NEA Foundation Envision Equity Grant, “The Wardrobe at Park: A Teen Closet Supporting Student Success and Equity” (Malorie Farrington/Park/$3,813)

NEA Foundation Student Success Grant, “Global Animal Connections: Linking Science, Culture, and Conservation” (Kristine Carbray/Congress Park/$2,665)

Illinois Education Association “National Association of School Psychologists Annual Conference 2026 Attendance for five D102 staff members from the School Psychology and Special Education departments” (Amanda VanderWaal/D102/$1,495)

Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Book Grant, “Insects in Our Backyard: How Pollinators Help Our Food Grow” (Kim Smith/Congress Park/$225)

Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Book Grant, “Investigating our Natural World: Connecting Agriculture to Nature” (Julie DiOrio/Forest Road/$212.50)

Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom Book Grant, “Sprouting Stories: Kindergarten Read-Alouds” (Betsy D'Alessio/Barnsdale/$114)

NEA Student Success Grant to support Art Therapy Workshops with Park Social Workers (Leslie Garcia/Park/$1,625)

NEA Student Success Grant to support Park Connections Sensory Room (Renee Hesik and Christy Schwartz/Park/$4,879)

Mathematics Education Trust (MET) grant – Enhancing Student Mathematics Learning Through the Use of Tools and Technology Grant – Smart Board pilot program (Emily Kallemeyn/Park/$2,850)

IEA SCORE (Schools and Community Outreach by Educators) grant – Art for Adoption – collaboration between art class and Hinsdale Humane Society (Michael Trulis/Park/$996.64)

Illinois Education Association, “Dr. Kathleen Budge, co-author of Disrupting Poverty, will visit Forest Road to work with staff” (spearheaded by Megann Krysa/Forest Road/$6,000)

Congratulations to Malorie Farrington and District 102’s Parent Education and Community Engagement (PEACE) program for earning a 2025 Adult Literacy Grant from the @DollarGeneral Literacy Foundation. Grant funds were used to purchase books and training materials for one-on-one English language tutoring, empowering parents and adult family members to build literacy skills and strengthen their role in their children’s education and well-being.

Interested in becoming a volunteer tutor? Contact Malorie Farrington at farringtonma@dist102.k12.il.us

Each year public bodies engage in a process called a Tax Levy in order to secure funding for the next fiscal year. This is the time of year when tax levies are considered by public bodies such as public school boards of education.  A tax levy is a calculation of the amount of property tax dollars that school districts can request that the county clerk extend to the taxpayers.  The tax levy is based on several factors including the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a taxpayers Equalized Assessed Value of their property(EAV) and the amount of new properties being constructed in the community.  It is important to note that public bodies are not guaranteed the amount that they request.  The final decision is made by Cook County who must gather all actual EAV and New Property data, and then calculate the amount that is extended to the taxpayers, collected and ultimately distributed to the school district. 

All school districts in Cook County, including ours, are tax-capped districts.  This means that the county uses a formula to levy taxes that are capped to the lesser of whatever the CPI percentage is or 5%.  Because CPI for this year is 2.9% it will be used as the tax cap.  D102’s annual budget is overwhelmingly dependent upon tax revenue as it composes more than 80% of the budget for District operations.  Below is a representation of the 2025

Final Levy Summary:

The final levy amount submitted to the clerk considers the district’s annual expenses and the new referendum bonds that were approved in 2025.

The list graph shows the expenditure growth of the District over the last five years and our fund balance % (fund reserves (savings) as a percentage of expenditures)

From the graphs, you can see that the amount of property tax the district receives is necessary to cover the annual expenses (between $45 and $50 million) and provide the minimum required fund reserve(savings) as required by the state board of education (ISBE), which is 25%.  

The information below is provided to give an estimate of the impact the 2025 levy will have on taxpayer property taxes.  The numbers show what the expected increase will be based on three different EAV scenarios.   The average EAV for D102’s community is $500K.  The increase includes the referendum bonds.

PLEASE NOTE:  The numbers only reflect D102’s portion of the tax bill. It does not include property taxes paid to other government bodies. Actual tax rates and payments may vary based on District-wide EAV growth, individual homeowner reassessment, State Law changes, property tax rate initiatives, and other factors. D102’s portion of a taxpayer’s tax expense is roughly 60% of total taxes owed. 

If you would like more information on our Business & Finance or more information on Renew D102, click the links below. 

PMA and Raymond James bring trusted expertise and independent analysis to support the District’s financial planning and decision-making. Their review and validation of the data help ensure that projections, assumptions, and recommendations are accurate, realistic, and aligned with best practices. This added layer of professional oversight strengthens confidence in the numbers presented and reinforces that financial decisions are informed, responsible, and made in the best interest of the District and its community.