Galesburg District 205 to amend budget

Tonight, the Galesburg District 205 Board of Education is expected to approve an amended fiscal year 2009 budget, adding roughly $1.8 million for a critical asbestos abatement project at Galesburg High School.

According to Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Paul Woehlke, the asbestos project in the learning center wing has been on the district’s life-safety list for some time now, but its completion wasn’t expected for a few years. Recent water damage to many of the floor and ceiling tiles has compromised the wing, moving the project forward.

The money needed for the project will somewhat be offset (though not directly) by an expected $1 million revenue increase thanks to a bump in the state’s foundation level per pupil.

This year’s budget is already about $1.1 million bigger than last year’s, mainly due to inflation.

Also on the agenda:

• Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Joel Estes will give a presentation of the district’s sixth-day enrollment numbers, which dropped about 15 students from last year. That puts the district around 4,500 students.
• The board should approve adding Henderson Street as a hazardous transportation area, as students attending Churchill Junior High School have to cross the busy street. They will instead be bused from a central location on one side of Henderson to Churchill.