Board unanimously approves consent agenda, advertises 2026 budget notice and OKs activity bus purchase

The School Town of Munster Board of School Trustees approved several routine but consequential items by unanimous vote at its September meeting, including the consent agenda, permission to advertise the proposed 2026 budget and the purchase of an activity bus.

The board approved the consent agenda — items 4.1 through 4.7, which included minutes, accounts payable and payroll voucher registers, personnel actions, overnight field trips, and a package of donations and fundraisers — by a 5-0 roll-call vote.

On the budget, Chief Financial Officer Bill Melby asked the board to give permission to advertise the proposed 2026 budget and related notices to taxpayers for the capital projects plan and bus replacement plan. Melby reviewed recent tax-rate history and said the district has kept rates below the level previously discussed during a referendum cycle. “I believe we will come in at approximately a dollar 27, between a dollar 27 and a dollar 28,” Melby said. The motion to advertise the proposed 2026 budget passed 5-0.

The board also approved Project 2020-5-525 — the School Town of Munster activity bus replacement — to replace an aging 2012 activity bus commonly used by clubs and athletic teams. The motion passed 5-0.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (items 4.1–4.7): approved 5-0. Motion recorded on the minutes; items included minutes, payroll and vouchers, personnel report, overnight field trips, donations (including Faith Kids donation of $1,781), and approved fundraisers. - Permission to advertise the 2026 proposed budget, capital projects plan and bus replacement plan: approved 5-0. - Project 2020-5-525 (activity bus replacement): approved 5-0.

Board members expressed informal appreciation for district programs and staff during the motions’ discussion; no amendments to the motions were recorded.