MENDOTA – District 289 board members formally accepted the consolidation study results at their July 20 meeting. The study, completed by Midwest School Consultants, favored the elementary schools and the high school remaining as two separate districts.

Sean Pappas, board president, spoke with a union representative to see if the union would be willing to negotiate to a lower benefit package should the two districts consider consolidating. “He said he could not comment on it, but would not be in favor of it,” reported Pappas.

Pappas continued that the only way a consolidation could work would be if both districts were willing to make changes. “So as far as I am concerned, it is pretty much a done deal,” he said.

Pappas also commented on the tax rate difference that would give the combined district less money than the two districts currently receive.

Consolidation or not, the two districts are still trying to join forces. “Our administrators recently had a meeting with the high school administrators and we have a lot of strategies and potential ways that we can work together,” said Kristen School, superintendent.

School then shared with the board the progress of Senate Bill 1 (Evidence-Based School Funding). Although it has passed the House, it is predicted that Gov. Bruce Rauner will exercise an amendatory veto. School could not tell the board where the extra money would come from, but if passed, District 289 stands to gain an additional $1 million annually. In fact, all schools across the state are likely to see an increase in their funding through the new 27-point funding formula.

Until the district sees those dollars, School commented she will continue to be cautious and frugal with the budget.

Beth Wackerlin, curriculum director, explained the preliminary PARCC data. Students in grades 3-8 are overall scoring in the “Approaching” or “Meets” requirements categories. Although state-wide data is not available yet, Wackerlin noted that District 289 students tend to rank higher than most in the state. Wackerlin also noted that she plans on bringing sample PARCC questions to a future meeting so that the board members can see how difficult the test really is.

The district has been busy preparing for the start of another school year. Summer projects at the various buildings have included blacktop resurfacing and sealing, new outside LED lighting, new playground woodchips, and gym floor sanding and varnishing. First day of student attendance is set for Aug. 22.

The next regular board meeting will be held on Thursday, Aug. 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the District 289 Education Center. A parent meeting will be held prior at 5:30 p.m.