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Fieldcrest Board Approves $1.2 milion Bond issue

Wednesday, February 22, 2017 - Posted 8:14:42 PM
The Fieldcrest Board of Education approved a resolution to issue a $1,200,000 General Obligation school Bond at its monthly Board meeting Wednesday night.  The bond issue is to cover the shortage of funds expected from the State of Illinois.  Superintendent Dr. Dan Oakley said the State is $430,000 behind in its payment to the school district and this bond issue will enable the school to pay its bills.  Dr. Oakley said the State spends $20 billion a year and is in debt by $14 billion.  He said if the State doesn't pass a budget this year, the State may be in debt by $20 billion next year which means they will be paying one year old bills next year..

In other business the board approved a new superintendent contract that will run from 2017 until June 30, 2020.

The board passed a resolution to limit the travel expenses for staff and teachers to $350 per day per person as requested by the State.

The board awarded the mowing bid to Chris Perry for $8900 for 26 mowings. There were 6 bids submitted with a range from $8900 to $20,000. The board also approved the purchase of 75 computers for $47,500 as part of a recycling program that started in 2012.

The board hired 3 new teachers for the coming year.  They are Nicole Underwood and Megan Janssen as math teachers and Heather Tortler who will handle the elementary enrichment program.

Fieldcrest High School Principal Bill Lapp said the school will be holding a drill in April for handling a shooting incident.  He also said SAT tests will be conducted onApril 5th.

Dr. Oakley said he had a meeting with area legislators last week in which he urged them to fix the State of Illinois budget.  He discussed the inequity of the current funding formula which results in rich school districts getting $2500 more per student from the state than poor districts.  He also requested they stop issuing mandates.