LM Sept. 2023_final

How EBF Continues to Help Illinois Students: Making a Difference Returns Revisiting the Series Click here to read past stories

Kaskaskia Region Bunker Hill CUSD #8 Todd Dugan, superintendent

Cook South Region Lansing SD #158 Dr. Nathan Schilling, superintendent

2,700 students

620 students

in South Cook with five schools.

We are an elementary district of about

2 buildings in southern Macoupin County.

We are a rural preK–12 school district with

Describe your school district.

Everything was tight. The Education Fund had an $800,000 deficit. It was a shoestring budget, skeleton crew on staff and there was neglected maintenance.

We were in pretty good shape with facilities but, from a personnel standpoint, we were understaffed and had gaps that needed to be addressed.

Before EBF, what was the situation in your school district?

Percent of Adequacy then and now?

60

72 %

58

77

% in FY 2018

% in FY 2018

% in FY 2024

in FY 2024

The biggest thing is stability and being able to invest in the district. We added a staff mem ber who is leading our engineering pathway program at our high school. We added an Ad vanced Placement computer science class and a full-time social worker. We also balanced our transportation budget, balanced other funds and are properly maintaining our facilities. That includes removing asbestos tile and creating spaces that inspire students. It’s important to get on the same page of what an outcome is. Is it just a reading score? For us, we have added experiences for our students. Our enrollment is up 9%. That’s not accidental. Bunker Hill was spotlighted for giving students outside of school experiences during the school day. That included adding a certified nursing assistant program. We’ve had students graduate with a high school diploma and a CNA certification with no debt. Those are the types of outcomes that have resounded most loudly in our community.     

We were intentional about the money being used for the continuation of facilities maintenance and expansion. We are nearing the completion of renovation and expansion of our early learning primary center. We’re hoping to serve twice as many kids. From a personnel standpoint, we’ve used EBF to hire additional social workers, hire math interventionists at each elementary building, add a Human Resources Director and hire an English Learner teacher Our big focus has been on intervention and looking at supports for students with disabilities. We want to be able to maintain and add to the supports we’ve put in place. It’s important to note ESSER dollars will expire. However, EBF has allowed for annual expenditures for staff. That’s key. I will add that the state should extend the Property Tax Relief Grant. We’ve been able to abate $11 million in local property tax dollars back to local taxpayers. When you can take $11 million over five years, and invest that back in the community, that further increases the tax base and revenue stream of the school district. Everybody wins in that situation.

Biggest impact EBF has had on your district?

    

How will a continuous investment in EBF help you improve educational outcomes?

Listen to complete interviews on the IASA Podcast:

Click here for Bunker Hill

Click here for Lansing

31 LM September 2023