001Michael's out. All right. >> All right. Going to call to order the board of education meeting for Tuesday, December 9th, uh, 2025. Uh, roll call. >> Vinnie here, Christy >> here, >> Bradley here, Stacy >> here, >> Curran >> here, >> Silva >> here, >> Linman >> here, >> Miss Meyberg >> here. >> All right. If you would please stand uh for the pledge of allegiance and our invocation today by Pastor Stacy Wilson of GC First Assembly of God. >> Aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Lord, we are grateful for the opportunity to come together and to discuss the things that are going to benefit our community, our students, and the families
002of this city. We thank you for your good hand that is faithfully pouring out blessings over us. And we just ask that you would continue to do so and be a presence of wisdom and guidance in your name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, we will open it to uh public comment. Um, we have uh some students that we're going to recognize tonight and so >> Becky and Lori are going to >> take care of that. >> Yes. >> Okay. Uh, the GCSD Board of Education Administration would like to recognize the following students for their participation in the 2025 America Recycles Day poster contest hosted by the Madison County Green Schools program. The students presented an original or alternative idea involving recycling. This was a solution to an existing problem or
003a brand new idea to increase recycling with items that may have been extended have an extended life through recycling. A total of 27 schools throughout Madison County participated this year with a total of 333 entries. Winners were awarded a $75 Visa gift card for first place, a $50 gift card for second place, and a $25 Visa gift card for third place. And this year's theme was Let's Recycle Together. So, our first place uh winner in the sixth through 8th grade category was Taylor Thomas. Is Taylor here? There [applause] she is. Come on up. Miss Weeden, there we go. Come on up. It's a beautiful plaque. Very good. >> Okay. Did you want to sing? >> Okay. >> All right. Scoot in. >> Yep. >> Uh. Okay. >> Okay. You can just wait over there. There
004you go. Hold on. Right there. And then first place for the third through fifth grade category is Caitlyn Taylor from Mville Elementary [applause] School. There you go. Come on up for a picture. Congratulations to you. >> Today is Caitlyn's birthday. >> Oh my gosh. Happy birthday. How old are you? [applause] 11. Oh my gosh. Congratulations. Awesome. Okay. And third place in the kindergarten through 2 grade category was Jace Boyer from Wilson Elementary School. Jace, [applause] Miss Wilson. [applause] >> No kidding. That's great. Congratulations, Jace. All right. Now, you guys come on over. We'll get everybody. >> Yeah. >> All right. Thank you guys and thanks for representing [applause] the school district so well. We appreciate it. >> Good job. All right. Uh, congratulations. Uh, do we have any other public comment >> at this time?
005No. >> Can I say something real quick? >> Absolutely. >> All right. I just wanted to take a moment and commend all of our district and school level staff for their quick action on Friday. That was a very difficult situation. Those are things that we always plan for. And of course it happens at dismissal which is another nightmare scenario >> but um I was just so proud of all the work that was done and all the care put in. So thank you very much for that. >> Yes. Thank you. >> All right. Yes. For sure. >> Uh so we'll move on to the minutes. Uh approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of the board of education held on November 18th. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Uh Christie. >> I.
006Bradley I >> Stacy >> I >> Currin >> I >> Silva >> I >> Linman >> I >> Vinnie I >> All right uh section six the consent agenda. The consent agenda contains those items that are repetitive and routine in nature. Any member may make a motion to approve the consent agenda or request that any item of any of the items be moved to section seven for individual discussion and consideration. >> So moved. Second. >> Roll call. Christy. >> Hi, >> Bradley. Hi, >> Stacy. >> Hi, >> Currin. >> Hi, >> Silva. >> I >> Lynaman. >> Hi, >> Vinnie. I >> All right. Section 6 A1, GCSD9, region one treasures report for October 20 of 25. Oh, >> I think that's part of the consent. >> Never mind. Never mind what I said. We're
007going to move on here. Uh, section 8A, retirements and resignations. It's recommended the following retirements and resignations listed below and on the website be accepted. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Bradley. >> I. >> Stacy. >> I. >> Currin. >> Hi. >> Silva. >> Hi. >> Lynman. >> Hi. >> Vinnie. I. >> Christie. >> I. >> Section 8B. Request for leaves of the absences. >> It's recommended the following request for leaves of absences listed below and on the website be approved. >> So moved. >> Second. Roll call. >> Stacy. >> I >> Currin. >> Hi. >> Silva. >> Hi. >> Linamman. >> Hi. >> Vinnie. I >> Christie. >> Hi. >> Bradley. >> I. >> Section 8 C. Recommendations for Granite City High School student workers co-ops for the 2526 school year.
