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In this issue, you will find information related to:
- 2026 Tentative Tax Levy
- Property Tax Appeal Intervention
- Curriculum Change Proposals (2027-28)
- School Year Calendar (2027-28)
- Strategic Plan Goal 3 Update
- 2027-32 Strategic Plan Update
Approval of 2026 Estimated Tax Levy
Director of Business Services, Brian Stachacz, provided an initial overview of the 2026 Property Tax Levy at the October 5 Committee of the Whole Meeting and the Board of Education approved the 2026 Estimated Levy during the regular meeting on October 19th.
Key points from the presentation included:
- The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December 2025 was 2.7%, which serves as the cap on the overall increase to the 2026 levy compared to the 2025 levy.
- Applying this 2.7% increase to the 2026 levy will generate approximately $2.4 million in additional revenue from existing properties.
- When factoring in new property added to the tax rolls, the total levy request is expected to reflect an overall increase of 4.6% compared to 2025. The portion above the CPI cap is solely attributable to new property and does not impact existing taxpayers.
The final 2026 Levy will be presented for approval during the December regular meeting. Prior to adoption, the Board of Education will hold a Truth-in-Taxation public hearing, providing an opportunity for community input.
For additional information regarding the Lyons Township High School District 204 Tax Levy, please click here.
Approval to Intervene in Property Tax Appeal Case
During the October 19 Regular Action Meeting, the Board of Education approved intervening in a Property Tax Appeal case that has been filed with the Property Tax Appeal Board (PTAB) in Cook County. The property owner is seeking a reduction of assessed value for the property that would require the District to pay them a refund of $14,328 plus any applicable interest on previously paid property taxes. By intervening in this case, the District seeks to reduce or eliminate the amount of the refund.
Approval of New Courses and Curriculum Changes for 2027-28
At the October 19 Regular Action Meeting, the Board approved 18 course proposals for the 2027-28 school year plus an overview of our new Dual Language program. These updates reflect our continued efforts to offer engaging, relevant, and high-quality learning opportunities for all students.
The changes approved include two course name changes, one course level change, four dropped courses, one program expansion, ten new courses, and one course designation change. For complete details, please click here.
2027–2028 School Year Calendar Approved
The Board of Education approved the 2027–2028 School Year Calendar at its October 19 Regular Action Meeting.
A first reading of the proposed calendar was presented at the September 8 Committee of the Whole meeting, followed by a month-long period for community review and feedback. After this review period, the calendar was brought back to the Board for final approval.
Key dates for the 2026–2027 school year include:
- First Day of School: August 16, 2027
- Last Day of 1st Semester: December 17, 2027
- First Day of 2nd Semester: January 4, 2028
- Last Day of 2nd Semester (Grades 9–11): May 26, 2028
Strategic Plan Goal 3 Update
During the October 5 Committee of the Whole Meeting, Director of Human Resources Ed Piotrowski provided an update on Goal Three of the District’s Strategic Plan. Goal Three focuses on investing in staff and culture to promote innovation, collaboration, and accountability, while advancing the District’s mission of excellence, innovation, and empowerment. The presentation included an overview of the Strategic Plan Scorecard, highlighting progress toward Goal Three metrics such as staff demographics, retention, special population endorsements, and staff sense of belonging. Key highlights included continued revisions to the District’s equitable hiring practices, with the goal of cultivating a staff that reflects the diversity of our communities.
To view information related to LT’s Strategic Plan, please click here.
Discussion Regarding 2027-32 Strategic Plan
At the October 5 Committee of the Whole Meeting, the Board discussed the 2027-32 Strategic Plan Process. The Strategic Plan “Refresh” Team includes 96 members of our school community, including the seven members of our Board of Education.
The team began its work with a virtual orientation on Wednesday, August 26 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. The orientation session was designed to establish a shared understanding of the strategic planning process, the work ahead, and the role of team members in helping shape the district’s future direction. The team continued its work with a Data Retreat hosted on Thursday, September 24 from 8:00am - 12:00pm. The Data Retreat provided Strategic Plan Team members with an opportunity to establish a shared understanding of the district’s current state and to identify the district's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
The next step in the process is to host a Vision Retreat, which is scheduled for Wednesday, October 21. The purpose of the Vision Retreat is to discuss where we want to be in the future as a school community.
All in-person Strategic Plan workshops are conducted as a School Board Special Meeting, pursuant to the Open Meetings Act. The meetings are also livestreamed in case any members of our community are interested in observing. The LTHS Strategic Plan website will continue to serve as a central repository for strategic planning documents, resources, and video links throughout the process.
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