Mundelein High balances budget

For the third consecutive year, Mundelein High School officials have begun a new term with a balanced budget.

On its face, this might not seem terribly exciting. But considering the school faced mounting, multimillion-dollar deficits just a few years ago, board members and administrators are celebrating.

"It truly is amazing, compared to where we were three years ago," board member Vicky Kennedy said.

The Mundelein High School District 120 board Tuesday unanimously approved a $29.7 million spending plan for the new fiscal year, which began July 1. It expects to raise about $29.9 million in property taxes, fees and other revenue during the same period to cover teacher salaries, supplies and other expenses.

That should result in an estimated surplus of $241,441, the district's third annual surplus, business manager Gary Lonquist said.

As in previous years, the surplus will help reduce the district's debt, which was about $4.7 million in June 2005 but had shrunk to about $2.5 million by June 2006, Lonquist said.

Its debt as of this past June has not been determined, Lonquist said, but it's expected to be smaller.

"The negative has steadily improved," he said.

Last year, the school had a $28.8 million budget and was expected to collect about $28.9 million in revenue.

Both budgets are much leaner than the roughly $32 million spending plan adopted in 2005. Officials reduced spending last year by trimming programs, increasing class sizes and taking other cost-saving steps.

Some programs, such as a tutoring and a reading effort for ninth-graders, will be added or re-instituted this year, officials said. Six new teaching positions were created to reduce average class sizes, too, interim Superintendent John Barbini said.

Although about $200,000 has been set aside for facility improvements and maintenance work this year, no big campus renovations are planned, Barbini said.

The astute financial planning comes at a time when residents have been unwilling to give the school more money. Voters have rejected five ballot proposals since 2005.

Kennedy doesn't expect the board will go back to voters anytime soon.

"It all hinges on our long-range plan and what we're looking at for education and facilities," she said.

The board could discuss options for a long-range plan later this year, Barbini said.

Class sizes shrinking

Three years of balanced budgets have allowed Mundelein High School officials to expand the teaching staff and reduce average class sizes.

Core subject Avg. class size, 2006* Avg. size, 2007

Science 29.3 26.3

Social studies 29.7 26.3

English 26.2 24.9

Math 27.6 25.0

*Average students per class

Source: Mundelein High School