008>> You've received detailed information about this item. The administration prepared to make recommendations are hold for discussion in executive session. The GCSD9 administration is recommending the filing student worker co-op for the 2526 school year listed below and on the GCSD website be approved. >> So move. >> Roll call. >> Currin. >> Hi. >> Silva. >> Hi. >> Linamman. >> Hi. >> Vinnie. I Christy. >> Hi. >> Bradley. >> Hi. >> Stacy. >> I. >> Section 8 D. Extracurricular recommendations for the 2526 school year. You've received detailed information about this item and the administration prepared to make recommendations or hold for discussion in executive session. The GCSD9 administration is recommending the following extracurricular assignments for the 2526 school year listed below and on the website be approved. >> Yeah. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Hold
009on. Bradley's going to get this. >> And just so everyone knows, these are like the standard quarterly lunch duties and metal detector. >> Correct. Yeah, there's a bunch of them. >> All right, ready. >> Silva, >> hi. >> Linamon. >> Hi, >> Vinnie. I Christy. >> Hi, >> Bradley. Hi, >> Stacy. >> Hi, >> Curran. >> Hi. >> Uh, we will be holding section 8E for executive session. Section 8F, extracurricular volunteer recommendations for the 2526 school year. >> You've received detailed information about this item. The administration prepared to make recommendations are hope for discussion in executive session. The GCSD9 administration is recommending the following extracurricular volunteers for the 2526 school year listed below and on the website be approved. >> So move second. >> Roll call. >> Christy >> I >> Bradley >> I >>
010Stacy >> I >> Silva >> I >> linen >> I >> Vinnie I >> section 8G certified and classified substitutes for 2526. It's recommend the filing applicants listed below and on the GCSD9 website be board approved as substitutes for the 2526 school year. Approval is recommended. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Bradley. [clears throat] >> I. >> Stacy. >> I. >> Curin. >> I. >> Silva. >> I. >> Linamman. >> I. >> Vinnie. I. >> Christy. >> I. >> Section 8H. Policies. >> The policy committee is recommending the approval of the following policies that were reviewed at the November 18th, 2025 policy meeting. Approval is recommended. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Stacy. >> I. >> Currin. >> I. >> Silva. >> I. >> Linaman. >> I. >> Vinnie.
011I. >> Christy. >> Hi. >> Bradley. [snorts] >> I. >> No. Old business. We'll move to new business. Uh, section 10A, GCSD9 boards superintendent expectations. Below and listed on the GCSD9 website are the GCSD9 board and superintendent expectations developed by the board of education and superintendent of schools. The expectations were developed during the training with the ASB at the October 14th, 2025 special board meeting. Approval is recommended. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> Shuran. >> I. >> Silva. >> I. >> Linaman. >> I. >> Vinnie. I. Christie. >> Hi. >> Bradley. I >> Stacy. >> Hi. >> Section 10B, uh, sixth hour assignment, special education, GCHS. >> The GCS9 administration requests the approval of the following sixth hour assignment retroactive for the first quarter at Granite City High School.
