The West Aurora School District 129 Board of Education on Sept. 15 unanimously approved the district's budget for the 2025'26 school year and approved a joint agreement with Hope Duall, following a public hearing that drew no speakers.
The budget resolution and the joint-agreement vote came during the board's regular meeting after an earlier public hearing on the same budget and the Hope Duall agreement. Board President Kearns opened the public hearing and the secretary confirmed there were no members of the public who wished to speak; the board then closed the hearing before proceeding to the regular meeting.
Why it matters: Adoption of the annual budget sets spending authority and priorities for the coming school year; the Hope Duall agreement covers the district's formal relationship with the external partner for 2025'26.
Board action and votes: At the meeting the board moved, seconded and carried a resolution to adopt the 2025'26 budget. A roll call recorded the following affirmative votes: Missus Garcia; Missus Stone; Mister Lathan; Missus Lorenz; Missus Jones; Missus Saperstein; and President Kearns. The motion passed. Later the board moved, seconded and carried approval of the Hope Duall joint agreement with the same affirmative roll-call votes and no recorded opposition.
Public participation: The hearing for the budget and the joint agreement was opened to public comment; the secretary reported no members of the audience wished to comment. A separate public-comment period later in the meeting produced a student speaker who raised concerns about inequitable facility investments across the district (see related article).
Procedure and next steps: The board adopted the budget resolution and approved the joint agreement at the meeting; any implementation steps tied to the budget or the agreement (contracts, purchase orders or specific program spending) will proceed under district administrative processes. The board approved the items after the required motions and roll-call votes; the board president indicated the items passed and will be reflected in district records.