The Board of Education hosted a reception for the staff of Mohawk School to celebrate the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award.

Principal Madelyn Devers and Teacher Jean Walsh just returned from receiving the award in Washington D.C. Earlier in the day there was a community celebration, with Mrs. Devers and Mrs. Walsh arriving at the school to cheering students and staff in an escort by police and fire trucks.

U.S. Department of Education representative Marilyn Teague and DuPage Regional Office of Education Superintendent Darlene Ruscitti attended the event, along with local village officials, chamber of commerce representatives and board members.

The Chamber of Commerce donated the sign and the Village of Bensenville provided students and staff with an afternoon ice cream social.

Board members are recognized for their community service once a year on Board Member Appreciation Day, which is Nov. 15.

Students signed certificates of appreciation for each board member and a representative from the Bensenville Education Association was also present to express appreciation for their work.

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Property taxes in District 2 will increase less than 2 percent in 2012 compared to 2011.

The estimated increase is about 1.7 percent. The increase, by law, cannot exceed the official inflation rate of 1.5 percent for the most recent year, with a minor adjustment for new property in the District.

Individual taxes may increase or decrease by a sum other than 1.7 percent. The DuPage County Clerk calculates individual tax bills based on assessed values, equalization factors, exemptions, and other elements. The 1.7 percent increase refers to the District’s total levy, about $24.5 million.

District 2 has low expenditures per pupil, ranking 11th out of 29 elementary school districts in DuPage County, according to 2011 Illinois School Report Card data. This property tax levy will cover about 75 percent of the District’s operating budget.

District 2 is also still living within its means while paying for the construction of elementary school additions and renovations. The District has enough funds for the additions at both Johnson and Tioga schools without asking taxpayers for any additional rate increase. The District designed its bonds payments to fit the District’s typical tax revenue.

When District 2 voters approved an Education Fund referendum in 2001, the tax rate increase was projected to adequately fund classroom instruction through 2007. Ten years later, the District has maintained a budget within its means and projections indicate the finances to be secure for several years to come if state and federal funding levels remain stable.

The final tax levy will be voted on by the Board of Education Dec. 7.