012The assignment is retroactive due to class scheduling which caused an overage. Approval is recommended. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> Silva. >> I. >> Lynman. I >> Vinnie. I Christy. >> I >> Bradley. I >> Stacy. >> I >> Hearn. >> I >> section 10 C. Sixth hour assignment special education uh Kage Junior High School. >> The GCS9 administration requests the approval of six-hour assignment retroactive for the first semester at Kulage Junior High. This assignment is retroactive due to the extended teacher absence and the need to combine classrooms as Miss Wallace did not receive a prep period. Approval is recommended. >> So moved. >> Second. Any discussion? Roll call. >> Linamman. >> Hi. >> Vinnie. I Christy. >> Hi. >> Bradley. I >> Stacy. I >> Silva. >> I.
013>> Section 10D. Sixth hour assignment. Work co-op Lake ESSC. >> The GCSD9 administration requests the approval of the following sixth hour assignment for the spring semester at Lake. This assignment allows us to offer a work co-op class to high school students who are able to work. Approval is recommended. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call. >> Vinnie. I. Christie. >> Hi. >> Bradley. >> I. >> Stacy. >> I. >> Curin. >> I. >> Silva. >> I. >> Linamman. >> I. >> All right. Section 10E. Sixth hour assignment. American Education. GCHS. >> The GCSD9 administration requests the approval of the following sixth hour assignment for the spring semester at Grand Ry High School. This assignment allows us to offer an American education class for students interested in pursuing a career in education. The
014sixth hour assignment will be paid through the educa an education grant that is being utilized by several school districts in the area. Approval is recommended. >> So move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Roll call. >> Christie. >> I. >> Bradley I. >> Stacy. >> I. >> Currin. >> Hi. >> Silva. >> I. >> Linaman. >> Hi. >> Vinnie. I. >> All right. At this time we'll be doing our uh consideration of tax res tax levy resolution. So we need to make a mo I need a motion and a second to adjourn the regular meeting and open a public hearing. >> So moved second. >> All I do can I do all in favor here? It doesn't matter by now. We could have just went through the whole thing. Roll call. >> Bradley. >> Hi. >>
015Stacy. >> I. >> Currin. >> Hi. >> Silva. >> Hi. >> Linamman. >> Hi. >> Vinnie. I Christy. >> Hi. >> All right. So, we are now in the open public hearing. Uh, and we're going to have a presentation by Zach Suri. >> Good evening. So, first off, if anybody has any questions, just let me know. Say, "Hey, hey, I can flag you out and it is fine." So, this is the 256 tax [clears throat] presentation. Um, for a quick outline, there we go. New York tax just for that common knowledge so everybody knows what I'm talking about some historical charts uh we'll look at the 2025 tax levy collected in 2026 a comparison of the 24 and 25 tax levy uh the remaining debt schedule and uh we'll do some estimated taxes for 20
016uh 2025 tax rate paid in terms a levy The levy is generally what we are asking for. So we go out and we just ask for an amount based upon what we think the total EAV of MA of the Granite City School District will be. So if they built a brand new subdivision that equal the other subdivision, we go out and say, "Hey, we think all that is there and ask for more." It doesn't necessarily mean when you see these numbers in the paper, you know, 10% or 5% or 15%. It doesn't necessarily mean that we are raising your taxes that amount. All that is saying is we think the EAV in the town as a whole is going to go up that amount. It could be new property. It could be some increased value
017on houses. It could be uh a decline at some point, but that's what we think the EAV for the entire taxing body is doing for the Grand Safe School District. uh the extension this is what we get after the limiting rates are applied. So like our ad fund rate is 255. So no matter what that tax rate for our ad fund will never be any more or any less than your the value of your house for 255. There's some other funds in there that all add up to equal a little closer to $4 uh for our rate. But that is what the extension is. That just means that's what we're going to get. So no matter how much we ask for, they're going to put those limiting rates on there and keep us from getting
