The Wheeling Community Consolidated School District 21 Board of Education approved a permanent transfer of $12.5 million to support this year’s summer construction program after convening a public hearing at its April 24 meeting.

District finance director Mike Zager told the board the transfer will move funds to the construction fund to fully finance the summer construction program approved earlier in the year and leave a balance for furniture and other summer projects. Zager said the transfer uses planned fund balance and surplus and is part of previously approved project planning.

The board first approved a resolution to convene the public hearing by roll-call vote. No members of the public spoke during the hearing and no written public comments were submitted for that item. The board then voted to adjourn the public hearing and approved two related resolutions: one to authorize a permanent transfer of $12.5 million from the Education Fund to Operations and Maintenance, and one to transfer $12.5 million from Operations and Maintenance to Capital Projects. Both motions carried by roll-call vote.

Board policy required the public hearing for the permanent transfer; staff said the transfers are intended to ensure the district has the capital funding in place for the scope of work approved earlier.

Finance staff will provide project spending and purchase details to the board as work proceeds, and the board recorded the resolutions in the meeting minutes.