October 16, 2017

New Trier Township High School District 203 Board of Education Meeting—October 16, 2017

Present:  Board President Greg Robitaille, Board Vice President Lori Goldstein, Board Members: Cathleen Albrecht, Keith Dronen, Marc Glucksman, Patrick O’Donoghue.  Administrators:  Superintendent Paul Sally; Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Christopher Johnson; Secretary Superintendent Lou Anne Kelly; Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Peter Tragos; Principal (Winnetka) Denise Dubravec; Principal (Northfield) Paul Waechtler. Absent:  Board Member Carol Ducommun; Administrator Timothy Hayes (Assistant Superintendent for Student Services).
 
Significant Topics Discussed:
 
The Summer 2018 Project Update –Financing—and Votes on Resolutions Declaring Intent to Issue Bonds and Setting Date for Pubic Hearing on Bond Issuance. The Board discussed and voted on the resolution declaring its intention to issue $7,000,000 in working cash fund bonds for the Summer 2018 project and setting the date for a public hearing for November 20, 2017, on the issuance of these bonds.  Note:  this vote is a necessary first step for issuing bonds, but it does not obligate the Board with respect to the bond issuance or project.  For background, the Summer 2018 Project is proposed to include:

• Renovating offices for Student Services, Technology and Administrative Services at the Winnetka Campus.
• A small out building to house permanent bathrooms and a concession stand at the south end of the Northfield stadium.
• A new press box over the west end of the Northfield stadium.
• Adding additional seating to the Northfield stadium.
• Resurfacing the Northfield West Parking Lot.
• Resurfacing the Northfield Tennis Courts.

2017 Preliminary Tax Levy—Discussion and Vote and Date Set for Public Hearing.  The Tax Levy is the District’s annual request for Property Tax Revenue.  The Property Tax Extension Limitation Act caps the actual levy extension (exclusive of new property) for operating funds by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or 5%, whichever is less. The December 2016 CPI was 2.1%, so this is the number that was used in the calculation of the recommended tax extension for operating funds, exclusive of new property. New property is estimated to be $95 million, resulting in a preliminary tax levy of $102,077,295 for operating funds (Note:  if actual new property turns out to be less than $95 million, the levy will automatically be reduced to capture only the actual amount of new property). The capped funds do not include the tax levy for bond and interest so the Board also voted to approve a preliminary tax levy of $9,379,129 for bond and interest.  The Board also voted to set the date for the public hearing on this levy for November 20, 2017 at the regularly scheduled Board meeting.
Issues Referred to Other Committees or Organizations:  None.
 
Other Items of Interest:
 
Consent Agenda

• Bill List for the Period, September 1-30, 2017
• Personnel Report
• Board Policy 6-300 - Second Reading regarding Graduation Requirements
• Ratification of Change Order #26
• Dance Floor Contract
• Fund Transfer Resolutions

 
Voted on:  Acceptance of Audit Report; Resolutions declaring intention to issue $7,000,000 in working cash fund bonds related to the Summer 2018 Project and Setting the Public Hearing on this bond issuance for the November 20, 2017, regularly scheduled Board meeting; Approval of 2017 Preliminary Tax Levy of $102,077,295 for operating funds and $9,379,129 for bond and interest and setting of public hearing on this tax levy at the November 20, 2017, regularly scheduled Board meeting; Consent agenda.  All votes unanimous among those present, with Ducommun absent.
 
Next meeting:  November 20, 2017
 
Observer:  Siobhan Hill                                                    Meeting Length:  2 hours 11 minutes.