The District 428 School Board approved a draft of the 2006 fiscal year budget, but differences among members prevented the final budget from being approved.

The budget’s final balance will depend on the approval of a number of operational issues which were discussed and debated at Tuesday’s meeting.

“I feel like we just need some more information before making a final decision,” said board member Jennifer Hayes. Discussion grew heated when school board secretary Holly Wallace heard enough to pass the motion.

“How much more information do we need on clerical support positions, automated substitute calling system, compensation analysts, demographer?” questioned Wallace, who was one of two members of the board who moved to approve the final budget.

A draft of the budget, written up and approved for public viewing Aug. 20 was unanimously approved by the board Tuesday. Along with the draft budget, funds for automated electronic defibrillators, general music, an additional administrator and a $100,000 plan that focuses on diversity were also approved.

The difference between the approved budget and the final form, which will be voted on again in two weeks, is the number of amendments that have been added to the budget since the public approved it back in August.

These additions and amendments, the public’s right to view them, and a desire from a majority of the board to review these decisions prior to approving the budget led to the rejection of the motion to pass the FY 06 budget.

Board members will also commence research on the establishment, and in many cases re-establishment, of student clubs that need funding. Depending on the number of students who take part in these extracurricular activities and the experience of the teacher leading the group, funding for these clubs could add as much as $8,000 to the FY 06 budget.

Tuesday’s meeting also reviewed the district’s progress with the application of the No Child Left Behind act. The state recently released information on each school’s yearly progress.

“Each of our elementary buildings made adequate yearly progress according to the state definitions,” said Beilfuss. “Huntley Middle School made AYP this year. However, they did not last year.”

Because of this, Huntley is identified with “Academic Early Warning” status.

“When AYP is achieved for two consecutive years this status will be dropped,” he added.

Both Clinton Rosette Middle School and DeKalb High School did not achieve AYP this year. In both cases the subgroup of students identified as economically disadvantaged did not make the target 47.5 percent meeting and exceeding standards.

“Clinton Rosette’s students did meet the target in reading, but missed it in math,” stated Beilfuss.