District 99 board approves bond parameters, tentative $119.2 million levy, dual-credit weighting and grant application

Community High School District 99’s Board of Education voted unanimously Nov. 17 to advance several major finance and policy items, including a parameters resolution to permit the issuance of general-obligation bonds for school life-safety projects, approval of the district’s tentative 2025 tax levy and several administrative actions that the board said would preserve flexibility for upcoming capital work.

Why it matters: The actions set the district’s near-term financing and grading policy: the bond parameters allow officials to negotiate a debt issuance within board-set limits, the tentative levy establishes the maximum property tax request that will be finalized in December, and the dual-credit grading change affects how student GPAs will be calculated for future course enrollments.

Bond parameters resolution: The board adopted a parameters resolution intended to authorize a general-obligation bond sale to fund identified life-safety projects and associated equipment. The district presenter described the resolution as setting “the maximum limits for the bond issue,” including caps on interest and a two-year repayment structure. (The transcript contains inconsistent numeric statements about the cap; see clarifying details.) The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Ken Dawson and seconded by Michael Riske; Julie recorded the roll-call vote and the resolution was adopted.

Tentative levy: The board approved a tentative 2025 tax levy in the amount of $119,202,971. The presenter explained that property taxes supply roughly 83% of operating revenues and that, under the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, increases on existing property are constrained; district estimates assumed 9.5% growth in existing property values and $50 million in new property to arrive at a capped fund increase of about 4.8 percent. Board members were told the final levy will return to the board at the Dec. 15 meeting.

Grant submission: The board authorized submission of the Illinois State Board of Education FY26 school maintenance grant application to help offset costs for a Downers Grove North LED stadium-lighting retrofit. As the presenter noted, “This grant provides up to $50,000 in matching funds for school maintenance projects.” The project’s total cost was described as approximately $318,000, with $205,000 earmarked from life-safety funds and $113,000 from the current budget.

Dual-credit weighted grades: The board approved a policy change to award weighted grades for all existing and future District 99 dual-credit courses beginning in the 2026–27 school year. Gina, the presenter, said the recommendation rests on the fact that dual-credit courses are college-level classes taught by instructors who meet community-college adjunct standards; she told the board that roughly 40% of current dual-credit courses are already weighted. The board clarified the change will not be retroactive and timed the vote so students would have information for course registration.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (motion by Ken Dawson; second Chris Espinosa): recorded ayes and motion carried. - Consent agenda (motion by Kara Caston; second Ken Dawson): recorded ayes and motion carried. - ISBE FY26 school maintenance grant submission (motion by Chris Espinosa; second Katie Courtney): recorded ayes and motion carried. - Parameters resolution for general-obligation bonds (motion by Ken Dawson; second Michael Riske): recorded ayes and resolution adopted. - Tentative 2025 tax levy of $119,202,971 (motion by Ken Dawson; second Michael Riske): recorded ayes and motion carried. - Award weighted grades for district dual-credit courses beginning 2026–27 (motion by Chris Espinosa; second Katie Courtney): recorded ayes and motion carried. - Motion to enter closed session for litigation and negotiations (motion by Ken Dawson; second Katie Courtney): recorded ayes and motion carried.

What’s next: The board will consider the final tax levy at its Dec. 15 meeting and will return to the board if and when it moves from bond parameters to a specific bond sale. The dual-credit grading change takes effect for the 2026–27 academic year and is not retroactive.

Attributions: Quotes and figures are drawn from board presenters and the official roll-call recorded in the meeting transcript. The district indicated the ISBE grant is competitive and subject to state allocation and prioritization.