Board Brief - 01/15/2025

Presented by: Dr. Laurie Heinz, Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Laurie Heinz provided an overview of Vision 2030, an advocacy framework developed by leading K-12 educational organizations, including the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB), Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), and Illinois Principals Association (IPA). The framework outlines key policy commitments in three critical areas: future-focused learning, shared accountability, and predictable funding.

Key highlights of the presentation included:

• Future-Focused Learning: Ensuring student safety and well-being,, attracting and retaining high-quality educators, promoting curriculum flexibility, and supporting college and career pathways.

• Shared Accountability: Emphasizing growth-based student assessments and the need for timely, meaningful testing reforms that promote flexibility and local decision making.

• Predictable Funding: Protecting evidence-based funding (EBF), addressing capital and safety needs, and enhancing financial flexibility at the local level.

Dr. Heinz shared that Vision 2030 aligns with both the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) strategic plan and District 15’s priorities. The Board is being asked to endorse the resolution to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to improving educational outcomes and opportunities for all students.

You can view the information in Diligent Community or watch the presentation on Youtube.

Presented by: Dr. Laurie Heinz, Superintendent of Schools, Elizabeth Hennessy, Managing Director, Raymond James and Mrs. Diana McCluskey, Chief School Business Official

The success of the Moving 15 Forward initiative was realized this year with enhanced as well as new construction to 12 of our 20 facilities. We brought forth improvements to programs and where they are offered to students, including full-day kindergarten at all elementary schools and middle school programming at 5, instead of 4 buildings. This enhanced program for students included enhanced staffing demands of 70 new teachers.

As forecasted in prior years and throughout the referendum campaign, increased expenditures were anticipated during this period of growth and improvement. To that end, our fund balance has been impacted:

• The budget has assumed $3M annually in principal and interest on $40M of alternate revenue bonds to fund part of M15;

• While the sunset of ESSER funds was anticipated, not all ESSER hires have been eliminated as many are needed to meet the needs of our students;

• We experienced a significant and unforeseen decrease in Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax (CPPRT) revenue for FY25 by $3M over the course of the last two years;

• In addition, the consumer price index (cpi), which affects the increase in property tax revenue, has also decreased from two years of 5% in 2022 and 2023, to an estimated 2.7% for December 2024 impacting revenues; and

• Outside of staffing increases to support Moving 15 Forward, over a five year period, staff has increased to support student increased academic, behavioral and social-emotional needs of our students.

For these reasons, the District is moving into a phase in which we must be even more vigilant financial stewards – working to balance our desire to continuously improve the district while delivering a balanced budget to the Board and community annually. To that end, members of my Cabinet collaborated to analyze ways in which to bring revenues and expenditures more into alignment in order to maintain at least 25% of operating fund balance.

To maintain an adequate fund balance of 25% or more, our target is to reduce 50 FTE staff. Attrition and retirement will account for approximately 20 of these FTE resulting in a reduction in force of approximately 30 staff members. Looking ahead, we believe that some of these certified (non-administrative) teaching staff will be rehired as staffing numbers are confirmed throughout the spring and summer months. Additional efficiencies were identified so that our projected fund balance is expected to be 27% for FY26.

Additionally, Mrs. McCluskey and Ms. Hennessy reviewed the draft Capital Plan, outlining $14 million in DSEB bonds to support health-life safety and facility improvement projects as part of the Moving 15 Forward initiative. The proposed bond sale will help sustain critical infrastructure upgrades while ensuring the district remains fiscally responsible.

The Board will review the final parameters of the bond resolution, with the sale anticipated to close in February 2025.

Presented by: Mary Jane Warden, Chief Technology Officer

Mary Jane Warden provided an update on the recent PowerSchool data breach that occurred between December 19-23, 2024. Although District 15 currently uses Infinite Campus as its student information system (SIS), the district is in the process of transitioning to PowerSchool, making this incident relevant to ongoing operations.

The breach, caused by a compromised credential of a PowerSchool employee, accessed a limited amount of student and staff information. Ms. Warden assured the Board that no student photos, parent information, or social security numbers were compromised. Additionally, PowerSchool has confirmed that no exfiltrated data was sold or made available on the dark web, and no malware or unauthorized activity has been detected in their systems since the incident.

PowerSchool has since partnered with cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike to strengthen its security protocols and prevent future breaches. Ms. Warden highlighted the district’s ongoing commitment to data security, including regular system reviews, multi-factor authentication, and staff cybersecurity training. The district will continue to work closely with PowerSchool to uphold the highest standards of data protection as the transition progresses.

The Board had no questions or discussion on the first reading of PRESS 117 policy updates, which include revisions to policies related to ethics, board member development, safety, employee conduct, curriculum, student health, and student behavior. These updates reflect recommended changes to align district policies with current state and federal regulations. The Board will review these changes and consider them for approval during the second reading at the February 19, 2025, Board of Education meeting.

Additionally, the PreK Suspension/Expulsion Policy was updated to state that students enrolled in state-funded preschool programs, such as Preschool for All and Preschool for All-Extension, cannot be expelled from these programs. Instead, if necessary, students may be temporarily removed or transitioned to a different program based on individual needs and in compliance with federal and state guidelines. The update underscores the district’s commitment to providing inclusive and supportive early learning environments.

Education Research Development (ED-RED) Committee