Board Highlights

The April 14 Board of Education meeting included several important updates and discussions. In this issue, you’ll find:

• An update on the Master Facilities Plan and a broader financial overview, including funding considerations for upcoming capital projects.
  
  

• Approval of updated insurance rates for the 2026–27 plan year.
  
  

• Discussion of several key items, including the planned Julian Middle School roof repair, the district’s annual financial audit, and Responsive Classroom training.

As always, full meeting materials—including presentations, packets, and recordings—are available on our board platform, Diligent.

Please note: The audio for the April 14 meeting live stream was spotty throughout the evening. We apologize for the inconvenience.

The Board received a comprehensive update on the district’s Master Facilities Plan and associated financing strategies during the April 14 meeting. The presentation was led by: Michael Arensdorff, the district’s Chief Operations and Technology Officer; Dr. Crystal LeRoy, chief financial officer; and the district’s financial advisors.

The team reviewed the long-term facilities plan, which prioritizes critical infrastructure, as well as health and life safety needs across all schools. The plan is structured over a 10-year timeline, with the most urgent projects—such as roofing, mechanical systems, and health and life safety upgrades—scheduled in the early years.

Leaders also provided an overview of the district’s current financial position, noting a history of stable fund balances and responsible financial management, while also highlighting projected pressures as expenses are expected to outpace revenues over time.

A key focus of the discussion was how to fund these capital improvements while maintaining the district’s financial stability. Financial advisors outlined several potential funding scenarios, including the use of non-referendum bonds and health life safety bonds with varying repayment structures. These options are designed to balance the need to address significant facility needs with the goal of preserving fund balance reserves within board policy targets.

District leaders have been sharing this work over the past several months with both the Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC) and the Financial Oversight and Review Committee (FORC)—groups made up of community members and subject-matter experts who review information, provide feedback, and offer recommendations to the board of education.

Overall, the recommendation is to align capital investments with clearly defined reserve targets and to use a combination of funding sources to support the work while maintaining financial flexibility over time.

The board is expected to take action on the Master Facilities Plan and associated financing approach at its April 28 meeting.

During the April 14 meeting, the board approved updated employee health and dental insurance rates for the 2026–27 school year, following a recommendation from the district’s Benefits Committee.

The annual review process includes an analysis of current plan usage, cost trends, and legislative changes that impact coverage. For the upcoming year, medical plan rates will increase due to higher claims experience, with adjustments of approximately 16.7% for PPO plans and 15.4% for HMO plans, while dental rates will see a smaller increase of 3.9%.

District 97 continues to cover a significant portion of premium costs for staff, and the Benefits Committee—composed of representatives from across employee groups—works each year to evaluate options and make recommendations that balance quality coverage with long-term sustainability.

The Human Resources team will follow up with staff in the coming weeks with detailed information about plan options and the upcoming Open Enrollment period.

To view the full presentation, click the following link: Employee Insurance Rates and Benefits Plan Update - April 14, 2026