Grayslake District 46 board approves $51 million budget
Grayslake Elementary School District 46's new annual budget includes cash for computers, an improved wireless network and a better phone system, among other purchases.
The school board approved the $51 million spending plan for the 2017 fiscal year Wednesday night. It's about 2.6 percent greater than the previous year's $49.7 million budget, in part, because of rising costs for salaries, health and dental insurance and transportation, said Chris Bobek, the district's assistant superintendent of business and finance.
The new fiscal year began July 1.
Among the purchases included in the budget are computers for an expanded test program that provides students at six of the district's seven schools with their own iPad tablets or Chromebook laptops, depending on grade level, Bobek said. The program is for third- through eighth-graders.
Officials also are improving the district's wireless computer network to make that program work better.
Those computer purchases and network improvements are expected to cost $160,000 this year.
The district is getting a new telephone system, too, at an estimated cost of $86,000.
Additionally, officials have purchased supplies and materials that go with new education plans for math classes and for students who speak English as a second language, Bobek said.
"These materials are needed to keep up with the new standards Illinois has adopted," he said.
Those items are expected to cost $260,000.
To cover those and other purchases, officials predict the district will collect about $51.8 million in property taxes, fees, grants and other revenue. That's up about 2 percent from $50.7 million.
With revenue projected to exceed spending, the district is set to bank a $743,667 surplus, Bobek said.