Lake Forest Board Approves New Tax Rates

The Lake Forest Board of Education met for its annual organizational meeting on Wednesday, July 3, 2013 in the Lake Forest Central Business Office.   Chris Baker was elected to serve as President of the Board for the coming fiscal year with Danny Aguilar as Vice President.

Following a presentation by Business Manager Christine daCosta, the board approved the school tax rates for fiscal year 2014.

Due to a successful current expense referendum in December, Lake Forest School District will increase its current expense rate by 12.87 cents.   Because the district has experienced a significant increase in intense and complex special needs students, tuition tax was increased 3.02 cents.   The match tax for minor capital improvements, extra time, reading & math resource teachers and the technology is increasing by a fraction of a penny (0.05 cents).  The debt service rate will remain at 14.5 cents.

The total tax rate will increase by 15.94 cents from $1.1569 to $1.3163 per $100 of real property beginning July 1, 2013. 

For more information:

Dan Curry, Superintendent   284-3020 x 104

Christine daCosta, Business Manager   284-3020 x 105

Ten Years

Last week I had the pleasure of handing out diplomas and shaking hands with my 10^th graduating class from Lake Forest High School.  The class of 2013 is a remarkable group which earned more than $2 million in scholarship dollars for post high school education.  We are very proud of them.

As the honor students made their graduation speeches that night and reminisced with classmates about their journey, my mind wandered back as well to consider all the things that are today Lake Forest that didn’t exist ten years ago when I arrived in 2003.

This is now our logo, our brand –

In the last 10 years we’ve done more than $30 million in new construction and remodeling school buildings.  We built a new South Elementary and got rid of all those rotten modular classrooms.  WTChipman has had a significant make-over both inside and out.  Central Elementary got 4 new classrooms.  Lake Forest High School built new space for fine arts, health and fitness, upgraded the exterior and remodeled most every lab and classroom.  North and East got some upgrades and new parking lots.

Of the 13 principals/assistant principals in Lake Forest only 3 were principals in 2003 and all of the central office administrators but one have been hired since that time.

School uniforms.

Student achievement in Lake Forest is at an all time high.  Most notable - our 8^th and 9^th grade math test results are significantly higher than the state average.  Our third grade math and reading scores far exceed the state average as well.

School board leadership has remained stable and focused upon district goals.  John Schulties has served for 13 years and Chris Baker for 11 years.

Consistent leadership over time both with school board and administration pays off.  I believe I’ll stick around for another 10 years.