Board approves multiple out-of-state student trips, certifies 2025 tax form and adopts budget policy

The Oak Park Board of Education on May 12 approved a series of student field trips, certified the district’s 2025 tax levy form (L‑4029) and adopted new budget planning policy 5002.

Field trips: The board approved four out-of-state field-trip requests submitted by school staff: a second-grade trip to the Toledo Zoo (May 16, depart 8:45 a.m., return ~2:15 p.m.), a seventh-grade trip to the Toledo Zoo (June 6, depart 8:50 a.m., return ~2:15 p.m.), an 11th‑grade trip to Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio (June 6, depart 8 a.m., return ~9 p.m.), and a 12th‑grade overnight trip to Six Flags in Gurnee, Illinois (May 17–18). Motions were made and approved by roll-call votes for each request; recorded votes for the items were affirmative on the roll calls called following each motion.

Tax levy certification: Charice Foster presented the L‑4029 annual tax form required for the district to collect its millage. Foster said the “18 mills” business figure on the form shows the district can collect its full millage and told trustees the form must be submitted to municipalities and the county to secure the district’s share of collected taxes. Trustees asked whether taxes increased; Foster said the district had not increased taxes and that the L‑4029 is an annual procedural filing.

Intermediate School District budget and district budget policy: The board adopted a resolution expressing support for the proposed intermediate school district (ISD) general fund budget (per Section 624 of the revised school code) and adopted new or revised Board Policy 5002 (Budget Planning and Adoption) after a second reading. The policy sets expectations for annual budget adoption, fund-balance minimums and reporting. The adopted policy requires the superintendent to present a plan to replenish fund-balance deficiencies if the district’s year-end general fund balance falls below stipulated thresholds (15%, 8–13% and under 8% thresholds were described in the policy language).

Why it matters: approving the L‑4029 and adopting policy 5002 are standard fiscal governance actions required for district operations: L‑4029 enables millage collection by local tax authorities, and policy 5002 formalizes budget reporting, fund-balance minimums and superintendent reporting requirements. The field trips were approved with trustees noting trip itineraries and transportation vendors.

Board action details: each field-trip motion listed a mover and seconder and passed on roll-call votes; the tax-certification motion and the ISD-support resolution also passed on roll call. Trustees were reminded that June board meetings will focus on finance and adoption of the district’s annual budget.