The August 19, 2019 regular Board of Education meeting was held on-site at Jefferson School. Following a closed session, the Board held a Public Hearing on the 2019-20 budget.
Highlights from the regular meeting include:
- Board to rely on PT3, staff leadership for continuing progress in Special Education – Based on extensive progress achieved during 2018-19 through a multi-year focus on the District’s special education services, the Board decided it will move forward with a single advisory group – PT3 (Parents and Teachers Talking Together). The Board dissolved its one-year-old Special Education Committee at this time, so that its community members could be immediately invited to join PT3 as the new school year gets underway. An update on PT3’s 2019-20 activities will be presented to the Board later this year. The Board also will continue to receive comprehensive reports directly from the District’s student services team.
- 2018-19 year-end financial results show a positive balance – The District finished 2018-19 with revenues exceeding expenditures by $1.8 million and an estimated ending Operating Fund balance of 58.85 percent. The unaudited results indicate the fund balance is about 11.13 percent lower than the ending fund balance in 2018-19 due to the transfer of $7 million from working cash to capital projects. An outside auditing firm will now audit the District’s financial records and present a final audit to the Board later this fall.
- 2019-20 budget moves closer to completion – The Board conducted a public hearing on the 2019-20 tentative budget. D64 Operating Fund revenues are expected to exceed estimated expenditures by more than $1.7 million. The budget in its final form will be officially adopted on September 23, 2019.
- Options for funding future capital projects reviewed – The District’s investment adviser updated the Board on funding options for summer 2020 and future capital projects, as the District nears the end of its current 5-year Master Facilities Plan. The Board’s existing authority to issue up to $20.75 million in bonds expires in April 2020. Among the options discussed were: issuing an additional $5 million in Debt Certificates; continuing to draw down the Operating Fund balance; and extending or seeking new authorization to issue bonds.
- Middle School Review Committee will focus on schedule options next – A summary of Middle School Review activities from 2017 to the present was shared with the Board. Earlier this year, a Scheduling Subcommittee reviewed variations of six scheduling options and developed a potential “concept schedule” for the program. During the 2019-20 school year, the committee will review the concept schedule relative to space, contractual obligations, curriculum and staffing. The committee will also develop a plan to seek feedback from all stakeholders.
- Policy updates continue - The Board requested no further changes to policy updates presented for first reading from PRESS 101 and Policy 7:30; the changes had been reviewed by the District’s administrative Policy Committee and the Board’s Policy Committee. The policies will be returned for final approval at an upcoming meeting.
- Other Board action – The Board approved its eighth lease and license agreement with private day care provider Child Care with Confidence, Inc. for rental of space at Jefferson School.