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Freeburg board approves tentative budget projecting $400,000 deficit; approves SRO agreement and e-learning plan
Summary
The Freeburg CCSD 70 board approved a tentative fiscal-year budget that projects an approximate $400,000 districtwide deficit, approved a one-year student resource officer intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Freeburg and approved the district e-learning plan; enrollment figures and special education caseloads were presented.
The Freeburg CCSD 70 Board of Education approved a tentative budget and several routine operational items while hearing administration reports on enrollment and special education caseloads.
Administration presented a preliminary budget that, based on early estimates, projects an approximate $400,000 deficit districtwide. The presenter said the estimate uses last year’s actuals with projected revenue growth of about 2% and expenditures increasing by roughly 3%, and noted both new positions and the end of several one-time expenses (including a major HVAC project) that affect the forecast. The board approved the tentative budget and scheduled the formal budget hearing and final adoption for next month.
Enrollment figures provided by administration showed a net decline of 44 students compared with the prior year-end: current total enrollment was reported as 739 this year versus 783 last year. Notable changes included eighth grade enrollment falling from 108 to 77 and kindergarten from 81 to 66. The district reported approximately 139 students with IEPs (about 16% of the student population), which the presenter noted is above the state average of 15%.
Other business approved by the board included:
• A one-year intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Freeburg for a student resource officer (full-year and after-hours coverage were considered together and approved by roll call).
• Approval of the district e-learning plan as presented.
• Approval of the Health/Life/Safety 10-year survey items for both the Primary Center and the Elementary School, with administration noting relatively few items and many repair tasks manageable in-house.
• First reading of several board policy revisions (primarily Title IX-related) to move to a second reading next month.
The board also accepted a resignation from the track coach J.R. Brenlinger and approved two at-will non-certified hires (Anna Lanard and Molly Walters) following executive session.
What happens next: the district will hold a formal budget hearing next month prior to adopting a final budget; the SRO agreement covers the coming year under the terms approved by the board.
