WHD SD147 approves 2027 fiscal year budget

The West Harvey-Dixmoor School District 147 board approved the district’s 2027 fiscal year budget after holding a public hearing at its Sept. 8 regular meeting.

Chief School Business Official Janiesa Owens presented the district’s final budget totaling $21,960,377. The budget anticipates $24,160,656 in revenues and $29,126,192 in expenditures.

The district will utilize an intentional deficit spending plan — spending more money than it collects — this year following an interfund transfer approved by the board in June. Because capital projects were being covered by bonds at the time, the board agreed to transfer $2.6 million from the operations and maintenance fund to the education fund.

“So this year, we’re going to need to spend that $2.6 [million], which is why the board approved our bond of $3 million to take care of capital projects,” Owens said.

Owens noted that Cook County recently mailed out property tax bills to be paid by Oct. 1, meaning some school revenues will be delayed. Otherwise, the final budget accounted for the same changes in salaries, transportation reimbursements, capital projects, and curriculum expenses as the tentative budget proposed at the Aug. 3 board meeting. 

“We will still be in a very, very good position even with our deficit spending that we need to do,” Owens said.

“Turn Up for Peace” festival returns for second year

Representatives from the Thornton Township High School District 205 Student Board of Education — the only in Illinois — shared their plans for the student board’s fall event, “Turn Up 4 Peace.” 

Associate Superintendent Jerry Doss introduced the students as members of the Dr. John Bradley Legacy Committee, which sponsors a community service event every fall. Enthusiastic attendance from last fall’s Peace festival prompted members to bring it back this year.

“We had a good turnout for Turn Up 4 Peace, so we’re going to try it again,” Doss said. He added that the committee is visiting all surrounding districts to promote the event, with District 147 being the first stop.

Thornwood High School senior Awestyn Farmer shared highlights from last year’s festival. The event included carnival games, informational booths, prizes, a balloon release, and fireworks. 

Thornton Township High School senior and committee chair Abiola Oke-Samuel said they hope to make this year’s event “bigger, better, and stronger” and transform it into an annual fall festival for District 205 and neighboring districts. They hope to add bounce houses, video game trucks, local vendors, live entertainment, and appearances from social media influencers. 

“This year, we want to really tune into the fall aspect of the festival’s timing and make it more of a fall festival instead of just a community outreach event,” Oke-Samuel said. This year’s festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 12 to 6pm at Thornridge High School.

King Elementary paraprofessional proposes rename for Lincoln Early Learning Center

During public comment, Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary paraprofessional Keith Kysel asked the board to consider renaming Lincoln Early Learning Center after civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin. 

In 1955, at age 15, Colvin was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama, just nine months before Rosa Parks’ notable protest. A year later, Colvin was one of four plaintiffs in the Browder v. Gayle case, which led to the desegregation of public transportation. She died on Jan. 13 at age 86.

“Without Colvin, there wouldn’t be a [Rosa] Parks. Without Parks, there wouldn’t be a [Martin Luther] King Jr.,” Kysel said. 

Board secretary Mable Chapman noted that the now-closed Washington Elementary School was originally named after George Washington but was renamed in honor of Booker T. Washington per students’ recommendation. “That’s a wonderful idea,” Chapman said.