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Peotone School Board Passes Deficit Budget
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Lynn Dill
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Peotone Vedette
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10.02.08
The Peotone school board passed a budget Monday, September 22, with a deficit of almost $200,000.
The budget estimates revenue to be $19,254,000 and expenses at $19,453,037, leaving a deficit of $199,037.
According to Business Manager Heather Rose, the district ended its previous fiscal year with a positive balance of approximately $4,322,564, so the district will be able to pay its additional expenses from this reserve. She attributed the deficit to rising expenses and lack of state funding. She said 95 percent of district expenses are salaries.
"Salaries increased by three to four percent," she said. "And medical insurance increased by three percent."
Parents concerned about mold
Jennifer Moe of Manhattan addressed the board with concerns about possible mold issues resulting from flooding at Wilton Center last week. Two classrooms, a music/art room and a special education room, in the lower level of the building were flooded.
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"I don't want my kid down there if there's mold spores," she told the board.
Superintendent Kevin Carey said the area had been cleaned and disinfected. Moe responded by saying that "it took more than a bucket of bleach" to kill the mold spores and that she'd like the district to have the school inspected and cleaned by mold specialists. She said her own home was flooded two years ago and her insurance company paid to have her home inspected and cleared of mold. She said the district's insurance company would likely provide the same coverage.
Board President Roger Bettenhausen said the flooding problem was a result of an engineering flaw that the board has been attempting to address for several years. He said the lower level was built below grade when an addition was constructed, and it has flooded several times.
"I'd just like to see the district be a little more proactive - maybe put up a few sandbags before it floods," commented Moe.
District may increase farmland leases
The board discussed increasing the rent of several farmland parcels it owns. The district leases approximately five acres just east of the high school and 80 acres northwest of Peotone and Center. It recently purchased 27 acres in Green Garden.
Bettenhausen said farmland values had increased, and the board may want to rebid the parcels. Board member Raymond Nugent suggested that the board offer the farmers leasing two of the parcels the opportunity to negotiate a price.
Carey said he will discuss the issue with the district's attorney to determine if the leases must be rebid and bring his findings back to the board.
Student of the Month
Rachel Hiller was honored as academic student of the month by the board of education.
Daughter of David and Theresa Hiller of Manhattan, Rachel is a senior at Peotone High School with a grade point average of 4.714 and ranked 14th in a class of 173 students. She has been heavily involved in extracurricular activities throughout her high school years, including participation in Teens Against Drugs, speech WYSE team, thespians, drama club, math club and science club. In her spare time she enjoys photography and jogging.
After graduation, she intends to enroll at Butler University and is considering pursuing a degree in speech pathology.
Early graduations approved
The board approved early graduation requests from five students: Catherine Consola; Nathan DeGraff; James Donohue; Ashley Grupp and Kelly Lambert.
Board approves employment, accepts resignation
The board approved the hiring of several coaches at the high school, including Greg Goberville, assistant wrestling coach; Julie George, assistant girls soccer coach; Rebecca Porter, assistant girls soccer coach and Heather Salter, assistant girls softball coach.
The board also accepted the resignations of Peotone Junior High School coaches Brandon Owens as a sixth grade basketball coach and Hannah Maxwell as a sixth grade volleyball coach.
Carl Jackson and Joseph Jackson were employed as bus drivers and Kimberly Schaefer, as a bus aid. Barbara Cantone was hired as a one-on-one instructional aide at Peotone High School.
The board accepted the resignation of payroll and benefits coordinator Mary Cann.
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