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Board approves NSSEO budget for 2025–26 amid rising tuition and capital needs
Summary
Arlington Heights SD 25 approved NSSEO's amended 2024–25 budget and the 2025–26 NSSEO budget. District CFO/staff reported tuition increases tied to program contract changes and ongoing capital contributions to NSSEO facilities.
The Arlington Heights School District 25 Board of Education on April 22 approved the amended 2024–25 budget for the Northeastern Special Education Organization (NSSEO) and adopted the NSSEO budget for fiscal year 2025–26.
The motion to approve the NSSEO amended budget (2024–25) and the 2025–26 NSSEO budget was made by Board Member Kevin Michael and seconded by Dr. Anisha Jogi. The board approved the item by roll call, 7–0.
Budget context: Stacy (district finance staff) told the board that tuition costs for NSSEO placements increased across programs, driven by contractual changes that raised tuition rates by roughly 3.2–3.8% in various programs and by the number of students placed. The district also budgets for a modest number of additional tuition placements each year to account for students who move into a program after the school year begins.
Stacy said the district expects approximately $200,000 of additional NSSEO tuition costs year‑over‑year and about a similar order of magnitude increase in IDEA (federal special education) fund costs tied to placements and services. The budget also continues a capital contribution line to support NSSEO facility needs; the district noted those facility contributions are likely to recur as NSSEO manages ongoing capital projects.
Why it matters: NSSEO is a cooperative special‑education organization serving multiple member districts. Tuition and capital contributions for out‑of‑district placements and specialized programs are a recurring pressure on member districts’ operating budgets and affect local planning for special education placements and services.
Next steps: The budget was adopted as presented. District staff will monitor placements and tuition costs during the fiscal year and report back if adjustments are needed.
Ending: The board’s adoption keeps the district aligned with NSSEO program and capital planning while acknowledging increases in tuition and IDEA fund costs tied to placements and contract changes.
