Batavia school board approves 2021 budget

BATAVIA – The Batavia Public School Board of Education unanimously approved its budget for the 2021 fiscal year at its meeting on Sept. 22.

A surplus of $1.1 million is projected with revenues totaling $115.8 million and expenditures totaling $114.7 million, according to the executive summary.

"Disregarding $18.1 million in on-behalf contributions — pass-through revenues and expenditures made by the State of Illinois for Teachers Retirement System (TRS) benefits — total revenues are projected to decrease by 0.5% and expenditures are projected to increase by 2.0% over the prior year," the executive summary reads.

Chief Financial Officer Tony Inglese pointed out some differences between the final budget and the tentative reviewed in July, which includes the surplus was projected to be $1.6 million at the end of the fiscal year.

Inglese pointed out the reason for the decline, primarily, is due to "looking at local revenues and interest that we would earn on our cash that we have available throughout the school year," Inglese said.

Inglese also mentioned losses from course fees and revolving account revenues.

The district's ending fund balance to revenue ratio is 31% of revenues. The district's target is 25%.

The full budget can be reviewed here.

Prior to the official budget vote, Inglese also outlined some health, safety and operations notes. Those included affirming the district is not charging various course fees – For example, possibly for chemicals in a science class – this year.

"We won't be charging those this year because it is very difficult to estimate what consumables we need and can use and will use with the state of things as they are," Inglese said.

Inglese, however, affirmed the district will continue charging their standard registration fees, which are dependent on what grade level the student is in. Families should expect to see those charges assessed in the near future.

Inglese also reiterated the Dept. of Agriculture is continuing its summer food service program, which provides free meals to any student in the district. Batavia High School does not participate in the national school lunch program, but the district is working with its food vendor on options. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade, however, will be able to get free lunch through the end of the calendar year.

The district pulls official enrollment numbers in October. However, Chief Academic Officer Brad Newkirk provided a snapshot of the current situation. The district's elementary school's has a 97% attendance rate.

Remote learning for the middle school and high school is seeing positive marks for attendance. Students marked absent one time or more is just 3.5% for middle school students and 3% for high school students.