018any more than what the voters through referendum have approved at one point as our tax rates for limits on the ED fund, ON&M, transportation, things like that. Tax rate, that is how your property taxes are calculated. That's based upon limiting rates and what we ask for in tort, IMRF and uh social security. um equalized assess valuation. That's the total of all property in the school district. And then limiting rates, those are rates that cannot exceed a certain amount. Equalized, this is our equalized assessed valuation. This is the total for the Grand City School District throughout uh since 2011. As you can see from 2011 till about 2019 it was fairly flat in some way in some times it declined a little bit and then you can see that it has the EAV of Granite City
019has been going up. Um we've been able to collect more tax dollars as EAV has risen. Some of that is tiffs have fallen off. There's been many tiffs that we have had that have fallen off. That's caused that EAV to go up. We have an enterprise zone with warehouses out there that are starting to get onto our tax roles which is allowing us to collect more money. So that is some of the reasons you've seen bigger percent increases of our estimate in EAV. It's not again we are not just haphazardly raising property values or raising taxes. We are pretty limited on what we can do and by those rates levy verse extension. Come on. There we go. Um you can see the dark blue line is what we have asked for and the light blue
020line is what we have collected. As you can see we always ask for a little more than we get because the limiting rates bring it down. Um except last year we were about right on. Um, and in 2020 we're about right on. As stuff started ticking up, it got a little harder to predict. This is the historical tax rate since 2010 of the school district. Um, you can see as EAV was declining, we did have some upticks to 453, 448, 447. Um, and the 517 and the $5 is we sold $5 million of working cash bonds uh in Illinois's darkest days of funding school districts and that was to ensure we could make payroll. So that caused a little bump in rate. As soon as those bonds were paid off in two years, the rate
021fell back down and we've been on a steady decline on rate throughout. Now most of that is because EAV has risen. And I would love to say that we're fabulous, but as EAV goes up, rate is going to go down. If the tax rate starts or the EAV starts going down, the tax rate will go back up because other than the limiting funds that what we ask for in non-capped things with IMRF, Social Security, and TOR would be distributed out and cause the rate to go up. >> Zack, question. How does our tax rate uh >> I'll get to that compare? Yes, >> I'll get to that. It's at the end. >> Oh, there you go. Okay. >> Trying to spoil the Indian here. [laughter] >> These these amounts here of every tax dollar, for
022example, this year, 38.4 is the school districts. >> Yes. >> So that means that the other taxing districts in town, they they make up the other. >> Yes. So I think >> at one point the school district I think was getting 51.7 cents of every tax dollar. >> Yeah. >> And I'm pretty sure this the like if you live I I always if you live in Granite City and I always use Granite City like not Pontoon or Mitchell because there are some different tax rates but those different townships have different rates. Namoki Township, Gran City Township, things like that. But if you live in Granite City, um I think your total overall tax rate was a little under $10 this year >> per dollar that we >> I think it perund I mean per $100
023or a dollar per $10 with whatever that is. So as you can see we have been going down uh historical new property. This is just you can see in 2020 we had a little spike way up. Uh this is a general graph. I use it to kind of give me so when I'm doing the levy I can kind of start to make guesstimates on what I think of new property will be there and it it it has been all over the map. It it has really fluctuated. This [clears throat] is our fund balances. You can see our operating fund balances of June 30. This is required by the state that I put this in there. And then our other is debt services. that is uh just required by the state. These are just fund balances.
