Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The North Clay School Board met on Wednesday, June 25 and began with a budget hearing.
-4:45pm – Amended Budget FY25 Hearing at 4:45pm
Superintendent Keith Price presented a summary of the Amended District Budget for FY25(July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025). The district is ending the year with an estimated budget surplus of $290,000.
Superintendent Price described that the state of Illinois calculates whether or not a school district has a surplus or a deficit based upon revenue versus expenditures in what is called the four operating funds. Those funds include the Education Fund, the Operations/Maintenance Fun, the Transportation Fund and the Working Cash Fund. Notable points of revenue included several grants the district has successfully applied for and received, including the Teacher Vacancy Grant ($90,000), the METT Grant (or Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology and Trades, $50,000), the School Maintenance Grant, which is a matching grant of $50,000 and the Teacher Pathway Grant, which funds the Intro to Teaching program, of $46,500. Other Revenue included State Funding, known as Evidence Based Funding, of approximately $3.4 million dollars and approximately $3.5 million from local sources and approximately $1.2 million from federal sources . Approximately $9.3 million was expended during FY25 from the
Capital Projects fund, which was the bonds the district took out for the building project in 2022. Outside of the building project, the largest total expenditure, by fund, came through the Educational fund, which is where all funding for salaries, benefits and educational programs is located. Superintendent Price thanked the unit office staff of Tina Gaddy (administrative assistant) and Jami Lewis (District Bookkeeper) for their efforts throughout the school year with the FY25 budget. A copy of the FY25 Amended Budget will be posted on the North Clay CUSD website and can be found by clicking on the District Tab, then selecting Financial Info.
1. Call to Order; Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance at 5:00pm. Board members present were: President Ryan Ballard, Vice President Aaron Kincaid, Secretary Ashely Brooks, and Jason Griffy. Absent were: Anthony Dawkins, Kim Smith and Barry Adair. Others present were: Superintendent Keith Price, High School Principal Sarah Newby, Elementary/Junior High School Principal Ben Borries and Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Richard Grubaugh.
2. Consider Adoption of the Agenda Approved 4-0
3. Consider Approval Consent Agenda of Regular Board Meeting Approved 4-0
a. Approval of Minutes
b. Treasurer’s Report
c. Approval of Bills, Personal and Sick Leave
d. Approval of Field Trips
4. Recognition of Guests, Public Comments, and Positive News
-Junior High Athletes who qualified for the state track meet were recognized. In person to be recognized were: Karissa Browning and Elaina Steele for their part of the 4×100 state qualifying team, and their parents. Not present, but recognized, were the other members of the 4×100 team, Bradessa Scott and Ali Boose. Cooper Lewis, not present, was also recognized for qualifying for the state track meet in the discus event. Owen Jones, not present, was recognized for qualifying in the 110 hurdles.
Congratulations to all state qualifying junior high school track athletes.
Elementary and Junior High School Principal, Mr. Ben Borries, High School Principal, Mrs. Sarah Newby, and Assistant Principal/Athletic Director, Mr. Richard Grubaugh, presented positive news for the district. Positive News included:
North Clay Elementary/Junior High School Positive News
● North Clay School District bid farewell to our longtime teacher and friend Alice Robinson at the end of the 2024-25 school year. We thank her for her many years of dedicated service to our students and our district.
● June 2nd – 26th – Summer School
● June 23rd – 26th – STEAM classes in the J.H. Win North Clay High School Positive News
● Summer School was held June 2nd- June 26th.
● Thank you to the custodians for all their hard work so far this summer.
● Online Registration for the 2025-2026 school year opens on July 27th with in person registration on July 30th.
● Thank you to Kim Travis. She was our paraprofessional in the guided learning program. Congratulations on your retirement!
Extra-Curricular Activities Positive News
5. NCHS Baseball played at Busch Stadium Wednesday June 11
6. CCH offering free sports physicals
7. 2nd Annual BTM Scramble
8. IHSA Officials Clinics (4 Clinics-25 Officials, led by Dave Sands and Marc Profancik, Barry Adair)
9. Jack Compton named 1st Team IHSBCA 1A All-State
10. Consider to approve Amended Budget for FY25 Approved 4-0
11. Consider adopting Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026) and continue all policies, contracts and programs in force on June 30, 2025.
It was explained that this is a standard motion for school boards to approve to ensure that all business operations continue as normal between the official start of the fiscal
year (July 1) and the adoption of the initial FY26 budget, which is scheduled to happen in September. Approved 4-0
12. Consider renewal of membership in the IASB (Illinois Association of School Boards and PRESS(IASB) for the 2025-2026 school year.
