[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6464132,"mediaKeyId","5784405-3cabe96d226c8f8b1a8698ac5471e35a","parentId",5784405,"title","SIU trustees hear FY26 budgets show balanced finances after multi‑year deficits; board moves to executive session on personnel and litigation","audioSeconds",718,"startMs",3098000,"endMs",3816000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784405-3cabe96d226c8f8b1a8698ac5471e35a&start=3098&end=3816","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784405-3cabe96d226c8f8b1a8698ac5471e35a/thumbnail_3098000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6464132/Illinois/SIU-trustees-hear-FY26-budgets-show-balanced-finances-after-multiyear-deficits-board-moves-to-executive-session-on-personnel-and-litigation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464132-57af869ea610362db8b843126fcef516/orig.mp4?Expires=1774861646&Signature=LsJRjtqToyz~GzXnv9-hshjfkMKJPN6RQb3JfjeKDjaXlOH~dJLZpHQqMT7~j-JP924PvJZUuScWRU3HhQkRvQES6IQjHNrDbWdIWGn34PWZlalswOAOigSvPXhd2OfzUbd0a44iUK9yGEpwPVgcozoTaRF6pgH0T9lPnQWeTAb96TRiPrWYbFZgfd9TyB6CO-WO4W-V5UEdEKbP~tHHM4tKJMyhNSiVuLRncqwwxkKr0Uj~TKc5RRZqKWvnNMQdz2id1yPrWBiDTbGtXj2Lks67t76QlA5em3ZQ9m4Mddg8I7rGoCWCG3mvt9BM8DHShFfJyZ6z~T~7MZR0esT6zA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees","date","2025-09-18T09:14:09Z","article","President Daniel Mahoney and campus leaders briefed the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees on FY26 operating budgets for SIUE and the SIU School of Medicine and described the system’s progress shrinking prior structural deficits and improving cash reserves.

Chancellor James T. Minor told trustees SIUE had submitted an FY26 budget without structural imbalances after a FY25 submission that included a roughly $10,300,000 structural deficit. Minor credited better-than-expected enrollment and improved retention for part of the improvement and said the university achieved the balanced budget without drawing on reserves.

Minor and other presenters described key budget drivers: an expected increase in salary expenses of roughly $6 million to $8 million, an energy and utility cost increase of approximately $2 million to $2.5 million, and continued emphasis on vacancy savings. The transcript records that vacancy-management efforts produced about $6.4 million in savings in the previous year and that the university expects about $6.7 million in vacancy savings in FY26. The presentation also listed FY26 salary increases totaling about $3.6 million, including roughly $2.5 million for collective-bargaining agreements (CBAs), $463,000 for CBIZ consultant–recommended minimum adjustments, roughly $430,000 for compression adjustments and $208,000 for nonrepresented employees.

SIUE administrators reported progress reducing a historical cash deficit: the Edwardsville campus’ “cash deficit” figure declined from about $19 million in 2019 to roughly $5.8 million at the end of FY25, and administrators said further reductions were expected in coming years. The all-funds projection included a planned use of about $15.5 million in cash in FY26, with roughly $9.2 million attributed to athletics-related spending in that total; trustees and staff discussed fundraising and other strategies to reduce the athletics draw.

The SIU School of Medicine finance briefing noted a mostly balanced FY26 outlook across fund groups and that research indirect-cost recoveries had declined; the school’s presenters also said a new $2.5 million, five‑year grant for a street‑medicine demonstration project had been confirmed during the meeting and would add to grant-funded work.

Trustees commented on the budget presentations. Trustee Paula Hightower and Trustee Curtis praised the administration and credited the leadership team for steering the campuses from multi‑million‑dollar deficits to improved financial metrics. President Mahoney and governing trustees described multi-year restructuring, an early-retirement incentive, and other operational changes as contributors to the turnaround.

At the close of the open meeting portion, a trustee moved to close the meeting to the public “for the purpose of considering pending, probable, or imminent court proceedings against or on behalf of the board; appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees; collective negotiating matters; deliberations concerning salary schedules; and review of executive session minutes,” citing the Illinois Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1), (2), (11) and (21). The motion was seconded and the board took a roll call; the transcript records the motion as moved, seconded and put to roll call but does not include a final numerical roll-call tally in the provided excerpt. The motion’s stated purpose included personnel, collective bargaining and litigation matters.

