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Board hears FY26 budget assumptions; finance committee details position and stipend changes
Summary
District finance presenters told the board a lower tax-extension estimate reduced projected surplus by $96,000 but the district still expects a $610,000 surplus for FY26; the finance committee also discussed position-control changes, stipend adjustments and technology/equipment purchases.
The Round Lake Area Board of Education heard an update on fiscal 2026 budget assumptions at its April meeting, where finance presenters said a reduction in the district's tax-extension estimate lowered a previously projected surplus by $96,000 but left the district with a projected surplus of $610,000.
“From the March meeting until the April meeting have changed, by a reduction of our surplus of $96,000 … we were just able to finalize that extension, and now our budget assumptions reflect that,” the finance committee presenter told the board.
The presenter said the change resulted primarily from a $220,000 reduction in the district's tax-extension estimate and noted recent finalization of health-care benefits yielded roughly $70,000 in savings. The presenter told the board that changes in position control and athletic coaching stipends have also been reflected in the FY26 assumptions.
Finance discussed several program- and contract-related items that will return to the board for future action or posting. The practical assessment exploration system service agreement for the transition center population was discussed with a request to confirm how results link to students' individualized education programs and how assessment data will be shared with families and the board.
Administrators presented a proposal to bring ALEKS (an online math assessment/learning system used for College of Lake County entrance preparation) into district administration so the district can collect results and identify curricular adjustments. Finance indicated that the ALEKS initiative would be evaluated after its first year of data collection.
Technology and infrastructure items discussed included AT&T hotspot devices (the district still maintains roughly 150 devices, with about 80 assigned to students) and equipment for a new data center located at McGee; both items are E-rate eligible, finance staff said.
The finance committee also reviewed recommended additions and reductions to athletic and activity stipends, including new stipends for girls flag football, JV cheer and head/jv dance, and a proposed reduction of a fourth assistant softball coach stipend. Administrators told the committee they would post newly approved certified and noncertified positions and return to the board for final approval in coming meetings.
Board members asked clarifying questions about how stipends and posted positions affect course offerings and staffing flexibility. The finance presenter said the district is not eliminating courses tied to positions listed for reduction and emphasized that postings are steps in position-control and hiring processes.
The board did not take final votes on most of the finance items at the April meeting; several items were discussed for later consideration and data follow-up.
