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Board roundup: Elmhurst D205 hires Edison principal, declines tax abatement; consent items approved
Summary
At its Feb. 25 meeting, the Elmhurst Board of Education approved hiring Lawrence Joynt as Edison Elementary principal and approved the consent agenda; a motion to abate part of the 2024 debt service levy failed 3–4.
The Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board of Education voted on key personnel and budget items at its Feb. 25 meeting, approving a principal hire and a consent package and rejecting a proposed tax abatement.
The board voted 7–0 to approve the hire of Lawrence ("Larry") Joynt as principal of Edison Elementary School effective July 1, 2025. The motion to hire was made and seconded during the meeting; the record shows the motion carried with seven ayes and no nays. Following the vote, Joynt addressed the board and community, saying, "I am honored to become the next Edison principal" and thanking staff, families and district leaders for the opportunity.
The board approved the consent agenda (personnel report, financial report, FOIA responses, appointment of school treasurer and surety bond resolution, IMRF authorized agent, donations to York softball and Conrad Fisher lunch program, and bid awards for site improvements at York High School and Churchill Middle School). The consent package passed on a voice roll call: 7 ayes, 0 nays.
On a separate financial item, the board considered a resolution to abate a portion of the tax levy for 2024 to pay debt service on the district’s General Obligation Refunding School Bonds, Series 2013A. District financial consultants presented four abatement options ranging from no abatement to a $1,000,000 abatement; administration recommended no abatement citing projections of lower replacement tax receipts, reduced interest income, and higher expenditures (inflation, staffing and health insurance claims).
A motion to abate the debt service portion of the levy was put to a roll‑call vote. The motion received three ayes and four nays and therefore failed (3–4). Board discussion before the vote reflected a split: some trustees urged fiscal conservatism and maintaining fund balance given revenue uncertainties; others urged fulfilling a prior informal commitment to use abatements over a three‑year plan to level debt service and provide modest tax relief to households.
Votes at a glance - Edison principal hire (Lawrence Joynt): motion to approve hire; outcome: approved; vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays; effective date: 2025‑07‑01. - Consent agenda (personnel, financial report, FOIA, treasurer bond, IMRF agent, donations, site improvement bids): outcome: approved; vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays. - Resolution to abate portion of 2024 levy for debt service on GO Refunding School Bonds, Series 2013A: motion to abate failed; vote: 3 ayes, 4 nays. Administration had recommended no abatement.
The board moved into closed session at the end of the public meeting and announced it did not plan to take further action after closed session.
Clarifying details - Principal hire: candidate Lawrence Joynt has more than 13 years of experience including classroom, assistant principal and interim principal roles; recommended start date 07/01/2025. - Abatement options presented by Raymond James included abatement amounts of $525,000, $800,000 and $1,000,000 with corresponding small reductions in tax bills; administration argued the recommended option was no abatement due to revenue and expenditure projections.
Ending: The board’s next scheduled finance and operations committee meeting is March 6, 2025; the next regular board meeting is March 18, 2025.
