TEUTOPOLIS – The Teutopolis Unit 50 school board voted to add more buses and on budgetary motions Sept. 14.
The school district will soon add a new 14-passenger activity bus and a used 71-passenger bus to the transportation fleet. The new white activity bus will replace a similar vehicle in service for more than 20 years for Teutopolis schools. The new 14-passenger bus was purchased through state contract for $99,197. The larger used yellow bus will cost the district $89,981.
Following a favorable audit report from the accounting firm of Glass and Shuffett, board members approved the budget for the 2027 Fiscal Year. The budget projections include $14.47 million in expenditures and compared to $14.44 million in revenues. The budget includes a $32,075 deficit that is linked to impacts on personnel costs and major improvements at Teutopolis Junior High School.
Superintendent Matt Sturgeon said the recent financial record of the school district shows the ledger is stable for Teutopolis schools.
“Taken together, the FY26 audit and FY27 budget show that we remain in a stable financial position, but responsible stewardship requires us to keep looking ahead,” Sturgeon explained after the board meeting. “Our audit was clean, with no reportable internal-control weaknesses or compliance concerns, and we remain in ISBE’s highest financial profile category of recognition. The FY27 budget is essentially balanced at $14.44 million in revenues and $14.47 million in expenditures.”
He emphasized efforts to invest in students, staff, and facilities while maintaining reserves that provide stability for our district and community.
“We do so while also seeing a decline in our overall tax rate, which is down from $3.62 in 2020 to a current $3.47,” he said. “That balance between current needs, long-term planning, and preserving the Teutopolis tradition remains an important district priority.”
The board will review a draft of an intergovernmental agreement shared by the village board regarding use of Tax Increment Financing money to assist Unit 50. Sturgeon said the school board could consider a vote on that pact during its Oct. 19 meeting. If approved, then village trustees will decide the agreement.
A $15 million bond issue is on the Nov. 3 general election ballot to pay for major renovations at Teutopolis Grade School. Answers to frequently asked questions on the ballot question have been posted on the Clear View website of the school district.
In addition, the Clear View section offers information on possible changes to the TGS lease agreement if the school renovations move forward. The TGS building is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Springfield and the school district pays for use of the school and grounds. It was reported at the last school board meeting that the Diocese has offered to extend the lease for many years if the district moves forward on changes to the building that opened in 1954 for use by the public school district.
Board members were also updated on contactor warranty questions brought up during the last BOE meeting. The goal is to avoid major expenses on major projects either relating to product failure or careless mistakes on installation.
Education board elections take place in April 2027 and election materials are available on the school board website or by contacting the Unit 50 office, located by the Teutopolis High School gym.
In personnel matters, the following were hired for the 2026-27 school year, contingent on completion of background checks, employment history review and verification or completion of licensing for their positions. The hirings included Sue Mills, THS second assistant for one season; Manny Wei and Leonard Westendorf, splitting THS boys golf assistant for one season; Tony Kreke, fall baseball assist for one season; Kathy Lee, girls tennis assistant for one season; Antonio Munoz, high school and junior high choir; and Owen Heuerman, THS golf assistant.
The school board also accepted a letter of retirement from Norma Koester, an employee in the Unit 50 office, effective Dec.1.