Superintendent Price shared that this is a yearly renewal and that the Illinois Association of School Boards is a valuable professional organization that provides important resources and support to the North Clay School District. The renewal cost is $2,956. Approved 4-0
13. Consider approving the first reading of updated school board policies
Several board policies are included in this update. Superintendent Price shared that several of them are in reference to the changes in Title IX, which ensure that all Title IX policies are in line with the 2020 standards, compared to the recent changes that were proposed in 2024. Another one of the policy updates discussed was to include clarifying language regarding student eligibility to attend tuition free if their parent/guardian is an employee of the district. Superintendent Price explained that this policy used to come in the form of a waiver that a school district could request, but now is simply included as part of the expressed district policy. These policies were a first read only and are scheduled to be on the July 2025 agenda for final approval. Approved 4-0
14. Consider to approve the IECC (Illinois Eastern Community Colleges) Dual Credit Agreement
This is a renewal of the district’s dual credit agreement with IECC for two years, compared to the one year agreements in the past. Over the span of the two year agreement, there is no increase in the cost per dual credit class for North Clay students. The North Clay administration met with the IECC director and coordinated multiple opportunities for students and parents to meet with IECC admissions. There will be two in-person opportunities to meet at the colleges and one, live, virtual meeting that will be held on the same night as our open house, which is on August 12. Approved 4-0
15. Consider to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the Flora Library.
Superintendent Price shared that this is a renewal of an agreement that has been done for the past few years. What it provides is the ability of any North Clay student to be able to get a Flora Library card without having to pay the out-of-district cost for a card. All North Clay students are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and build on their reading skills this summer. Approved 4-0
16. Consider to approve to go out for bids for the construction of a concession stand/restroom facility.
The board discussed the importance of the need for a restroom and concession facility at the high school baseball field. Currently, families utilize the restrooms inside the grade school building, which can be a considerable walk for some. More information was needed in regards to the plan for sewage and plumbing. That information will be gathered. Discussion Only. Tabled.
17. Update on Summer Building and Facility Projects
Superintendent Price shared the list of building projects and improvements that are occurring this summer. Some of the projects include: the removing of a wall between two smaller rooms in the upstairs of the high school which will be converted into a classroom, the power washing of the pre-cast walls of the new gym and ag shop/classroom, installation of all new phones and additional hallway intercom systems in both the high school and grade school buildings, additional cameras being added through the new construction, the painting of the walls in the high school library, the installation of the necessary and electrical power for the new plasma cutter in the new ag classroom. The installation of new interior doors and hardware in the high school building and the installation of new front doors and back entry (to the black top) doors at the grade school is scheduled to happen this summer, but it is dependent upon lead times of materials.
Closed session for the purpose of: Approved 4-0 at 5:57pm
a. The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, security, or dismissal of specific employees of the district 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)
b. Collective negotiating matter between the public body and its employees or other representatives 5 ILCS 12/2(c)(2)
c. Student disciplinary cases 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(9)
Open Approved 4-0 at 6:26pm
The board of education met in closed session from 5:57pm to 6:26pm.
Upon returning to open session, the following motion were made:
1. Accept the letter of resignation of Mayana Blair as Junior High School Special Education Teacher at the end of the 24-25 school year. Approved 4-0
2. Accept the resignation of Logan Lotz as Freshman boys basketball coach, effective immediately. Approved 4-0
3. Hire Logan Lotz as High School Assistant Basketball Coach for the 2025-2026 school year Approved 4-0
4. Hire Erika Yates as 7th Grade Girls Volleyball Coach for the 2025-2026 school year. Approved 4-0
5. Hire Kaley Felax as special education teacher for the 2025-2025 school year. Approved 4-0
6. Hire Ethan Kuenstler as High School Freshmen/Sophomore Boys Basketball Coach for the 2025-2026 school year. Approved 4-0
7. Hire Kim Adair as the 5th and 6th Grade Girls Basketball Coach for the 2025-2026 school year. Approved 4-0
8. Accept the letter of resignation of Malorie Craig as Junior High School Girls 7th grade Volleyball coach. Approved 4-0
9. Hire Malorie Craig as the Junior High School Girls Volleyball Head Coach for the 2025-2026 school year. Approved 4-0
10. Hire Nick Carter for 200 custodial summer hours for 2025. Approved 4-0
11. Hire Jessica Percival as a class sponsor for the high school class of 2029. Approved 4-0
12. Hire Kacie Crawford as a class sponsor for the high school class of 2029. Approved 4-0
13. Hire Jason Henry and District Technology Director and set salary for the 2025-2026 school year. Approved 4-0
14. Accept the letter of resignation of Steven Strotzum as part time bus driver and retain as a sub bus driver. Approved 4-0
15. Post the position of a full-time, certified district Librarian for the 2025-2026 school year Approved 4-0
16. Post the positions of two (2), full-time, subs for the 2025-2026 school year. Approved 4-0
17. Post for a full-time bus driver for the 2025-2026 school year. Approved 4-0
18. Provide administration permission to hire non-certified staff, as needed. Approved 4-0
Committee Report No Committee Reports
Superintendent Report
In the Superintendent Report, Keith Price gave updates on the modifications to District Insurance Policy with Snedeker Risk Management, per the discussion and guidance given at the May board meeting. An update was also given as far as the district’s status in the Egyptian Trust, the employee health insurance group in which North Clay CUSD#25 belongs. The recommendation is no changes or action in regards to membership in the trust. The district insurance increase for 25-26 is 8.9%. Superintendent Price explained that other options were explored as far as providers, but due to the healthy loss ratio history of North Clay within the trust, our rates are comparatively very low compared to other districts. Even though the 8.9% increase is the highest the district has seen in several years, our relatively low premium rates will remain amongst the lowest in the trust.
Adjournment at 6:53pm
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