District 57 board adopts 2025 tax levy; approves maintenance grant and keeps fees flat

At its Dec. 16 meeting, the Mount Prospect School District 57 Board of Education adopted the 2025 tax levy and approved several finance and calendar items that the district will file with Cook County and implement next year.

Assistant Superintendent Jason Case summarized the levy, reminding the board that the levy is the district’s request for property‑tax revenue and that the county later determines the extension. "The levy is the money we're requesting," Case said, and the board will file the levy certificate for the county to compute the extension. Case noted the district receives about 84% of its revenue from property taxes and reviewed historical comparisons (last year the district requested a 4.77% increase and the county extended just over 4.04%).

The board moved and seconded to adopt the 2025 tax levy; a roll‑call vote recorded 'Yes' votes from members present and the levy was adopted. The board also approved by roll call the school maintenance project grant application — a state match program that reimburses up to $50,000 on maintenance projects in excess of $100,000; the slate of projects includes a bridge repair at Westbrook and safety enhancements identified in the maintenance audit. The paperwork will be submitted through the state website.

Student fees were presented with no changes proposed; the administration said fees (including lunches) have not increased in several years and that lunch fees do not cover 100% of meal costs. Transportation fees were noted to cover roughly 35–40% of the cost, leaving the district subsidizing the remainder.

Other board business included approval of the 2026–27 school calendar and acceptance of Press Plus issue 120. All motions noted above passed on roll call with 'Yes' recorded from present members.