The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
The Illini West High School board approved their tentative levy request of local property taxes paid for the 2024-2025 school year, at their meeting Nov. 15. The final levy will be put to a vote at the December board meeting.
That meeting will be Dec. 13, one week earlier than the normal meeting date. A public hearing will be at 7 p.m., before regular meeting, allowing public comment and questions on the proposed levy.
The total property taxes extended to the district for 2023 were $3,339,848. The tentative levy, based on estimates of funds required for the next year, is $3,941,000.
“Property growth last year was 12 percent,” Superintendent Jay Harnack explained in information to the board. The actual amount that will go to the district is based on the tax rate applied to the assessed value of property in the district.
“If the amount asked for (levy) is greater than what the legal tax rate will generate, the district does not get the levied amount, but gets only the lesser amount generated by the legal tax rate,” Harnack said in information to the board. “I do not expect our overall tax rate to increase.”
IWHS tax rates remain near 10-year lows and 11 cents lower than they were seven years ago, according to Harnack.
“Our district will continue to work to find a balance between maximizing opportunities for our students and minimizing the impact on our taxpayers,” he said.
The board approved the Phase 2 performance contract with Veregy for window removal and replacement. The Base Project is estimated at $409,967 and includes replacing windows in the original part of the high school building. This excludes windows in the entry restrooms and cafeteria. A second option includes replacing windows in the east wing built in the 1960s.
The district will do the landscaping and exterior work after the window replacement is completed. Additional savings will come from a matching grant, and energy efficiency from the new windows.
The board began the bidding process for the farm land in northern Hancock County, owned by the district. Harnack was instructed to advertise a request for sealed bids to the lease 54.2 acres in Durham Township for three years covering the 2024, 2025, and 2026 calendar years.
The motion to seek bids to lease the land passed, with “no” votes from Shannon Kissinger, Wyatt Green and Shaun Lohmeyer.
“We have had discussion on this,” Green said after the meeting. “There are really two options, keep on leasing the land or sell the farm.” Green believes selling the land is the better choice.
“Realistically, there is no expectation to build a school there. The land was a good investment, and the value has increased since then. We can make more in equities if we sell, than we can in cash rent, and the money would be more liquid if we need it.”
Sealed bids for cash renting the land must be received by Harnack at the district office by 1 p.m. on Jan. 24, 2024.
A number of people were present wanting to make comment in support and opposed to the volleyball coaching assignment. Several met with the board in executive session.
In open session, the board approved the following assignments: Sage Wilde as wrestling coach; John Artman as track coach; Dakota Lafferty as assistant volleyball coach with stipend prorated for partial 2023 year.
Spanish teacher, Ashtyn Miller, and band director, Jessica Knicl, gave the board information on a trip being planned May 27 to June 5, 2025, jointly with the international club and the music department. The board approved the international club moving forward with plans and fundraising for the trip to Athens, Florence and Rome.
Miller said Acis, the travel group she has chosen, has high standards and includes features that will immerse students in the culture, history, and music of Greece and Italy. The cost per student is $6,087.
The board acknowledged receiving the annual Summative Designation Letter from the Illinois State Board of Education, which listed Illini West in the Commendable status.