Madison Local board elects Sean Douglas president, approves tax budget and consent calendar

Sean Douglas was elected president of the Madison Local School District Board of Education and Michelle Hayes was elected vice president during the board’s organizational meeting Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. The board also approved its 2025 tax budget, appointed representatives to external bodies and approved a broad consent calendar that delegates several administrative authorities to the superintendent and staff.

The board voted unanimously on the leadership slate and on routine organizational items. In roll calls recorded during the meeting, each voting member recorded an affirmative vote for the agenda approval, the leadership elections, the meeting schedule, the appointments and the consent calendar. The board approved the tax budget and the other motions by recorded roll call votes with all voting members present voting yes.

Treasurer Sarah Palm presented the tax budget to the board and said she would submit the document to the Lake County auditor’s office the next day. "This is the tax budget that we do yearly at the organizational meeting," Palm said. She described the tax budget as the document that provides justification for levy proceeds, shows how levy funds will support the district and lists near-term debt requirements and sources used for the amended certificate of appropriations.

Among appointments the board approved, members named Sarah Palm as the board’s representative to the Tax…