024And in order to show this in a little better, this does. So the bottom number is what we are required for in our financial profile score for days cash on hand. The bottom number would put us on the financial watch list. The little the second number up would put us on the early warning list. The number after that would put us on the financial review list and any number above that is where we are. We're in the financial recognition. So that is just to kind of say, hey, here's what here's where we would start having issues and that's days cash on hand is how that's calculated. So a comparison of the 2024 2025 levy. You can see the changes. we are uh the ones that are not affected by the limiting rate. So if you
025see like limiting rate 255, it doesn't matter. We could ask for $50 million. It's only going to give us $2.55 period of assessed valuation. Uh there is a change in the ED fund. That's where most of it is. Uh EAV went up. The reason there's a bigger change than normal is EAV went up 25% last year for the school district. We did not capture all of that. So, we are going out and trying to get that money back so we can use it. This may be the only new money the school district receives next year. Period. It may be the only new revenue stream or revenue stream that increases. and it may barely offset what could possibly happen to corporate personal property replacement tax to bring our revenue for next year about even with this
026year. And that is that is a that would be a good scenario I think. Um biggest changes are in ED and M uh the debt service there's very little change um when we sold those bonds when we did the referendum it is actually that rate is actually under what we had projected uh it was supposed to be about 29 cents of the levy this year it is about 21 22 cents of the levy so that is coming in under um we are doing a slight uptick in uh on and M social security uh and or I'm sorry IMRF social security and tort just to try to bring some of that uh back in line. We've kind of been holding it flat to keep the rate as low as possible and uh our insurance costs just
027like everybody's homeowners insurance are really taking a hit and going up. So we are trying to start bumping that a little bit. 2025 rate scenario is based on EAV. Uh the 2024 actual weight was $3.84. Uh if the 2025 estimated rate stays the same, we had 920 million of EAV for the district. If it stays at that, it would be about $41. Um if it goes to the estimated uh 2025 rate, we will be at $3.94 or about 10 of uncaptured. That is basically what was uncaptured last year would would cause that 10 cents. We would have been 394 last year except the EAB just went up so much. So, current debt services schedule. This is what we have remaining on the bonds. Um, as you can see, the rate was supposed to be 2914
028projected for levy year 2025. It's going to be it could be as low as 21. So, the outstanding bond that we passed is actually coming in lower than what we anticipated for affecting the tax rate. And that is on 2023 EAV figures with a 3% growth of EAV each year. So how do I calculate my taxes? So this is what you and this is a generic this is not something that I mean there are t property taxes are somewhat complicated. There are things this is the most basic description. So you take the fair market value of your house. Let's say it's $120,000 and property is typ typically assessed at one/ird of that minus exemptions. So let's say you it's 1/3 that would be 40,000. You multiply the assessed value by the school rate as a
029percentage. So you do 40,000 times 3.8424% and that gives you school taxes on $120,000 home of about $1,536.96. So that is just that is using last year's rate. If you had a $240,000 house, it would just be double. It would it would instead of being 1536, it would be >> 372 >> 72 >> 70 >> 74 almost. >> Yeah. >> So, how will the 2025 levy affect my taxes? So, if you look over there at the 2024 rate, you can see it's 1536. Uh, if you go to the 2025 rate at $920 million EAV, your taxes would be about $1,600. 160716. If the rate goes up what we project to 1.058 billion uh on $120,000 home, your taxes would go to about$,577. And that is 7 on if EAV is flat, it's about $71 per
030year on a house. And if it goes up to the 1.05 billion, it's about $40 a year per year per $120,000 of assessed valuation. So it's about 40 bucks a year. So what if my house value goes up? I will be honest. I think this is a scenario that many people are going to see. I I think they're going to be an increase in EAV in Granite City School District. So on the 2020, thank you. Two thing I have notes on my screen. So I want to do two. So 2024 rate again, 1536 on $120,000 home. If you have a 10% increase from $120,000 to $132,000, you'd be assessed at one/ird, which is $44,000. If EAV does not change, you could see it would be about $1,767.88. And if EAV does go to one, the
