The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill correspondent\
The Illini West School board approved a budget for the 2022-2023 school year that anticipates just a little over $52,000 more in spending than the district will take in.
The board held a budget hearing at the beginning of their regular meeting on Sept. 21. The budget shows an estimated revenue of $5,379,555 and spending of $5,431,836.
Superintendent Jay Harnack said that while there is a deficit of spending over income, he believes at the end of the year there will not be a deficit budget.
“I like to be conservative in projecting revenues, and there are a lot of contingencies built in the budget for expenditures,” Harnack said. Healthy balances in each of the major funds would cover any deficit that would occur in the annual budget.
Several uncertainties make budgeting hard at this point, including inflation, and higher electricity and fuel bills.
“The other part is a pretty significant increase in the private facility tuition for some of our students,” he said. “That rate increased from $250 per day per student to $450 per day. We don’t set those rates. The facilities don’t set the cost. It is done by the Illinois Purchased Care Review board.”
The private facility tuition provides transportation, therapeutic care and other educational services for three special needs students.
Students are provided care in the “least restrictive environment”, according to Harnack, and move through that spectrum based on the kinds of care they need.
“These are children who are designated to need this type of education,” said board president John Huston. “Certainly Illini West is happy to provide this care, but it can run into a couple of hundred thousand dollars.”
Harnack noted that there are likely to be amendments to the budget during the year, because of work being done to the high school building HVAC system through ESSR grants. Those bills must be paid, and then the grant funds are received as reimbursement.
At the meeting, the board received proposals from three banks in the county, for investing excess funds on a long or short term basis. Representatives were present from Marine Bank and Trust, Fortress Bank, and First Bankers Trust. Each made a presentation to the board during executive session.
The board voted to invest funds with Fortress Bank.
“Schools have a unique revenue cycle,” Harnack said. “Funds come in chunks, with about 70 percent of the property tax coming in July. We want to do our best to maximize our funds from that revenue.
“Fortress Bank checked the most boxes we were wanting for a combination of operational capital and long term investments.”
The board approved the appointment of Jessica Knicl as Scholastic Bowl sponsor, and Tyler Bruns as freshman boys basketball coach. Kim Johnson resigned as Scholastic Bowl sponsor.
Principal Jim Short explained the Charger Store and Charger Bucks plan, new this year to encourage good behavior. Teachers and administrators are giving Charger Bucks to students when positive actions are noticed in individuals or groups of students.
These can be spent at the Charger Store that is open during lunch. Items range from low cost snacks to more costly IW gear, late assignment and extended lunch passes, sports equipment, a Kindle and a large, smart TV, gift cards, and more. Merchandise in the Charger Store has been supported with donations from community members and businesses.
Short reported that additional counselors have met with approximately 33 students for various topics that include academics and truancy, anxiety and depression, family and peer issues, substance abuse, and self-esteem and goal setting.
Homecoming week is Monday, Sept 26, to Saturday, Oct 1. The parade is at 2 p.m. Friday,Sept. 30, with the game at 7 p.m. that night. The dance is Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the gym.
In other business, the board: