Flossmoor School Board adopts 2025-26 budget after public hearing, fields questions on spending and liaison credentials

The Flossmoor School District Board of Education on Sept. 23 opened and closed a public hearing on the 2025-26 budget and then adopted the budget as presented, after board members voted by roll call to approve it.

The hearing drew a lengthy public comment from resident Miss Tropp, who asked the board not to take a vote on the budget during the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah and raised multiple questions about the district’s spending and accounting. “Please do not take the vote on the budget because this is Rosh Hashanah,” she told the board, and she asked the district to provide clearer budget documentation and answers about specific line items.

Why it matters: Illinois law requires school boards to adopt an annual budget by Sept. 30. The budget sets operating priorities and affects staffing, programs and capital planning across the district.

Board staff provided a budget overview during the public hearing and answered questions about several revenue and expenditure lines. Fran, who presented the budget materials to the board, said the operating funds portion is balanced as required by state rules and reminded the board that adoption is legally required by Sept. 30. On specific items, Fran said the district budgets about $1,000 in lost book fees as a revenue line and explained that the roughly $4,000 shown for credit-card convenience fees covers payment-processing charges the district pays to accept online lunch and other payments, not late fees.

Miss Tropp raised several other points during public comment: the district’s handling of bond funds (she cited a figure of $775,000), requests for clearer accounting when district funds are given to families or schools, and questions about equity when equipment such as televisions was purchased for two schools “west of Western Avenue” but not for others. She said she had emailed board members multiple times asking for clearer documents and larger type in budget reports. “When it’s a deficit money, 1,407,980. I’d like to know how you’re going to spend it,” she said.

District response and staff direction Fran and other staff answered audience questions during the hearing: the lost-book figure is a modest revenue estimate and may not be spent; the $4,000 is a processing fee for accepting credit-card payments (for example, for lunch accounts); and the salary line about $110,000 for 2026 corresponds to a posted salary for an assistant business manager position to replace the comptroller, a position the board had previously filled.

The board agreed to provide additional printed copies of the budget in a more readable format for residents who asked, and staff said they would follow up on the resident’s emailed questions. The board closed the public hearing and later, following an executive session, voted to approve the budget as presented.

Formal actions - The board opened the public hearing on the 2025-26 budget and accepted public comment. - The public hearing was closed by motion and roll call vote. - After executive session the board approved the consent agenda and approved the budget as presented; the board’s chair announced that the motion passed following roll call votes in open session.

Discussion vs. decision Board staff repeatedly characterized the budget as balanced for operating funds and emphasized the legal requirement to adopt by Sept. 30; residents’ requests for additional detail and clarification were recorded as requests for follow-up and additional printed materials. No policy changes or budget reallocations were decided during public comment; the formal decision was adoption of the budget as presented.

What’s next Staff said they will respond to the specific questions raised by the resident and will provide clearer printed budget materials. The board’s adoption means the operating budget is in place for the fiscal year, subject to any midyear adjustments the board may consider later.

Ending: The board adopted the budget and closed the hearing; staff promised to follow up with the resident’s emailed questions and to provide clearer printed budget copies for public review.