CCSD 62 proposes six additional staff as district outlines FY26 budget assumptions

District 62 school leaders told the Board of Education on Feb. 18 that they are tentatively recommending an increase of six full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions for the 2025–26 school year, driven primarily by special education and multilingual-student needs.

The staffing recommendation came as the district also presented initial assumptions that will frame the fiscal 2026 budget, including modest levy growth tied to recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures, expected salary increases tied to collective bargaining agreements, and other projected expense pressures.

District staff said the six‑FTE increase is preliminary and will be refined through March after additional spring enrollment and assessment data are available. Kelly Colman, a district staff member who presented the staffing overview, said the staffing estimate follows multiple meetings with principals, assistant superintendents and directors and reflects cohort enrollment analysis, special‑education service needs and multilingual program demands.

The budget assumptions presented by the district’s finance staff estimated an average levy growth baseline of about 2.2 percent (based on 3.4% CPI for calendar 2023 and 2.9% for 2024), and noted the district levied less than CPI in prior years as bond obligations matured, which abated roughly $5 million from operating funds in recent years. The district also listed other revenue assumptions: steady corporate personal property replacement tax receipts (though with “headwinds”), and generally steady state and federal funding, while cautioning that those revenues can be erratic.

On the expense side, the presentation highlighted personnel costs as the dominant driver. The district is planning salary increases in the range cited by bargaining units (the presentation referenced a 4.57% figure for one unit and roughly 4.5% for others). Medical insurance costs were projected to rise about 7 percent, though presenters said they are hopeful the actual rate will be lower. Transportation costs were estimated to increase by about 5 percent.

Finance staff noted that enrollment appears to be increasing slightly, in part because of newcomers to the district, and that Evidence Based Funding (EBF) rules may not fully offset costs associated with newcomers and commercial property revenue patterns. The presentation flagged that full‑day kindergarten expansions and potential administrative and program shifts remain budget variables; final staffing or additional positions would require board approval.

Why it matters: Staffing and budget assumptions shape programs, class sizes and services for students. The district signaled it is prioritizing special‑education and multilingual supports in next year’s staffing plan and is preparing the FY26 budget with conservative assumptions about revenues and explicit projections for salary and benefit increases.

What’s next: District staff will continue to refine enrollment and assessment inputs through March and will return with a final staffing request and the draft FY26 budget for board consideration. The board heard the presentation during its Feb. 18 meeting and asked clarifying questions about the timing and triggers for any new positions.

Sources and context: The staffing recommendation and budget assumptions were presented during the Feb. 18, 2025 regular meeting of the CCSD 62 Board of Education. The district’s presentation cited cohort enrollment analysis, January planning meetings with principals and central office directors, and upcoming spring assessment results as inputs to final decisions.