The Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 Board of Education reviewed a tentative $162.5 million budget for the 2025-2026 school year during its meeting on Monday. The budget projects a 5.48% increase in operating expenses, driven by rising costs for salaries, benefits, and special education tuition. Officials explained that a planned $1.6 million operating deficit is a one-time event related to the final payment for a new bus fleet, and the district’s underlying finances show a surplus. The district projects to end the fiscal year with a healthy operating fund balance of $42.1 million, representing nearly 34% of expenditures. For a detailed report, please see the full article.

The board also approved the budget for the Lincoln-Way Special Education District 843 cooperative. The action came amid discussion of significant cost increases within the co-op, including an 11.5% rise in its salary and benefit costs, which is expected to increase District 210’s contribution by 7.5% to 11%. Board members discussed the long-term financial impact and plans to analyze program costs. For more information, please see the full story.

Invoices Totaling $12.7 Million Approved
The board approved the payment of invoices totaling $12,696,369.62 for the period of June 27 through August 18, 2025. The amount included a significant final payment of $2.8 million for the district’s new fleet of school buses, which were financed in the previous fiscal year. Other payments covered routine expenses, including utility bills, which officials noted have remained high but stable for electricity while natural gas prices have been rising.

Treasurer’s and Student Activity Reports Approved
Financial reports for June and July 2025 were unanimously approved. According to the treasurer’s report, the district ended the 2025 fiscal year on June 30 having received 100.3% of its budgeted operating revenues. The district’s total cash balance was $95.2 million. The student activity report for July showed a fund balance of over $2.7 million, with officials confirming that nearly all individual school accounts were in good financial standing heading into the new school year.

Personnel Changes Approved
As part of its consent agenda, the board approved a personnel report detailing numerous staff changes. The report included 14 resignations, the retirement of three staff members including West Campus English teacher Michelle Schiller, and the full-time employment of 10 new staff members. The board also approved the appointments of 11 individuals to probationary status, including paraprofessionals, food service staff, and bus drivers across the district’s campuses.

Hazardous Bus Routes Renewed
The board unanimously approved the annual recertification of hazardous busing routes for the 2025-2026 school year. According to a memo from Director of Transportation Andy Reasor, the identified routes—which include portions of US Route 45, US Route 30, Schoolhouse Road, Gougar Road, and Illinois Highway/Spencer Road—remain unchanged from the previous year. The designation allows the district to provide transportation for students living within 1.5 miles of school if their walking route requires crossing these roadways.

Board Approves Student Trips
Two out-of-state trips for student groups were approved by the board. The Lincoln-Way East, Central, and West Marching Band received approval to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, from September 26-28, 2025. The board also approved travel for the Lincoln-Way Central Competitive Dance team to Orlando, Florida, from February 6-8, 2026.

Budget Hearing Scheduled for September 18
The Board of Education established the date for the public hearing on its Fiscal Year 2026 budget. The hearing will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at Lincoln-Way Central High School in the Knights’ Round Table Hall. The tentative budget is available for public inspection at the district’s administrative annex for 30 days prior to the hearing, after which the board can vote to adopt the final budget.