Mahomet-Seymour board approves Vision 2030 resolution, moves to issue up to $4.8M in health-life-safety bonds and approves related contracts

The Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3 Board of Education on Jan. 21 held a public hearing under the Bond Issue Notification Act about the district’s intent to issue up to $4,800,000 in health life safety (HLS) bonds and approved several related actions, including HLS amendments and an architect services contract.

“We are required to have a…Bond issue notification act hearing,” Heather Smith, the district’s chief school business official, told the board as she outlined the process for selling the bonds and answering public questions. Smith said the district will distribute a bid package to potential buyers and receive bids on Feb. 12; the district does not yet know the final interest rate the bonds will carry.

The board recorded that the proposed HLS borrowing would be for items carried over from earlier approvals and additional work not covered by ESSER grant funds. Smith said the two-year bonds would cover a group of projects that together total just under $4.8 million, including a roughly $800,000 reimbursement for control-system work. The two-year structure reflects the district’s plan to repay within two years and to seek a referendum in 2026 to complete the work and restore bond capacity for future projects.

At the same meeting the board approved two HLS amendments that had already been entered into the HLS system: exterior soccer bleachers at about $31,000 and football visitor bleachers and east-side band bleachers at about $130,000. The board also approved a contract with BLDD Architects for architectural services related to the HLS amendments; the contract amount was described in board materials as about $325,000 to provide design and stamped plans for the portfolio of HLS projects.

Board members discussed portability of new bleachers and whether some units should be movable to allow flexibility; facilities staff (Damian) said they were exploring portable options.

In separate votes the board approved the Vision 2030 resolution (a district-level resolution to support state-level education priorities), renewed a three-year service agreement with Carl Therapy Services for post-employment screenings, approved the 2026–27 school calendar, renewed an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois State Board of Education to continue hosting visiting international teachers, and authorized Chief School Business Official Heather Smith to begin preparing the tentative fiscal year 2026 budget. The board moved into a closed session later in the meeting for personnel and safety/security matters.

Votes at a glance

- Vision 2030 resolution — Motion: “Approve Vision 2030 resolution as presented.” Moved and seconded. Roll-call: Bannister: Yes; Bowman: Yes; Lamb: Yes; McComb: Yes; Rock: Yes; Severance McMurray: Yes. Outcome: approved.

- Public hearing on HLS bond intent — The board conducted the Bond Issue Notification Act hearing about issuing up to $4,800,000 in HLS bonds; no petition period required and no vote beyond conducting the hearing was recorded. Outcome: hearing conducted; Smith to proceed with submission of bid package and receipt of bids on Feb. 12.

- Health Life Safety amendments — Motion: “Approve Health Life Safety amendments as presented.” Roll-call: Bannister: Yes; Jordan: Yes; Lamb: Yes; McComb: Yes; Rock: Yes; Severance McMurray: Yes. Outcome: approved. Details: soccer bleachers ~$31,000; football visitor + east band bleachers ~$130,000.

- Contract with BLDD Architects — Motion: “Approve contract with BLDD Architects for services related to HLS amendments.” Roll-call: Bannister: Yes; Jordan: Yes; Lamb: Yes; McComb: Yes; Goff: Yes; Severance McMurray: Yes. Outcome: approved. Contract amount described as about $325,000.

- Service agreement with Carl Therapy Services — Motion: “Approve service agreement with Carl Therapy Services as presented.” Roll-call: Bannister: Yes; Jordan: Yes; Lamb: Yes; McComb: Yes; Rock: Yes; Severance McMurray: Yes. Outcome: approved. Term: three-year renewal; purpose: post-employment screenings for student services and custodial staff.

- 2026–27 school calendar — Motion: “Approve the 2026–27 school year calendar as presented.” Roll-call: Bannister: Yes; Jordan: Yes; Lamb: Yes; McComb: Yes; Rock: Yes; Severance McMurray: Yes. Outcome: approved. Staff vote on calendar choice was reported at about 65.6% in favor with 53 responses.

- Intergovernmental agreement with Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) — Motion: “Approve intergovernmental agreement between ISBE and Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3.” Roll-call: Bannister: Yes; Warren: Yes; Ma'am (Bowman): Yes; Nicole: Yes; Brock: Yes; Severance McMurray: Yes. Outcome: approved. Program: visiting international teacher program; district currently hosts two visiting international teachers (one at the junior high and one at the high school).

- Authorize CSBO to begin FY26 tentative budget — Motion: “Authorize Heather Smith to begin preparation of the fiscal year 26 tentative budget.” Roll-call: Bannister: Yes; Jordan: Yes; Lamb: Yes; McComb: Yes; Rock: Yes; Severance McMurray: Yes. Outcome: approved.

Board discussion noted that final bond terms depend on bids and market rates; Heather Smith told the board the district will invite local buyers to bid and expects to learn the actual rate when bids are opened on Feb. 12. The board and staff discussed timing and the district’s plan to use a short, two-year repayment schedule, with hope of passing a referendum in 2026 to support longer-term financing. Several board members said safety and updated systems in aging buildings (some systems dated to the 1950s–1960s in the materials) made the work urgent.

No legal challenges or petitions were filed at the hearing during the meeting.