Dist. 304 budget surplus growing

Geneva School District 304's education fund budget surplus is expected to continue through the next several years, according to forecasts prepared by the district.

Increasing property tax revenues, along with a slight increase in state education funding will allow the district to post a positive education fund balance of about $8.3 million in the 2008-09 fiscal year, compared to a positive balance of $4.5 million in the 2007-08 fiscal year.

The 2009-10 fiscal year education fund budget surplus forecast is approximately $11.4 million.

The district's education fund includes classroom materials, technology supplies and software, and library materials. Teacher and administrative staff salaries are also part of the fund.

District Superintendent Kent Mutchler said that the district's largest source of income comes from property taxes. Although the board expressed concerns over the continued slowdown of the housing market and a possible drop in assessed real estate values, Mutchler said that he didn't expect a possible drop in tax revenue to be substantial.

In addition, projected costs for textbooks are not expected to change from 2007-08 levels. Teacher salaries are expected to increase by about $1.7 million, and teacher benefits are expected to see an increase of about $438,000.

Slight increases in student enrollment will also keep projections of additional staff small. The district expects to add just seven new staff members, including two special education teachers.

The district expects to gain about 10 new high school students, 13 new middle school students, and about 75 new elementary students in 2008-09, although Assistant Superintendent Rebecca Allard stated that enrollment numbers would be firmer as the 2009 school year drew closer.

In other business, district officials said increased security measures at Geneva High School are expected to remain in place after the discovery of a written threat on the wall of a bathroom on Feb. 28.

Mutchler said bag and backpack searches will continue in the foreseeable future.

"We are much more watchful of movement in and around the school," Mutchler said. He declined to give a proposed end date for the security measures.

Student lunch waivers have been indefinitely suspended at the school, and access to the building is limited to the school's main entrance on McKinley Avenue. Students may enter the building from the Logan Street entrance before school hours only.