Indian Prairie board approves ISBE waiver application to stop printed annual statement; no public comment

The Indian Prairie CUSD 204 Board of Education on Nov. 3 voted to approve an application to the Illinois State Board of Education for a five‑year waiver of the school code requirement that the district publish its annual statement of affairs in a newspaper of general circulation.

Superintendent D. Talley told the board the school code requires a district—s annual statement of affairs be "published in the newspaper of general circulation prior to December 1 and a certified copy of the statement filed with the Regional Office of Education no later than December 15 of each year." He described the document as a consolidated summary of district finances and size, including noncertified salaries, vendor payments over $1,000, contracts over $25,000, assessed valuation, tax rate, debt obligations, capital assets and investments.

Talley said the district—s plan to meet the intent of the statute if the waiver is approved is to keep the information available on the district business office website, maintain copies in the central office for public inspection, and notify the community of availability via the district—s weekly newsletter. "To comply with this waiver, we plan to make this report available when requested, available in the district's central office as well‑being published on the district website. The public will become aware of the availability of this report through the district's community weekly newsletter," he said.

The hearing record showed no public comment. The board closed the public hearing and then voted to submit the application to the Illinois State Board of Education. Board members voted in favor during roll call; the motion passed.

Why it matters: The annual statement is a formal, statutory transparency mechanism that provides a single, public snapshot of district finances and size. The district told the board it expects the waiver would save about $3,000 a year by eliminating the paid newspaper publication while continuing to make the information available online, on request and in the central office.

Votes at a glance

- Close public hearing on waiver (motion to close; seconded). Vote: unanimous (roll call recorded as yes for board members present). Outcome: approved (hearing closed).

- Consent agenda (items D through T). Motion to approve consent agenda as presented. Vote: recorded by roll call as yes from board members present. Outcome: approved.

- Recognition of October 2025 as National Principals Month. Motion passed by roll call; outcome: approved.

- Preapproval of consortium/national conference expenses for two board members. Motion passed by roll call; outcome: approved.

- Approval of application for waiver/modification of School Code section 105 ILCS 5/10‑17. Motion passed by roll call; outcome: approved.

What the board voted on and what happens next: Approval is the district—s step to submit the waiver application to the Illinois State Board of Education for final action. If ISBE approves the waiver, the district expects to publish the annual statement on its website, keep a certified copy on file with the Regional Office of Education as required, and notify the public by newsletter instead of newspaper publication. Talley characterized the proposed waiver period as five years beginning with the 2026–27 school year and said the change would save the district about $3,000 annually.

Quotes and sources: Direct quotes are from Superintendent D. Talley during the public hearing and subsequent board discussion. No public commentators spoke on the record at the hearing.