By. Andrea Arens

The FY 25 budget hearing was approved but not unanimously. Peotone School Board Member Jodi Becker was absent. Board member Tim Stoub asked if the budget they were voting to approve was unfunded without the bonds.

The public hearing on the intent to sell bonds, not to exceed $4.6M, to increase the district’s working cash funds followed immediately thereafter, and no one spoke regarding that intent. Approval would come at the next board meeting.

Business Manager Adrian Fulgencio and Board President Tara Robinson agreed the budget was unfunded by $2.3M and would be funded by the approval of the working cash bonds, but those would have to wait to be approved until the next meeting. Fulgencio explained that there had to be three board meetings to approve bonds.

Stoub asked, “Is there a way you can pinch that gap for me during this hearing?”

Fulgencio said the budget had to be approved by September 30, and the bonds were included in the budget.

Stoub subsequently voted no to approve the budget, but the rest of the board voted yes.

The Administrator Salary report showed a slight increase for all administrators and also was unanimously approved.

The teacher salary compensation report also was approved.

The school district no longer intends to outsource their snow plowing and, as a result, approved a purchase for a new Ford F250 Super Duty 4 x 4 cab for $50,130, along with an additional salt truck spreader for $9,057.

A co-op agreement with Manteno for Girls Wrestling also unanimously was approved.

Public comment also discussed the sports fields and their effect on Oak Street, with concerns to follow. Attendees asked where the environmental impact study was at, and it was clarified it had been received but was sent to the village and their engineers for feedback. The village would send the study back to the school district, they would make any necessary changes, and then it would be shared with the public.

The junior high August students of the month were sixth grader Adan Cardenas, seventh grader Max Shaw, and eighth grader Austin Oddson.