the district has an overall budget of about $141 million this year.
Collins said that another abatement would level out a rising tax burden that district homeowners would face over the next two years.
Board member Athena Arvanitis, who said that she had a philosophical difference with Collins, stated that abatements have unintended consequences. Arvanitis stated that educating children and providing a successful learning environment involves more than bricks-and-mortar costs.
While the board made its vote on the levy at the Oct. 26 meeting, it does not have to make a decision about any upcoming abatement until February 2022. Board members agreed to have an additional conversation about abatement in January.
Enrollment figures discussed
The meeting also included a presentation from Whelton regarding the district’s enrollment figures as of Sept. 30, 2021. As of that date, the district had a total enrollment of 8,193 students, a decrease of 146 from one year earlier. One year earlier, on Sept. 30, 2020, there were 8,339 students in the district.
Whelton noted that the latest figures show York has 2,754 students. The school’s current senior class (the Class of 2022) includes 763 students. Whelton said that York has a relatively small freshman class, and that the school’s enrollment will likely decline over the next few years.
The district’s current enrollment of 8,193 students includes 559 kindergartners, up from 534 one year ago. According to the recent figures from Sept. 30, 2021, the district has 3,421 K-5 students, along with 1,757 middle school (grades 6-8) students, 261 early childhood students and the 2,754 students at York.
Fischer parent-mentor program recognized
The meeting included recognition of the parent mentor program at Conrad Fischer Elementary School. The program brings parents of Conrad Fischer students into the school as team members. Parents receive weekly training to develop their skills. The program is designed to empower and develop parents as leaders, and to improve the home-school connection.
Medical, dental benefits contracts approved
The board meeting also included a brief presentation about the district’s medical and dental benefits contract. The district’s employees have to select their plans for 2022; open enrollment begins in November. The district’s health and prescription drug program had a budget of about $14.1 million in 2021. That budget is projected to rise by about 3 percent in 2022, to approximately $14.5 million. The district’s dental plan won’t feature any increase from 2021 to 2022. Board members voted unanimously to approve the health and dental insurance plans for 2022.
Funds approved for roof replacement at York, Emerson
Board members voted unanimously to approve the meeting’s consent agenda, which included a contract with Richard L. Johnson Associates, Inc., regarding roof replacement work at York High School and Emerson Elementary School. The roof replacement above the fieldhouse at York has an estimated cost of about $1 million, while the roof replacement project at Emerson has an estimated cost of $660,000.
Campbell reports on COVID-19 vaccinations
District 205 Superintendent Keisha Campbell mentioned during brief remarks about COVID-19 metrics that about 40 percent of York students and about 37 percent of the district’s middle school students have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. Additionally, over 91 percent of District 205 staff members have been vaccinated. The district plans to partner with Jewel-Osco or another provider to offer upcoming opportunities for District 205 students to be vaccinated at district schools.
The board will hold its next regular meeting on Nov. 16.
