ROCHELLE — At its monthly meeting Monday, the Rochelle Township High School District Board of Education held a public hearing for and unanimously approved its 2024-2025 budget.

District Business Manager Kevin Dale provided highlights of the budget to the board during the public hearing Monday. The budget has estimated fund balances of $12.9 million in its education fund, $1,491,139 in operations & maintenance, $774,147 in debt service, $2,152,163 in transportation, $290,495 in IMRF, $723,465 in capital projects, $4,456,726 in working cash, and $1,037,736 in life safety.

Dale said the district expects about $18,302,420 in revenue to come in this year. For expenditures, the district expects $20,044,350. Expenditures are made up of $8.6 million in salaries, $2.668 million in benefits, $2 million in purchase services, $1.197 million in supplies & materials, $1.1937 in capital outlays and $3.6 million in other expenses.

The district is looking at a $1,741,930 deficit in its 2024-2025 budget. Dale said that's due to projects the district has going on such as paving and detention pond work that it's been saving for along with future projects. The district does not have to make a deficit reduction plan due to having enough funds in its reserves.

"We are in pretty good shape," Board President Tom Huddleston said. "These projects we're doing are big money. We're reaching the age with this school where things are starting to need to be replaced."

Teachers

During his monthly report, RTHS Principal Chris Lewis talked about support systems in place for new teachers. Currently, 35 percent of RTHS teachers are non-tenured (less than four years of service).

Supports include new teacher orientation, a mentor program, professional learning community (PLC) collaboration among departments, Danielson evaluations, and a new student growth coach the district recently hired.

"We have a lot of inexperienced teachers, but we have a lot of things in place to help them out," Lewis said.

Homecoming

Lewis detailed the plan for RTHS's Homecoming week in early October. The parade will take place Thursday, Oct. 3 with a parade from downtown to Tilton Elementary School. The pep rally and coronation will take place at 6:30 p.m. at RTHS and the powderpuff football game will start at 8 p.m. The Hubs will play Morris in the football game Friday, Oct. 4. The Homecoming dance will take place Saturday, Oct. 5 in the RTHS Commons.

Personnel

The board unanimously approved personnel changes including the resignation of Lizbeth Garcia (Ballet Folklorico coach) and the employment of Abby Jamison (assistant speech coach), Sarai Orozco (assistant boys soccer coach), Heidi Rattanasvanh (bus driver), Sherri Smith (substitute bus driver), Alejandra Tenorio (Ballet Folklorico coach), Edna Vazquez (Ballet Folklorico coach) and Kurt Wolter (theater tech director).