Macon Reporter

Meridian Community Unit School District 15 Board met Aug. 19.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

The Meridian Community Unit School District No. 15 Board of Education held a Special Board Meeting in the Meridian CUSD #15 District Office Board Room, Macon, Illinois. President Chris Jones called the meeting to order at 6:36 p.m. Board Members in attendance were: Chris Jones, Monte Hogan, Adam Herbert, and Kara Morey. Board Members absent were: Clint Gorden, Rebecca Kraft, and Matt Roush. Also in attendance was Andy Pygott, Superintendent Meridian CUSD #15.

Mr. Pygott presented the tentative budget for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year (FY). Discussion commenced, and the following information was shared regarding the tentative FY 2020-2021 budget:

• The stated budget surplus was $136,534.

• Mr. Pygott stated that he had received communication that receipt of the Evidence Based Funding (EBF) funds are not in peril, but the amount of EBF funding received by all Districts in the State of Illinois in the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year will remain flat from the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year.

• Mr. Pygott stated the receipt of Categorical funding remains unknown in terms of when payments will be made from the Illinois Comptroller to Districts, and how many payments will actually be received from the State of Illinois in the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year.

• Mr. Pygott stated the receipt of Federal Grant funds appears to be stable for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year.

• Mr. Pygott expressed concern with the Sales Tax decline in Macon County due to COVID-19 and businesses being limited or shutdown. Mr. Pygott went on to explain that any decline in the final Sales Tax collected could have an impact on the District’s Debt Service Fund, and the District’s ability to make scheduled payments on existing Bonds (from the District Building Project that occurred in the 2013-2015 timeframe) without the Board having to take additional action.

• Vendor information for larger vendors was shared. Board Member Jones requested more details regarding any existing contract that is in effect between the District and Pepsi. Mr. Pygott was unsure if there is any existing contract in effect, and took that as an action item to investigate and follow up on with the Board.

• Mr. Pygott indicated that the tentative budget would be filed and placed on the District Website for public inspection on Thursday August 20, 2020. Hard copies of the tentative budget will also be publicly available in the District Office on Thursday August 20, 2020.

• Mr. Pygott also noted that there still could be changes made to the posted tentative budget between Thursday August 20, 2020 and the next regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting on Monday Sept 21, 2020, where the final version of the FY 2020-2021 Budget will be placed before the Board for approval.

Mr. Pygott also stated that the 3rd Transportation Categorical Payment (of the 4 that are promised) from the State of Illinois, for the 2019-2020 Fiscal Year, was received on Monday August, 17, 2020.

On a motion by Member Morey, seconded by Member Hogan, the meeting adjourned at 7:11 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Meridian Board of Education will be Monday September 21, 2020, 6:30 p.m in the District Office Board Room.

https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/930407/08-19-2020_special_mtg.pdf