Galesburg Reporter

Galesburg Central Unified School District (CUSD) 205 is preparing for a $7.2 million deficit from a tentative budget, which would fund building projects, child care and more. 

The school district discussed the upcoming school year and its budget during a recent online and in-person hybrid meeting, the Register-Mail reported. Since such a large deficit can be expected with a tentative budget, district officials said, the final budget may be different when it goes to a vote on Sept. 14. 

“Hopefully, at that time we will have clarifications for state and federal funding, as well as some of the outstanding expenditure items involved with negotiations,” Superintendent of Finance Jennifer Hamm told the Register-Mail.

Galesburg CUSD #205 Superintendent of Finance Jennifer Hamm | www.galesburg205.org

The tentative budget expects revenues to be down. State and federal funding for the upcoming school year is likely to be impacted as well. 

One revenue stream that will be lost is lunch revenue, the Register-Mail reported. Federal and state lunch funding is also likely to be reduced, but will depend on how many students participate in the lunch program through remote learning. 

When asked about options for these challenges by district board member Wendel Hunigan, Hamm said there weren't many. 

“There isn’t a whole lot more to cut right now because, contractually, we’re obligated to pay the salaries and the benefits that we’ve committed to for the year,” she said at the meeting, according to the Register-Mail.

The district does expect an 80% rate on property taxes and 50% of categorical aid, which goes toward transportation. Evidence-based state funding isn't expected to change. 

The board will hold a meeting in September, which is when a deficit reduction plan will have to be given. 

Apart from the budget, schools also need to prepare to keep students distanced and safe from COVID-19, the Register-Mail reported. On Aug. 21, a walk-through of schools will be done to ensure they are up to standards. 

There will be two more walk-throughs following the first: one in September and one in October as teachers settle in. All school buildings are still on budget or under-budget, which will help save some money, officials said.

Gale Elementary will be leased for the next year to the Knox County YMCA, which will use the building for daycare services, including space to allow children to access their remote learning classes. The district will not charge the YMCA rent, but the YMCA will pay utilities and provide janitorial services, the Register-Mail reported.

″[With this agreement], we’re not really out any money, plus it provides a service for parents that want to avail themselves of that opportunity,” Asplund said, according to the article.