Community High School District 128's Board of Education adopted a $119 million fiscal year 2026 budget at its June 23 meeting and approved several related financial actions, including an audit engagement and student activity fund transfers.

Board member Lisa Hessel moved to adopt the FY26 budget; the motion passed on a roll call vote with Board members Raul Deshmukh, Lisa Hessel, Middleish Kotwal, West Poland, Nina Austin and Jim Batson recorded as voting “aye.” Dan (staff member) summarized the budget, saying, “The total budget is 119,000,000. The operating budget is 109. So we have about 9,600,000.0 in there, for capital projects.” The capital amount was described as a placeholder for projects that may be required pending life-safety reviews.

The board also approved an engagement with Miller Cooper to audit fiscal year 2025. Dan (staff member) said of the audit package, “So the total would be 62,500.” The board approved the FY25 auditing engagement with Miller Cooper in that amount.

Separately, trustees approved the transfer of old or unused student activity account balances into current club accounts. Dan (staff member) explained that Illinois administrative code requires board approval for such transfers and that the transfers primarily consolidate long-dormant accounts into active programs.

The board reaffirmed its list of authorized depositories and investment managers, naming Libertyville Bank and Trust for checking accounts, Pima Financial Network for some investments and Fifth Third Securities for long-term investing. The board also approved annual membership dues to the Illinois Association of School Boards in the amount of $10,727.

Board members were reminded that the FY26 budget cover sheet requires signature by every member who voted. The board chair noted that committee work on next year’s budget will increase involvement by newer trustees in the next budget cycle.

Items presented to the board but not requiring immediate action included an operational funds expenditure report produced under a new state requirement for districts with very large fund balances; the district reported it is not near the 250% threshold and therefore has no mandated corrective plan.