Official: New State Aid Law Could Bring Dolton 149 an Extra $500,000 to $1 Million

(Calumet City, IL) – Illinois’ new education funding law could yield Dolton School District 149 anywhere from $500,000 to $1 million, according to the district’s top finance official.

At Dolton 149’s September 6 school board Committee of the Whole meeting, the district’s business manager told board members that $500,000 in new state aid money for the south suburban district is a “conservative” estimate.

“Conservatively, the newly approved state education funding reform law means at least $500,000, which is currently unbudgeted, will be received by Dolton 149 for Fiscal Year 2018, but it could be as much as $1 million,” Dolton 149 Business Manager Cedric Lewis explained to board members. “We should have the precise estimate of our additional state aide within the next few weeks.”

The district’s top administrator credited the advocacy of Dolton 149 staff and its government advocacy team with working with policy makers in Springfield to help move the school funding reform bill forward.

“District leadership, staff, and our professional government advocacy team worked tirelessly with lawmakers in Springfield to ensure that an education funding reform formula would be approved for the benefit of Dolton 149’s students,” said Superintendent Dr. Shelly Davis-Jones. “Now as Springfield turns its attention to a potential capital program for roads, bridges, and schools, our government advocacy will enter a new phase.”

The district is reviewing potentials investments in both classroom instruction and in aging building repairs with new money.

“We trust you with our students,” Dolton 149 Board President Darlene Gray Everett told administrators and teachers assembled at the board meeting. “We want to give you what you need to move forward.”

School officials have a multi-year plan in place to purchase new school books for the district’s 2,733 students and a strategy to upgrade energy efficiency throughout the multiple school buildings.

“The new money could speed up the time of the new book purchases, for example,” Gray Everett noted.

Lewis also announced to the board that the district had for a second year in a row ended with a $1 million surplus in the bank.

“Despite the uncertainty over state funding and delayed payments, the district will end Fiscal Year 2017 with a second consecutive year of surpluses, totaling $1 million,” said Lewis. “We’re in very good shape financially.”

“The district’s solid financial position can be credited to the board’s responsible management of taxpayer dollars,” Gray Everett added. “We’re proud of that accomplishment.”

davidormsby@davidormsby.com