LTHS D205 Board of Education End-of-Year Report

Throughout 2024, the Lockport Township High School District 205 Board of Education has engaged in substantial, transparent, and extensive community engagement as it has planned for the district’s financial and facilities future.

From December 9 - December 16, 2024, the LTHS Public Relations Department will release one key achievement at a time of the LTHS D205 Board of Education throughout the year on this webpage. The purpose is to emphasize the Board’s efforts in an end-of-year campaign which is a great way to showcase the impact they have made on the school community.

Information will be shared with staff and parents through email, social media, and the LTHS website so that it is available to all stakeholders.

The timeline of the LTHS D205 Board of Education accomplishments throughout 2024.

JANUARY - MARCH

The LTHS D05 bond referendum was on the ballot for the General Primary Election on March 19, 2024. The referendum called for the issuance of bonds in the amount of $85 million to pay for improvements to Central Campus, which was built in 1909. The Referendum campaign was effectively launched approximately two months before the election. A webpage was dedicated to referendum efforts which included:

Four informational videos
Printable PDF file about information on the Central Campus Renovation Referendum.
Referendum Tax Calculator
Hosted 39 community informational meetings in advance of a referendum in March 2024.
Held 11 tours at Central Campus every Wednesday evening.

APRIL - MAY

Organized a Facilities Master Planning Council of community members to prepare for the results of the referendum regardless of the outcome. This council has met seven times to research the options for the district.

Community Survey: In May 2024, the LTHS D205 community was asked a series of questions in a post-referendum Community Survey conducted by the data analytics company, InnovateK12. The link to the survey was included in the LTHS Weekly Messages, LTHS website, and shared on the LTHS social media platforms.

Hosted a Community Open House on May 13, 2024, where architects, financial professionals, community solar representatives, Board members, and Citizens Advisory Council members were there to discuss what can be done to ensure Central Campus is a functional and safe learning environment.

Approved a resolution on May 20 to begin the process of addressing the most pressing building issues at Central with a minimal tax impact on community members.

JUNE - SEPTEMBER

Community Survey & Engagement: On June 18, 2024, the Board of Education had their initial discussion about the community survey report focusing on the district's facilities. The survey garnered a total of 694 responses and 995 total scans were generated from the QR code that was included in the direct mailer which was mailed out to homes in late May. On July 2, 2024, the individual written responses were published on the LTHS social media platforms and the LTHS website.

Met with the Uncensored Group and working with the group
Construction work on Central Campus
Moved back from Lincoln-Way North to Central Campus
Reopening of Central Campus
Safety & Security
Approved a FY 24-25 budget 2% less than the FY 23-24

OCTOBER

Held three Community Forums and provided all participants with an exit survey to share their thoughts and opinions. Two of the three meetings were recorded and the videos are available on the LTHS Public Relations YouTube Channel.

During the Board of Education's October meeting, the team from Berglund Construction presented a Special Report to the LTHS Board regarding the construction work they did over the summer of 2024 at Central Campus. They provided their perspective on future possibilities for the building and what they learned about the building during their extensive work with the building's superstructure.

NOVEMBER

At the November 18 meeting, the LTHS Board approved an Option to Lease Agreement with ForeFront Power to help ease the tax burden on community members. The agreement is for the development of a Community Solar project on 43 acres of district-owned property located at Cedar Rd. and 159th Street.

ForeFront Power first presented the concept of the Community Solar project to the Board of Education on May 13, 2024. After five months of due diligence, review, dialogue, and revisions, the district and ForeFront Power have finalized the Option to Lease agreement. Now that the agreement has been approved, ForeFront Power is responsible for seeking approval from the Village of Homer Glen to move forward with this project.

Continued to lower the tax rate over the past 15 years. The district has the lowest tax rate out of 17 area high school districts.

DECEMBER

Prepared to approve an upcoming annual tax levy that will not be at or over the State’s limit of a 105% increase that would require a Truth in Taxation Hearing in December.

Prepared for the second year in a row to abate back the district’s debt payments to taxpayers as a discount on the upcoming levy for 2025.

Met with the Facilities Master Planning Council on December 2, 2024, to produce an early 2025 plan for its finances and facilities.