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BOARD BRIEFS
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DECEMBER 3, 2015
HUNTLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 158 BOARD OF EDUCATION
BOARD GOES ON GOOGLE EXPEDITION
Technology was piloted at Leggee in November
TAX LEVY ESTIMATES
INDICATE DROP IN
TAX RATE; CPI UP
Chief Financial Officer Mark
Altmayer presented “good
news” for the community,
reporting estimates that the
District’s tax rate will decrease
about 1.7% from last year, from
$5.97 to $5.87 per $100 of
assessed value.
That rate drop is primarily
due to estimated increases in
the District’s Equalized Assessed
The Board visited the White House without leaving the Board Room.
The Huntley Community School District 158 Board of Education
enjoyed an immersive experience using Google Expeditions, a pilot
program of the tech giant that enables classrooms to go on 360degree virtual field trips around the world using its Google
Cardboard project and smart devices.
Leggee Elementary School was selected among several schools
nationwide to take part in Google’s pilot earlier in November.
Leggee Principal Scott Iddings reported that universally positive
feedback from students and parents about the program. In
addition, he said that Google was appreciative to receive
feedback from the school, including suggestions to help make the
technology available to students with visual impairments.
Dr. Chris Budzynski, director of technology, guided the Board’s
tour, which included the White House. He reported the District
would explore the Expedition technology further when it is made
widely available.
Value.
With the Consumer Price
Index at 0.8% for Levy Year
2015 (tax bills paid in 2016),
before new construction, the
District will extend
approximately $450,000 in
additional operating property
taxes in accordance with the
Property Tax Extension
Limitation Law (PTELL).
Additional dollars will be
levied for new construction, not
affecting existing homeowners.
At 0.8%, a homeowner with
a $200,000 home will see an
approximate $28 increase in
the property tax for the District.
Continued on page 2
December 3, 2015 Volume 2, Issue 11
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HUNTLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 158 BOARD OF EDUCATION
Levy, Continued from page 1
Altmayer cautioned that, exclusive of the 0.8%, taxpayers should be aware that individual bills may go
up or down based on individual assessments as determined by the township assessor.
Under the law, the District is not required to publish notice of a levy hearing, as the aggregate levy will
be less than 105% of prior year’s extension. However, the District will hold a levy hearing for the
informational benefit of taxpayers on Thursday, December 17, 2015.
District Building Earns EPA Energy Start Recognition
Doug Renkosik, director of operations and maintenance, reported that the District Administration and
Transportation Center (650 Academic Drive, Algonquin) received Energy Star recognition from the federal
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The designation signifies that the building performs in the top 25
percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets strict energy efficiency performance
levels set by the EPA. The recognition results from energy-saving retrofit projects completed at the building,
part of the District’s overall energy efficiency efforts that have saved approximately $460,000 annually over
the past several years.
Pending Actions
In addition, at its next Regular Meeting, the Board will vote whether to approve:
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First readings of two policy changes: 2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure and Policy, and 7:140
Search and Seizure, with recommended changes; as well as a number of policy recommendations
from the PRESS Update of October 2015
Purchase Orders at $473,974.12; Imprest checks at $284,418.35; Accounts Payable at $3,404.11; and
Disbursements issued at $3,088,321.63
A fundraising proposal from the HHS Baseball Team
The list of items to be declared as surplus, as presented by the administration
An amendment to change order #3 to the contract with Wm. Tonyan & Sons for work on school
security upgrades in the amount of $16,958
Proposed change orders for trade contractors’ contracts for the HHS Additions and Renovations
project, at a total net credit amount of $56,008.00 for Bid Release One contracts and a total net
credit of $5,620.00 for Bid Release Two contracts
Minutes from the Board’s Regular Meeting of November 12, 2015 and Committee of the Whole of
November 5, 2015.
Informational Updates
The Board heard informational reports on:
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Curriculum program review cycles and long-range needs planning
Monthly fiscal, HR, Operations and Maintenance, and legislative updates
The progress of the HHS Additions and Renovations project, which is progressing on time and
continues to run about $500,000 under budget.
Learn more about the Board of Education and review schedules, agendas,
minutes, and live streams of meetings at WWW.DISTRICT158.ORG/BOE.
Communications and Public Engagement
HUNTLEY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 158 BOARD OF EDUCATION
650 Academic Drive, Algonquin, IL 60102