The transcript includes introductions of new or recently hired administrators in the context of the budget discussion: Yvonne Thompson, executive director of internal audit (approved previously in July); Justin Oates, vice president for financial and administrative affairs and board treasurer (appointment on the next-day agenda; he started two days before the meeting); and Anne DeToy, director of university budget and analytics. The transcript does not show a board vote to adopt the FY26 budgets in the provided excerpt.

Clarifying details in the transcript include the FY25 structural deficit figure ($10,300,000), vacancy savings ($6.4 million in the prior year, $6.7 million expected in FY26), salary-increase totals ($3.6 million with subcomponents), projected utility cost increases ($2–2.5 million), and the School of Medicine’s newly announced $2.5 million, five-year street-medicine grant. Trustees referenced historical deficits and named administrative strategies used to reduce them.

Following the executive-session motion, the public portion of the meeting closed and the board proceeded to the cited closed-session topics, as recorded in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SIU BOT Meeting 9/17/25","oneSentenceSummary","President Daniel Mahoney and campus leaders told the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees that SIUE’s FY26 operating budget is balanced after an earlier structural deficit and outlined expected salary and utility pressures for the year.","taxTitle","Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees, S, Boards and Commissions, Executive, Illinois","taxId",38025,"location","Illinois","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6464137,"SIUE expands Freedom School to three sites; presenters report improved reading outcomes",1283,1328000,2611000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784405-3cabe96d226c8f8b1a8698ac5471e35a&start=1328&end=2611","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784405-3cabe96d226c8f8b1a8698ac5471e35a/thumbnail_1328000.jpg","/articles/6464137/Illinois/SIUE-expands-Freedom-School-to-three-sites-presenters-report-improved-reading-outcomes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464137-f3db46ed8091e89c21c065e3053b4686/orig.mp4?Expires=1774861646&Signature=c6Lu1RmUCpVVAjOf-4gNJgWh6UF1FRrKimu6dkjalB7GVyjYY5dsgrf3QZDgTrAT5H5FCP17xBUpsjo-S-6zP4FGxydtHaeqMWXSMm~HedN9k3Vp3DHcXtTLgmQlKdszy2VmemS1o2PgFB2blbfys-tL~0LSpwWH20ETDXPnu8BwlLiqpiuIw39Q7qsYo8JK~iWO~xQlJP4objnolN8VG4NhjxBVfq0nvdUlasHL~R3dx8hK4zGrSNxbB3v~4tVlsVVmsNcC7LIWz1yIXRMO~F8bk8hVZrCkahWdta0NEutsWjQqaLFXJjhDoFS49HIj02sNHC69IM4zYWLuey8WSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dr. Tandra Taylor, assistant professor of history and interim director of the Institute for Community Justice and Racial Equity at SIUE, presented the university’s Freedom School program to the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees and described a 2025 expansion that grew the program from 50 to 150 students across three sites: Edwardsville, Alton and East St. Louis.

Dr. Taylor told trustees Freedom School is a six-week, immersive literacy program that pairs college students with elementary and middle-school participants to make reading “fun” through music, chants and culturally relevant texts. She said the program’s national partner is Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools and that SIUE is one of only two higher-education sponsors in Illinois and the only university sponsor that brings students on campus.

Dr. Taylor reported measurable outcomes from the program’s evaluations: 84% of participants maintained or improved reading skills over the six-week session, 96% of parents reported increased confidence in their children’s reading, and 94% reported they were more likely to engage in community and civic activities with their children after the program.

Student presenters described personal and leadership impacts. Anaya Sykes, a former servant-leader intern promoted to site coordinator, said her two summers with Freedom School strengthened her leadership skills and informed her career plans in education. Omar Jackson, a 2025 graduate, said the program increased his motivation and confidence and described service-learning and community engagement experiences tied to the curriculum.

Program logistics discussed with trustees included site capacity and recruiting. Each site supports up to 50 students; the Alton site is hosted by Alton Public Schools and limits enrollment to Alton students, while Edwardsville and East St. Louis include students from multiple districts. Dr. Taylor said recruiting relied on grassroots outreach in year one and that year two benefited from word-of-mouth and social media; the program also hired 20 student staff in 2025 and retained 83% of first-year servant-leader interns.

