Meeting Summary and Briefs: Peotone Board of Education for August 18, 2025

The Peotone Board of Education’s August 18 meeting was defined by the district’s precarious financial situation. With a projected $4.2 million operating deficit and its borrowing capacity nearly exhausted, the board is confronting the possibility of drastic changes, including the potential closure of Peotone Intermediate Center, which is threatened by a major road-widening project. The board hired a new architectural firm to begin planning for the district’s future. For more details on the financial crisis and consolidation talks, see the full story.

The meeting was also the first under a temporary leadership structure, as Superintendent Brandon Owens is recovering from a vehicle accident. Assistant Superintendent Carole Zurales is serving as acting superintendent with support from a consulting superintendent. The board also gave final approval to a new policy that, after a close vote, will not mandate the live-streaming of meetings.

FY26 Budget Put on Display
The board approved placing the tentative Fiscal Year 2026 budget on public display. The budget projects a $4.2 million operating deficit, driven by a $1.2 million decrease in Corporate Personal Property Replacement Tax revenue, the loss of federal ESSER funds, and increased operational costs. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for September 22, after which the board will vote on its final adoption.

Student Athletes and SkillsUSA Team Recognized
The Board of Education formally recognized Peotone Junior High School students for recent state and national achievements. Track and field athletes Alannah Hahn and Laila Stachnik were honored for competing at the state meet. The SkillsUSA team of Asher Brandau, Logan Cowger, Jaida DeMoss, Shane Lynch, and Thomas Zdzinicki was celebrated for its performance at the national competition, where Cowger and Lynch earned silver medals in Additive Manufacturing.

District Hires 1-to-1 Nurse for Student
The school board approved a contract to hire Nichole Zemaitis as a registered nurse to provide 1-to-1 services for a specific student attending Elim Christian School during the 2025-2026 school year. Per the agreement, the nurse will be compensated at a rate of $50 per hour and is responsible for the student’s health and safety as specified in their Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Board Approves IT Services Contract
The board approved a managed services proposal with GGNet for essential district technology services. The contract was accounted for in the FY26 budget presentation. According to a report from the Director of Technology, the district is reviewing the renewal, which includes Sentinel security services, and identifying potential cost savings through server configuration changes.

‘Go Big Blue’ Initiative Kicks Off
The district is launching its “Go Big Blue” theme for the school year, a new mission and vision focused on school culture and student development. A fundraising and sponsorship drive is underway with the goal of purchasing a t-shirt for every student in the district. Assistant Superintendent Carole Zurales announced that the sponsorship deadline is September 1 to allow for a September 5 order date.

Summer Projects Near Completion as Schools Reopen
Director of Buildings and Grounds Mike Singleton reported that major summer construction projects are substantially complete. The massive HVAC overhaul at Peotone Elementary School is in its final stages, and new secure vestibules at multiple schools are nearly finished. Teachers have returned to their classrooms to prepare for students’ arrival on August 21 for grades 1-12 and August 25 for Pre-K and Kindergarten.

Board Sets 2026 Meeting Calendar
The Peotone Board of Education approved its regular meeting calendar for the 2026 year. Meetings will continue to be held on the third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. at Peotone High School. Exceptions will be made in January and February due to national holidays, when meetings will shift to the third Wednesday. The July meeting will occur on the last Monday of the month.