Lyons Twp. HSD 204 board accepts FY24 audit and approves policy, textbook and advocacy items; consent agenda passes

The Lyons Township High School District 204 Board of Education on Jan. 15 accepted the district27s audited financial statements for fiscal year 2024 and approved a package of routine items including PRESS 116 and PRESS 117 policy updates, the district27s 2025 textbook recommendations and a resolution supporting the Illinois Vision 2030 education policy framework.

Board members voted on several motions during the meeting. The actions accepted the FY24 audited financial statements, approved the second reading of policy updates under PRESS 116 and 117, approved the 2025 textbook recommendations as presented, adopted the Vision 2030 resolution, and approved the consent agenda that included payment of bills, December financial statements, human-resources items, meeting minutes and overnight student travel.

Why it matters: Accepting the FY24 audit affirms the district27s financial reporting for the year that ended June 30, 2024 and provides the board with an audited snapshot of cash and fund balances that administrators said will feed into FY26 budget planning. Approving the PRESS policy updates and textbook list completes previously discussed second-read items and clears the materials for use and implementation. The Vision 2030 resolution signals district support for a statewide blueprint that emphasizes safety, educator recruitment and postsecondary pathways.

What the board approved and the immediate details

Votes at a glance - PRESS 117 and 116 policy updates: Approved (motion made and seconded; roll-call vote recorded as unanimous yes). Item brought as a second reading after prior discussion at the Jan. 7 Committee of the Whole and presented in the board packet as clean copies reflecting committee feedback. - 2025 textbook recommendations: Approved (second reading; unanimous yes). Board members noted the books were on display in the boardroom for community input and staff reported no inquiries. - Acceptance of Fiscal Year 2024 audited financial statements: Accepted (motion; unanimous yes). Auditors from Exeziant reported a clean, unmodified opinion and no management letter for FY24; the audit included a government-wide statement showing an increase after depreciation and other adjustments and a fund-basis increase tied in part to bond proceeds and timing. - Resolution supporting Illinois Vision 2030: Adopted (motion; unanimous yes). The resolution endorses the Vision 2030 blueprint27s pillars of school safety, attracting and retaining quality educators, postsecondary success, and the use of assessments. - Consent agenda (payment of bills, December financial statements, HR items, minutes, surplus and overnight travel): Approved (motion; unanimous yes).

Financial and audit highlights presented to the board District administrators and the auditors highlighted the following points from the FY24 audit: the district operates on a modified accrual basis and closes books later in the fiscal year to ensure accruals are recorded; Exeziant issued an unmodified (clean) opinion and no management letter for FY24; total governmental fund balances increased on the fund basis (driven largely by capital projects and bond proceeds) while the government-wide statement shows a smaller increase after depreciation, pensions and other adjustments. Auditors noted the district27s cash and investments were roughly $98.4 million as of June 30, 2024.

Next steps and context Administrators said the audit figures will be incorporated into budget planning for FY26. The board did not revisit policy language at length and approved the sets of policies as presented at second reading. The Vision 2030 resolution will be posted and sent as part of the district27s advocacy engagement.

Ending note Board members asked that the finance office continue to present multi-year projections informed by the FY24 results; staff said those projections will be updated as budget planning proceeds.