Understanding your “Full Package” When many of us talk about comparing salaries we often miss much of the iceberg that goes into our compensation.  Yes, your compensation is more than your salary.  It’s tempting to only look at the numbers you get back on your paystub and think someone else’s grass is greener, but is it?  Compensation is far more complex than many people think.  Salary, medical benefits, retirement, paid leave,...

Many of you have children that enjoy the school’s hot lunch program.  Some of you are more aware than others of some of the ins and outs of this service.  Soon letters will be going out with free and reduced lunch applications.  This application can be found on the school website under Administration – Business Manager.  This program is extremely important for the school.  First and foremost it provides either a free or reduced...

We recently wrapped up a legislative session that brings with it many changes.  One I have been watching closely is Senate Bill 2265.  This bill dealt with how our schools are funded and it had some major implications.  The full effect of this bill is a lot more complicated than a one line answer.  Even this little article doesn’t get into a few nuances that won’t affect our school.  The short hand version is that for Elgin/New...

The biggest components of school funding are state aid and local taxes.  State aid is generally calculated off of student numbers. So far this sounds simple but things get more complicated once you fit the major puzzle pieces in.  Some additional areas in which this gets a little more complicated is Special Education funding, PreK Special Ed, Regional Education Association, At Risk, summer school and home school. Each of these items...

ENL Building Fund Levy Community Meeting PP I would like to thank everyone who turned out for the community meeting in New Leipzig at the Community Center.  I discussed why the school is seeking a vote to approve the authority for the school board to levy for up to 15 mils for a building fund.  I clarified we are not seeking to build new but rather to keep the existing building we have.  In order to do this we need to reinvest in the...

Recently the board voted to put in the November 6th election a ballot about establishing a building fund.  That same vote would also authorize the school board to levy between 0 and 15 mills to support that building fund. So what does 15 mills mean? For the district it would mean approximately $146,000.  Some of you may be aware that we are anticipating dropping in enrollment by about 8 students.  This would result in a loss of $77,168...