With the April, 2007 Operating Rate Referendum passage, District 129 has set the following goals:

1. Balance the budget,
2. Maintain enough reserves so that the District does not have to borrow money to pay the bills, and
3. Have enough operating revenue to
   • Handle expected growth in student enrollment (more than 180 per year for the next several years),
   • Implement Vision 129, which includes a plan to improve teaching and learning
   • Improve safety and security, and
   • Perform routine maintenance.

April 2008 Receive $8,900 Library Grant February 2008 Save taxpayers $2.7 million by refunding its existing debt at lower interest rates June 2007 Hire PMA Consulting to provide detailed financial analysis and projections May 2007 Cut special education transportation costs by partnering with School District 131 February 2007 Hire performance-based auditor		June 2008 Approved purchase of high school and middle school band instruments   March 2008 Apply for $6 million Safe Schools, Healthy Students grant     August 2007 Join state consortium for purchase of paper Receive $971,000 Teaching American History grant to share with four other districts Receive $10,000 BP Amoco grant for West High biofuel project Use $2 million Reading First grant to improve reading of kindergarten through third-grade students at Greenman, Hill, Lincoln, Nicholson and Schneider     April 2007 Referendum passes. Voters approve new operating rate Save taxpayers $3.2 million by refinancing bonds     May 2006 Receive grant to install light fixtures that cut electricity costs $50,000 a year