Board Highlights are meant to provide highlights of each Board of Education meeting, and are not intended to be an all-inclusive recap. Please click on this link to view a complete recording of the July 10, 2024, Board of Education meeting.

During their meeting, the Board of Education recognized Amari Williams from Wheaton Warrenville South High School who won the 300 Intermediate Hurdle State Championship.

At their meeting, Dr. Brian O’Keeffe, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, presented the Board with the tentative FY25 (2024-25) Budget. The Board approved the tentative budget for community review and comment. Highlights of the FY25 budget include:

• The FY25 budget is centered around three major Board Policies:

  • 4:10 Fiscal and Business Management: “To the extent possible, the budget shall be balanced as defined by ISBE.”

  • 4:20 Fund Balance: “The Board will target a fund balance of not less than 25% and not more than 40%, representing approximately ninety (90) to one hundred forty days (140) of operation. The date of measurement shall be June 30 of each fiscal year, and the measurement shall be consistent with that reported in the District's Annual Financial Report (AFR) filed with the Illinois State Board of Education.”

  • 4:152 Capital Renewal Funding - Sherman Dergis Methodology: “Leveraging the Sherman Dergis methodology, the Board will commit to allocating financial resources in the annual budget each year to address maintenance, repair and/or replacement of the physical building infrastructure, systems, envelope and interior conditions to provide a safe, comfortable and healthy environment for learning and working.”

• The FY25 budget prioritizes the District’s goals outlined in the Vision 2026 Strategic Plan, and reinvests in our staff and students to ensure that we remain an exemplary, student-focused school district that supports all students as they reach their highest level of learning and personal development.

• The FY25 operating budget (all funds except Debt Service and Capital Projects) is balanced. 

• The budget for high-priority capital projects (mechanical, roofing, flooring, paving, etc.) is $9.9 million and represents the Board’s continued commitment to making investments in our infrastructure, providing our students with the best possible learning environments. 

The District continues to be a responsible steward of public tax dollars. 

• At an operating expense amount of $17,460 per pupil in FY23, CUSD 200’s operating expense per pupil has historically been below the State average and is the second lowest among our other benchmark districts.

• The FY24 Fund Balance (savings) is estimated to be around 32%, within the range of the Board’s 25–40% fund balance policy. The final FY24 Fund Balance % will be available later this calendar when the FY24 audit is complete.

• The State Board of Education continues to designate the District in the Financial Recognition category, the highest possible, for the past eight years. 

• The FY24 budget marks 15 consecutive years of a balanced budget.

At their August 14, 2024 Board of Education Meeting, the Board will open a Public Hearing for community members who wish to provide public comment on the tentative budget. Questions and comments can also be directed to Dr. Brian O’Keeffe, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, at 630-682-2025 or brian.okeeffe@cusd200.org.

During its July 10 meeting, the Board continued to discuss the middle school capital projects at Edison, Franklin and Monroe middle schools. Dr. Brian O’Keeffe, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services, presented the Board with updated debt financing options that were reviewed with the Finance Committee on June 27.

The Board also discussed a draft of a possible referendum question. At the August 14, 2024 Board of Education meeting, the Board will vote on putting a referendum question on the November ballot.

During its July 10 meeting, the Board approved the District’s E-Learning Plan. The E-Learning Plan was posted for community review following the June 12, 2024 Board of Education meeting. 

In July of 2021, the Board approved CUSD 200’s first E-Learning Plan to be used in lieu of emergency days. With that plan expiring, District administration worked collaboratively with the Wheaton Warrenville Education Association (WWEA) leadership to update the plan. The District’s newly approved E‐Learning Plan must be verified by the regional office of education or intermediate service center for the school district prior to implementation.

Mrs. Melissa Murphy, Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services, and Dr. Chris Silagi, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, gave a presentation on the 5Essentials Survey results and how the feedback is being used to inform the 2024-25 work plan.  

The 5Essentials Survey is based on research by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research to determine the five components found to be critical to student success. The 5Essentials is required to be administered yearly in school districts by the Illinois State Board of Education to monitor learning conditions. Students, staff and parents take the 5Essentials survey, and the data is used by district administration to create yearly work plans.

District 200 has utilized strategic planning as a tool to guide the work of the District and School Board. Each year, the metrics identified on the Vision 2026 Strategic Plan Dashboard are monitored, and results are reported to the Board of Education throughout the year at board meetings. Additionally, specific work plans related to the Vision 2026 Strategies are identified each year to identify areas of focus in the Vision 2026 Strategic Plan. Each summer, the Board of Education reviews and provides input on the Strategies for the upcoming school year.

At the August 14 meeting, the Board will vote to approve the Vision 2026 work plan priorities for the 2024-25 school year. Once approved, the plans will support development of School Improvement Plans and work plans for the upcoming school year.