[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6449852,"mediaKeyId","5906443-fa77317cfe53b7a8800fb23cae0ef8d9","parentId",5906443,"title","East Aurora board leans to mid‑range tax‑levy abatement; multiple consent agenda items approved","audioSeconds",120,"startMs",5575000,"endMs",5695000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906443-fa77317cfe53b7a8800fb23cae0ef8d9&start=5575&end=5695","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906443-fa77317cfe53b7a8800fb23cae0ef8d9/thumbnail_5575000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6449852/Illinois/East-Aurora-board-leans-to-midrange-taxlevy-abatement-multiple-consent-agenda-items-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449852-d6ef88e9b6b6ed4f82dd7653f3a9e0ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394230&Signature=flqInDkOUf-Qbwjm~k6vkZ-bmsaU6oB3as6iV4Ax3DsSYCv5HcimXJlcoE3bZ6PpGj5gHxQ4U769jwuJgw~4793X-k9G5iTOV-8LE6p4NkaaMmsYttZQcgximEzQPaBRfIDaFymrnStaBwncpp4lziE0wJhDRz~P03X8Wwo6LbI8koDFLkuzsDZ3lFaZv35YEH5JPqvdc~GnJ8ElkeODexr04BZLb7m2GrudKKlBs~exM~5ABv4cN3LIe2mcf8ZXxiPKbECiPIz2ZYS2kSqf2~mBYIJxxYiiGYk91UHy8Uv8p0jiDJp~9PTxcUpkaUheUnjDmNBsRTSaegewJxXc5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Aurora East USD 131","date","2025-10-07T13:54:35Z","article","At its Oct. 6, 2025 meeting, the East Aurora School District 131 Board of Education reviewed the district’s 2025 tax‑levy timeline and alternatives and directed staff to recommend a mid‑range abatement approach to soften the tax impact.

Finance staff and consultant Liz Hennessy of Raymond James presented data showing the county’s estimated equalized assessed valuation (EAV) rising about 11.5% for 2025, and three abatement options for the district’s bond and interest levy: no abatement, a $350,000 abatement and a $718,000 abatement (the latter approximating last year’s abatement). The district’s presenters said the full no‑abatement option would produce a gross levy change of roughly +4.38%, the $350,000 abatement would result in an estimated +3.57% change, and the $718,000 abatement would yield roughly +2.73%.

Liz Hennessy noted that abatements reduce the tax burden on current property owners by shifting evidence‑based funding into the bond fund to pay debt service and cautioned that abating reduces funds available for general operations. Hennessy said the county clerk’s EAV projection (11.5%) and a modest median home‑sale appreciation (about 1.9% districtwide) together could lower individual homeowner bills even when the levy is increased.

After discussion, the board reached consensus to pursue the mid‑range option (abatement of $350,000) as the recommended path for the formal levy adoption process; the board will vote on the final levy at a later meeting. “If we go from a large abatement the year prior to almost no abatement, it’s almost like a big slingshot up in the tax rate,” Superintendent Dr. Michael Engel said in urging a measured approach.

The meeting also included a number of consent and finance motions that passed unanimously by roll call. Items approved included routine personnel additions and program actions: the fiscal‑year 2026 bank signature cards; the resolution estimating the 2025 tax levy (the estimate needed now for publication and later formal adoption); one full‑time equivalent 1:1 special‑education teacher assistant at Oak Park Elementary; one FTE 1:1 special‑education teacher assistant at East Aurora High School; a band overload at Simmons Middle School; approval of an administrative procedures project with the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB); revisions to IASB PRESS board policies A–M; and a grant‑funded expansion of the Aaron’s Law prevention program with Mutual Ground for early‑learning through fifth grade.

Votes at a glance
- Fiscal‑year 2026 bank signature cards — motion approved (roll‑call, unanimous).
- Resolution estimating the 2025 tax levy — motion approved (roll‑call, unanimous). The board gave direction to pursue a $350,000 abatement as the recommended option at the formal adoption vote.
- 1.0 FTE 1‑to‑1 special education teacher assistant, Oak Park Elementary — approved (roll‑call, unanimous).
- 1.0 FTE 1‑to‑1 special education teacher assistant, East Aurora High School — approved (roll‑call, unanimous).
- Band overload, Simmons Middle School — approved (roll‑call, unanimous).
- Administrative procedures project with IASB — approved (roll‑call, unanimous).
- Revisions to IASB PRESS policies (A–M) — approved (roll‑call, unanimous).
- Expansion with Mutual Ground (Aaron’s Law), early learning–5th grade — approved (roll‑call, unanimous; grant‑funded, $21,965 from IDEA funds).

