District 225 has approved a $189.7 million budget for the 2025-2026 school year, Superintendent Dr. R.J. Gravel said.

The budget was approved at the Aug. 25 board meeting, after a lengthy process, according to district documents. While 67 percent of the budget funds staff salaries, much of the remaining money will be split between South and North, and each school will use the funds at their own discretion, Gravel said.

“The buildings get an allocation of a few million dollars to pay for everything related to the building,” Gravel said.

The process of drafting the budget began in July 2024, when the district builds out the framework of its budget, and then in October they begin to plan capital projects, such as new sidewalks, furniture, and bathrooms, Gravel said. Then, in January, the district looks at its revenue to create its staffing plan by hiring or firing staff members. Finally, in March, all expenses are packaged into one budget, which is then presented to the board of education and the public for comment, Gravel added.

This year’s budget also features a $500,000 grant from Illinois State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-IL 17), Gravel said. The district hopes to use the money to add a second set of doors to further secure the Door OO entrance, he explained.

“When you go to the front entrance, we have a staged entrance,” Gravel said. “There’s a vestibule, and you get buzzed into the building [which adds] additional protection. We’re looking to create a similar staged entrance in the autos area.”

The money for the grant comes from the Rebuild Illinois Bond Fund, a project that aims to improve Illinois infrastructure at the discretion of representatives, Gong-Gershowitz said. She hopes this money will improve the Titan experience.

“The student experience at [South] has always been my top priority,” Gong-Gershowitz said. “I think this is about investing in our children’s future.”