T. Ambs-Soule

The meeting included a discussion about the IC Parent Absence Request and a review of the Communications Snapshot.

The meeting included a public hearing on reductions in force of teachers, a Lake County Health Department update on the School Based Health Center, and a review of the FOIA report and contracts under $1,000. The Superintendent's report covered the Empower Youth Memorandum of Understanding, RLAS-116 Education Foundation Partnerships, and donations. The board discussed and approved the 2026-2027 school calendar, a financial assurance review, professional development for secondary schools, and the dismissal of teachers and educational support personnel. Additionally, the board convened in and reconvened from a closed session, resulting in a resolution for the dismissal of an educational support personnel employee.

The presentation outlines the 2025 property tax levy, detailing its purpose in maintaining high-quality education, its importance as approximately 27% of the district's total revenue, and key terms such as Aggregate Levy, Debt Service Levies, and Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL). It explains the process requirements, including estimating the levy and adhering to Truth in Taxation guidelines, which mandate publishing notice and holding a public hearing for anticipated increases over 5%. The presentation also covers the components of the levy calculation, such as rate limits, prior year extension, Consumer Price Index (CPI), and new property, and discusses the impact of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and PTELL on property tax extensions. It emphasizes the inverse relationship between property tax values and tax rates and the importance of safeguarding the levy to account for variances in Equalized Assessed Valuation (EAV), new property, and changes in TIF districts.

The meeting included discussion of the 2025 aggregate tax levy for adoption, historical equalized assessed valuation and tax rates, projected limiting rate, estimated vs. anticipated levy extension, truth-in-taxation public hearing, estimated impact on taxpayer, equalized assessed valuation vs. tax rate, certificate of tax levy, cash reserve balance disclosure, and annual average expenditures disclosure. The board also discussed resolutions authorizing the notice of a public hearing for the levy year 2025, regarding estimated amounts necessary to be levied for the levy year 2025, and authorizing the estimated aggregate tax levy for the levy year 2025.

The meeting included discussion and approval of an Emergency Health/Life Safety Funding Request for Preliminary Authorizations (Form 36-20) for W J Murphy Elementary School - Replacement of Rooftop Unit #2 & Round Lake Middle School - Replacement of 2 Boilers. There was also an opportunity for public comment, but none was given.