Tomorrow is the Board of Education’s monthly meeting. Highlights from the agenda:

• Giving more money to a consultant to oversee the district’s Capital Improvement Plan. Another $13.7 million, to be exact. That’s noteworthy because just last week, Christina Herzog, the district’s budget director, said the CIP hadn’t been finalized yet. “Once it’s available, once it’s proposed, there will be hearings on it,” she said.

  If there’s no CIP yet, why is the district spending $20.4 million this month on CIP projects, in addition to the $13.7 million for its consultant? The list includes Americans with Disability Act construction at 17 schools.

  Chicago School Associates, the consultant, already has raked in more than $15 million for its previous work. Its duties include developing the CIP, coming up with budgets, maintaining a database of projects and overseeing the design of those projects.

• Approving the district’s $5.3 billion budget for the coming year. At hearings last week, residents had questions about how the district was cutting money without affecting classrooms, but didn’t get many straight answers.
• Leasing De La Cruz Elementary in Pilsen to UNO Charter School Network, through June 2010, for $1. The short-term lease will allow UNO to renovate its existing building. Residents are concerned that it’s a handout to charter schools. De La Cruz closed in June and was to be demolished.

Tomorrow’s meeting starts at 4 p.m., with two hours set aside at the beginning for public comment. The meeting is on the fifth floor of the district’s downtown headquarters, 125 S. Clark St.