0311.058 billion, you'd see 17 $1,734.70. I think this is probably going to be pretty close to accurate. And that is for flat EAB, you're talking about $231 per year on $132,000 of house value. And then if it's goes to 1.058 billion, you're talking about $198 per year per $132,000 of house value. So >> does that does uh Granite City have any effect on the this that they'reing? No, their their their valuation their valuation is their valuation. >> They're still going to pay the same. >> Yeah, they still pay the same. >> Just in your scenario where the home values 240 goes up 2025 to 132. That's basically a 10% increase. Is that consistent with a state multiplier of 10%? >> That is consistent with a state multiplier >> and that is something that is not
032in our control. >> That is not in our control. So again guys, just so you know and so the public knows, the state has the the right to canvas each area of the state and if they think that the local assessor, the county assessor has property values devalued, they're not properly valued, they can assess a multiplier, and that's what we're talking about here. Last year in Palon Beach, that was 14.9 and Granite had a right at 11% multiplier. So that's the state doing that causing an increase in property values which in turn increases the amount that we all pay each year and it has nothing to do with our le. >> No. If if if they were putting a negative multiplier on there, we would be getting less money. >> Correct. [clears throat] >> Not
033very often in 30 plus years I've been doing this that we've seen multipliers in the double digits. very rare, but it has happened. >> It it was flat for a good portion of my career in the school district, even before I was finance director, it was flat for a good portion of that, even declining. Um, so comparable tax rates for Madison County in 2024, just so everyone can see, we were actually the lowest. We've been number two for a while, but we were actually the lowest tax rate in Madison County of school districts. Um, I think next year we might tick back to two. Uh, it depends on kind of what Roxanna does. We might get lucky. We might move in, stay, keep our number one status, but I'm not 100% sure. But I think
034we will maintain being the second lowest in Madison County. It's statewide. Just so you know, at the seminar [clears throat] I was at in Chicago, you had a presentation. Community unit school districts ran it as ninth in the state in its tax. So if we are low and my little disclaimer, please remember that there are many factors that can determine how your property taxes are figured. These examples provided represent the most basic calculations of just the school district tax rate. We do not control any other taxing body. We cannot control what they do or what they increase. We can only control the school district. And then I will entertain [cough] any questions. [clears throat] >> Any questions at all? >> Not everybody at once. All right. >> Another great presentation, Zach. I love when you
035talk school financing. Um, do we have uh do we have anybody else who would like uh to be heard for public hearing? All right, seeing no one, I need a motion and a second to adjourn the public hearing. >> So moved. Second >> and reconvene the regular meeting. Second the >> All in favor? >> I I >> I think I can do that. Um, so now we will do >> they he just did. >> All right. Stacy, >> yep. >> I >> Currin. >> Hi. >> Silva. >> I >> Linnaman. >> Hi. >> Vinnie. I >> Christie. Hi. >> Bradley. >> I. >> All right. So section 10F the consideration of tax levby resolution and truth in taxation hearing. Need a motion to approve that. So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call.
036>> Curran. >> I. >> Silva. >> I. >> Linaman. >> I. >> Vinnie. I. >> Christy. >> Hi. >> Bradley. >> I. >> Stacy. >> I. >> All right. Section 10G. School ERP Pro modules additions. >> The administration requesting the approval to purchase the following module enhancements to our school ERP Pro. The cost of the addition is $15,591 and will help automate accounts payable process and enhance AC capabilities. Applicants tracking will cost $3,516 annually with a onetime implementation fee of $8,320. Approval is recommended. >> So moved. Second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call. >> Silva. >> I. >> Lin. >> Hi. [clears throat] >> Vinnie. I. Christie. >> Hi. >> Bradley. >> Hi. Stacy >> I >> Curran >> I >> All right. Uh section 111A Freedom of Information Act requests. >> The Freedom of
037Information Act requests listed below and on the GCS GCSD9 website were handled by administration. >> All right. Uh executive session exceptions noted under five open meetings. Uh we have several items that we'll be taking back uh that fall under 2C1, 2C 6, 2C8, and 2C 11. >> Need a motion to go into executive session. >> Second. >> Uh roll call. >> Linaman. >> I. >> Vinnie, >> I Christy. >> Hi. >> Bradley. >> Hi. >> Stacy. >> Hi. >> Currin. >> Hi. >> Silva. I 636 >> 636