Board members said the mid‑range abatement balances taxpayers’ interests against budget‑year uncertainty, including enrollment declines and upcoming labor negotiations. A formal tax‑levy adoption resolution will return for board action on Nov. 3, when the board is scheduled to vote to adopt the 2025 tax levy and finalize any abatement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting 10 6 25","oneSentenceSummary","Board heard a presentation on the 2025 estimated tax levy and directed staff to pursue a mid‑range abatement; the meeting included unanimous roll‑call approvals for routine personnel and policy items, and a grant‑funded expansion of a prevention program.","taxTitle","Aurora East USD 131, School Boards, Illinois","taxId",74116,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6449857,"Community presses East Aurora board after comments about dual-language access; board issues statement, pledges bias training",2737,234000,2971000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5906443-fa77317cfe53b7a8800fb23cae0ef8d9&start=234&end=2971","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5906443-fa77317cfe53b7a8800fb23cae0ef8d9/thumbnail_234000.jpg","/articles/6449857/Illinois/Community-presses-East-Aurora-board-after-comments-about-dual-language-access-board-issues-statement-pledges-bias-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6449857-04f455fece6a799f4c0515954b447d95/orig.mp4?Expires=1770394230&Signature=Mm~BGFd8HGhDbLeO-899shMrhyOs1pfn5fCXKS9XHWBu-hDQFXKX3fjq3FINJzrWI0f8TTDz5HIc~jeC2iAH3BlAV2YHpMnU5elsDi9OrAwVGlkDXq6XBOdNdPdA~rjxfnXgMFq3Ui-I-aPVpqKScO-nsD7CR8Hd-yVVG42OE~qL~8GbYp3kZ854YP49SG45rMMwRKEwYvHLfEwPP6mQqTzerENabSPEnjNMwfqy1n30Y6SFGRwtnNiRFD6DLqbtAP5jvcQzUcl7wsq13~vCDTPLlZuondBeaqeeRvCmIW7njMWQtMVZlaxGYyoBNgvdnuDfRM5PX16Q6eynWZh32Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of parents and community leaders pressed the East Aurora School District 131 Board of Education on Oct. 6, 2025, over comments made last year by board member Myra Reyes during a closed-session interview, saying the remarks suggested African American students should be excluded from dual-language programming and demanded accountability.

The speakers said the comments have harmed trust between the district and Black families and asked the board to either secure a resignation or formally censure Reyes; the board instead read a public statement denouncing the remarks, pledged equity and unconscious-bias training, and asked members to reaffirm a commitment to inclusion. The board did not place a censure motion on the meeting agenda and legal counsel said the board’s disciplinary authority is limited to actions occurring during service as a board member.

Community leaders said the issue goes beyond a single interview excerpt and reflects deeper beliefs that must be addressed. “Every word you speak, every action you take has a direct impact . . . on the students of this district,” Cynthia Latimer said during public comment. Psychologist and community leader Dr. Vincent Gaddis told the board the disputed comments appear to reflect “structural beliefs” rather than an isolated slip of the tongue and urged Reyes to meet with community leaders: “If you do not do anything but stay silent, we know what all of your structural beliefs actually are.”

Parents described immediate effects on children’s feelings of belonging. Drea Donaldson said, “My daughter shouldn't have the same access as your daughter,” referring to the program access described in the released interview audio, and urged the board to act.

Several speakers called for formal sanctioning or resignation. Randy Ryder told the board he had filed paperwork seeking removal and criticized the board’s silence. By contrast, former board member Juanita Wells and several others urged the district to focus on correcting issues and on community healing rather than removal.

Legal counsel summarized the board’s options and limits. He told the meeting that censure is a disciplinary action that applies to conduct while serving on the board and that policies and the Illinois School Code place removal authority with the regional superintendent in certain cases. He also said sanctioning speech made as a private citizen is generally not supported by board policy.

Board President Juan Cifuentes read a prepared statement that “denounce[d] the statement” made during a closed-session interview and affirmed that the board “has never considered, will not consider, and will not take any action that deprives any student of the services and opportunities they deserve.” The statement said the board will pursue training to “root out unconscious bias,” increase community engagement channels, and asked members to reaffirm their individual commitment to equity. Several board members verbally endorsed that statement during the meeting; there was no formal roll-call motion to censure or to remove the member at this meeting.

Board member Myra Reyes addressed the meeting directly and said she made a mistake in the interview and that she did not intend to exclude students from programs. “I have a daughter with an IEP, so special education is also something that I'm here to advocate for,” Reyes said. She also said she is willing to meet with community leaders and to participate in bias training.

The board and district said they would continue to meet with community stakeholders and to schedule training and other actions they said were intended to restore trust and strengthen equitable access to programs.

The meeting moved on to routine business after the public comments and statements; no disciplinary vote or formal censure was taken at the Oct. 6 meeting.","Dozens of community members urged the East Aurora School District 131 Board to hold Board Member Myra Reyes accountable for comments made during a previous interview; the board read a unified statement denouncing the remarks and pledged training and community engagement but did not take formal disciplinary action.","actionData","errors"]

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East Aurora board leans to mid‑range tax‑levy abatement; multiple consent agenda items approved

Community presses East Aurora board after comments about dual-language access; board issues statement, pledges bias training