District 64 has mailed postcards to local residents’ homes this week announcing its first-ever e-publication for District 64: an annual Financial Report for 2014 available exclusively online via its website.
“The District opted for an online format to provide 24/7 accessibility to all readers, while also helping to contain costs,” according to District 64 Superintendent Laurie Heinz.
“Our new e-report pulls together essential information about the District’s financial health in one reader-friendly overview illustrated with easy-to-read charts and key messages,” Dr. Heinz noted. “It will complement a broader Annual Report on the District’s schools and educational programs, which we expect to print and mail at the end of this school year,” she added.
The Financial Report offers “at a glance” highlights for the 2014 fiscal year as well as the current 2015 budget, focusing primarily on investments in student learning. In addition, it offers a review of revenues and expenses, and looks at the District’s financial performance over time as well as projections for the future. The District’s vital partnerships with parents and Park Ridge-Niles community members also are highlighted.
“We hope all community members will find our first financial e-report an easy way to stay updated about how local resources are being invested in our classrooms to support student learning,” Dr. Heinz noted.
For those seeking more in-depth information, Dr. Heinz suggested reviewing the Board of Education’s Operating Plan, which is intended to provide a streamlined overview of all facets of District 64's operations in a handy, four-page format. To provide perspective, a full seven years of financial data can be accessed in one glance, spanning: three past years, the current budget, and three future years.
The Operating Plan is available online through the District’s website. The plan will be updated again next month, when the District’s long-range financial forecasts are scheduled for discussion at a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on Monday, February 9.
The District 64 website also offers immediate access to an extensive array of financial resources back to 2006-07.