Trustees and other meeting participants commended the program’s focus on literacy and leadership. The presentation included a short video and remarks noting the program’s historical roots in Freedom Summer and its alignment with SIUE retention goals.

The transcript does not show a formal vote or funding decision tied directly to the Freedom School presentation in the provided excerpt.","SIUE presenters told trustees the Freedom School program expanded from 50 to 150 students across three sites in 2025 and reported that 84% of participants maintained or improved reading skills and that parents reported increased confidence and civic engagement.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6464142,"SIUE union urges trustees not to reappoint chancellor, cites spending and retaliation concerns",353,957000,1310000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784405-3cabe96d226c8f8b1a8698ac5471e35a&start=957&end=1310","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784405-3cabe96d226c8f8b1a8698ac5471e35a/thumbnail_957000.jpg","/articles/6464142/Illinois/SIUE-union-urges-trustees-not-to-reappoint-chancellor-cites-spending-and-retaliation-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464142-8c46b80880a13e0937488a748b492866/orig.mp4?Expires=1774861646&Signature=MUmuztzzWJ0JaPFCwmZSwq3hmr~YxI-YZgvGdkcZWC5HyP6hThNvILZlBaJzcvZVkkDQQMn7-zlIbCgJy9oDOE~dXwW56FDLT8t~scUXiPcFdgqwK1-Z49QKJF7uQfQxmopZV4T~mt4cNxzAYhow57BdmIIRfHHkjHdFM3vZR5hdbs043oKQZb~ywTs1pNyq3g7ThTDH9Xx25aBT0Fu75N-tIQMZCT1yBcCg-m47Msn3FOlqEu~jyhRkR8JwM-UpTF7nwERQXYjsVrnDGTAeaolXYC7CWRO~rnxqUXqQ6nhy1krrg0bQNDLCRZPBEGGuLBxjK~Yrh25cocDtuNRkUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Amy Bodenstead, representing AFSCME Local 2887 Council 31, told the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees during public comment that Chancellor James T. Minor should not be reappointed.

Bodenstead said the chancellor “has consistently ignored the expertise and input of SIUE employees” and accused him of decisions that waste university funds and harm morale. “He has demonstrated no real interest in our students, their welfare, or the long term health of this university,” Bodenstead said.

The union speaker cited several specific complaints: a branding effort based on what she described as a survey of about 100 students that led to repainting a water tower and replacing signage; disposal of logo merchandise rather than discounting it; what she described as roughly $500,000 in water-tower repainting costs and other rebranding expenses; and a proposed “about a million dollars” purchase of cushioned outdoor seating for the quad. Bodenstead also said wrapping placed on fire-rated doors and metal banner frames attached to building exteriors raised safety concerns and that quad lighting installations were reportedly called out by the fire marshal as not meeting code.

Bodenstead alleged the university architect was demoted after raising safety concerns and said staff who report problems face retaliation or removal. She described hiring freezes in many departments while higher-paying, nonposted positions were created, and said temporary agency hires were used instead of filling building service positions. She also told trustees the university’s accounting system is “decades old” and that administrators have not produced an itemized budget for transparency.

The AFSCME representative closed by urging trustees not to rehire Chancellor Minor, saying reappointment would “send a devastating message to employees, students, and their families.” The speaker said the union had emailed a statement to the board and wished to ensure it was heard before the meeting concluded.

The remarks came during the board’s public-comment period; the transcript does not record a response from the board or any formal action on the chancellor’s appointment during the meeting.

Clarifying details from the public comment include the union’s estimates (about $500,000 for the water tower repainting and other rebranding costs, and a cited proposal of roughly $1 million for outdoor seating), the union’s claim that a survey of about 100 students was used to justify rebranding, and multiple allegations of unsafe building modifications and retaliation reported by staff.

The board’s agenda later included other items — campus presentations and the FY26 operating budget discussion — but no recorded vote on the chancellor’s employment appeared in the provided transcript excerpt.","AFSCME Local 2887 told the Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees that Chancellor James T. Minor has engaged in wasteful spending, unsafe changes to campus facilities and retaliation against employees and urged trustees not to rehire him.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

SIU trustees hear FY26 budgets show balanced finances after multi‑year deficits; board moves to executive session on personnel and litigation

SIUE expands Freedom School to three sites; presenters report improved reading outcomes

SIUE union urges trustees not to reappoint chancellor, cites spending and retaliation concerns