Despite the Illinois General Assembly adopting a full year spending plan for K-12 education, Superintendent Ralph Grimm still has “concerns.”
He told board members at last night’s meeting that District 205 will definitely get $598,000 more in FY17 than they did last year, but based on Grimm’s math, he doesn’t believe schools have been funded at the foundation level, as was reported when the budget was passed.
Grimm says Illinois Superintendent of Schools Tony Smith declared districts would get the amount that is greater between General State Aid with a portion of a low-income student grant funds and what they would have received last year without a prorated formula.
What’s concerning for Grimm is that last year the district should have received $16 million and they are set to receive about $15.7 million, making Superintedent Smith’s statement suspect.
But at the end of the day, Grimm says because of prorated funding last year, 205 will get an additional $598,000 in FY17.
“I don’t think for a minute the financial crisis has been solved,” Grimm told board members. “I think it’s been merely averted for a few months, but, at least we have enough assurance of funding to be able to open school on time and move forward.”
Also last night, the board approved a motion to notify students and former students by mail of any outstanding school fees, which total around $217,000.
They will have until Sept. 15 to pay, after which the debts will be turned over to a collection agency.
Grimm says the agency will get a percentage of what they collect, so there will be only gain for the district.
