Members of the Community Consolidated District 89 School Board continued discussions on referendum planning during a special meeting held Monday.

For the past year the board has studied the state of the district’s educational programs and facilities. Board members, administration and focus group committees have mapped a list of improvements deemed necessary to upgrade school programs to ensure continuing student achievement as documented in the district’s strategic plan.

Monday’s meeting agenda included discussions on financing educational programs, air conditioning for all schools and financing bond options for operational expenditures. Superintendent John Perdue opened the discussion by proposing to finance educational programs from the district’s budget fund balance.

Proposed educational programs include adding a fifth day of elementary school physical education; additional ELL programs, software and teacher aides for math and at-risk students; technology improvements; and professional development programs. Bernie Madden, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, projected the budget for three years where these programs would be funded from the fund balance.

The estimated cost for the first year is $350,000, the second $659,216 and the third $708,270 — $2.8 million over three years for educational programs. Perdue said the board must be vigilant to watch for unforeseen costs such as unfunded mandates or changes in enrollment to make sure the fund balance amount does not reach less then 10 percent of expenditures.

Perdue asked board members how comfortable they were with financing educational programs from the fund balance.

Mary Kataura, board secretary pro-tem, said she felt it was “the way to go.”
“When we have a reserve, it’s not prudent to go to the voters and ask for an increase (tax referendum),” she said.

Board members Terry Lachcik and Gene Glaudell concurred with Kataura.

Board President Lori Gaspar said that in approving funding from the fund balance for the next three years the board must accept that in three years it would need to go to the voters for additional taxes to maintain the programs.

The board approved funding the programs from the fund balance.

The program costs were reflected in the tentative $24 million budget presented at a public hearing Monday evening; no further action is needed by the board.

At Monday’s meeting the board also discussed the funding for facility improvements.
Building improvements, considered operational expenses are funded from debt, bonds paid out of the school budget over a period of time. The board is considering bond options such as extending the time period for repaying a bond reducing the yearly payment amount.

Monday the board also debated the facility improvement of installing air conditioning in all district schools. Briar Glen School, 1800 Briarcliffe Blvd., Wheaton, is the only district school currently air conditioned.

Glen Ellyn Police Chief Phillip Norton spoke to the board supporting air conditioning from a safety concern. Schools lacking air conditioning often keep gym doors open to the outside, allowing unauthorized people to walk in, he said. Norton said schools are safest when they can be locked during the day.

The board also heard a presentation by Patrick Brosnan of Legat Architects. He described to the board the best physical environment for learning, including air quality, temperature and humidity.

Both board members Gaspar and Kataura said they had changed their minds on air conditioning after receiving information on the subject, particularly safety concerns.

“With allergies and the increase in asthma, I really think it’s necessary. It’s the right thing to do in all schools,” Kataura said.

Board Vice President Frank Zak noted concern over the community survey that indicated lack of support for air conditioning, residents saying that they did not attend schools with air conditioning.

“Things have changed; the environment has changed. Now your home is air conditioned, your car is air conditioned,” Kataura said.

Glaudell said he calculated that about 10 percent of the schools days occurred when the outdoor temperature exceeded 80 degrees and studies show a significant reduction of learning when the temperature is that warm.

“We have to do everything we can to increase learning,” Glaudell said.