Before discussions of the budget got underway at the Peotone 207-U Committee of the Whole meeting, some other items were tackled with ease.

That creek foliage that has been a discussion point for multiple meetings, including conversations with the village as to who’s responsible, finally culminated at the July 21 meeting. 

After some back and forth between the village and the school district over who would take responsibility for the cleanup, it was determined cleaning up the creek of the foliage wouldn’t fix the drainage issue that brought citizens to the board meetings to begin with.

School board member Tim Stoub suggested he was not in favor of spending the money to clean up the creek if it wasn’t an actual remedy. He asked, what’s the point? The answer was to appease the residents attending board meetings. For $3,500, the district’s current landscaper contractor would remove the logs and clean up the creek. Because that was a significant decrease from a previous quote, and it fell under the threshold for financial board approval, there was a consensus to move forward and pay $3,500 to clean up the creek this time. It was understood the district would not continue to do so annually.

Summer Schooling

Summer maintenance project updates are fully under way and moving along according to schedule. Teachers would likely be able to get into buildings close to the start of the school year. Board member Ashley Stachniak had requested documents on some contracts within the building and grounds department and inquired why she had not received them. Supt. Owens had thought she hadn’t needed them, while Stachniak replied she should not have to FOIA documents, as a board member, that should be readily available to the public. Owens said he would produce her requests.

Go Big Blue

A new focus to unite the district was presented by Asst. Supt. Carol Zurales. At the administrative retreat, the plan was designed to establish a district wide focus that builds community and consistency and celebrates shared goals and values. The plan itself simplifies and unites, with all buildings sharing a monthly character trait aligned to the portrait of a graduate, a Go Big Blue staff and recognition program, coordinated spirit weeks across all schools, district wide celebratory days, and the same spirit wear for everyone.

Budget Blues

A discussion plan for FY 26 likely will have the board making some tough decisions. The Illinois School State Budget Form requires the district to submit a deficit reduction plan when the direct revenues are less than the direct expenditures. District 207-U will either have to make some serious cuts or take more cash bonds to keep up with their current expenditures. Salaries ($13.34 million) and health benefits ($2.45 million) still make up a good chunk of the budget. But local revenue receipts are listed as $19.4 million, state revenue is $2.77 million, for a total of $22.17 million, and federal revenue is $789,000 for special education.

Business manager Adrian Fulgencio said the deficit falls at just around $3.9 million and, in the past, the district had been using working cash bonds to make ends meet. He said moving forward, he would like board direction on that path.

Board member Tim Stoub shared his perspective first. “I don’t support spending to maintain a status quo. I don’t support borrowing from tomorrow to pay for today, but I support investment in long-term growth. And I think with some of the strategic decisions we’re going to be looking at, those are the decisions I would support in taking on additional debt, if that were needed to build something long term,” he said. Stoub was quick to add he wasn’t ready to make an official decision on which direction to take, but he didn’t like that his “back was against the wall,” referring to the district being negative by 2027 without borrowing or making cuts. Stoub added he didn’t think the community would support borrowing just to bleed the money little by little. He asked how far in debt and how many years in the future have they borrowed from already using the working cash bonds?

Board member Ashley Stachniak inquired about the financial impact of bringing many outsourced special education services back into the district and if it would reduce the cost to the district.

Board member Jennifer Moe was the only other board member to chime in. “I would be in favor of working cash bonds. I think we’ve made great strides district wide. Because of that, I’m not interested in cutting some of what we put in place to see success,” she said.

Who’s on first?

Board member Mark Jones said he was at the last park district board meeting when the board voted to send the school district a lease agreement for the ball fields. The meeting he spoke of was on July 8. Both Supt. Brandon Owens and Business Manager Adrian Fulgencio said they had not received any correspondence from the park district.

An IGA agreement for the Peotone Blue Demons to use the football field was returned to the school district with language incorporating reimbursement for use of the fields being struck out, reported Fulgencio. That IGA would be brought to the board at the next meeting.

Board member Mark Jones suggested resending a letter to Will County regarding the Monee-Manhattan Road widening plan. He also suggested inviting them to a board meeting to share their thoughts on the county’s plan. It also was suggested school board members could attend a county board meeting, as well.