District 205 Roundup: A Look at School Board Business This Week

Among other business, School Board members at the Elmhurst District 205 Board meeting Tuesday:

• recognized the York High School Boys Cross Country Team and Girls Cross Country Team member Emma Fisher for their outstanding performance at the state cross country meet. Elmhurst Mayor Pete DiCianni said he would be taking the runners to Springfield to be honored on the Senate floor.
• issued $3 million in bonds for repairs at the York Aquatic Center and the replacement of bleachers at Bryan and Churchville middle schools
• approved 31 additions or modifications to courses at York High School for the 2013-14 school year
• learned there are no plans by the city to "dig 8-foot holes" on School District property to alleviate flooding, board President Jim Collins said. City officials have said flooding solutions will involve the use of District 205 property, and they are working with an engineer to come up with options that will be discussed with School District officials at a later date, Collins said. The School District is "willing to be a good partner" while maintaining a safe environment for students, he said.
• learned there is still no agreement with the city on the North York Road tax increment financing district. The city and School District have agreed the city will pay District 205 $1 million from TIF 2 within six months and 10 percent of the tax increment from TIF 4 beginning in year 11. However, the $6 million payment from TIF 4 for improvements at Churchville and Conrad Fischer schools is currently at the discretion of the city and not spelled out in the agreement. "I suspect we'll be meeting with the city to see if we can come up with mutually agreeable language," School Board member Chris Blum said. The agreement will come before the full board Dec. 18 and will be displayed for public inspection.