Columbia CUSD 4 board approves 2025–26 budget, hires English teacher pending Illinois certification

The Columbia CUSD 4 Board of Education approved the district's 2025–26 school budget and confirmed a consent-hire for an English teacher at its meeting, with no members of the public speaking on the record.

Administration told the board the budget figures shown are conservative and that large deficits primarily reflect capital projects and bond accounting. “This is a conservative estimate,” the presenter said, noting a reported $29,000,000 deficit in capital projects driven by bond funding being recorded separately from operating revenue. The presenter added that smaller deficits — about $200,000 for tort and $429,000 for health and life‑safety — are also tied to construction projects.

The board approved a consent-agenda recommendation to hire Jennifer Van Bruesen as a full‑time high‑school English teacher pending the transfer of her Illinois certification. The presenter said Van Bruesen, who subbed that day, holds a master's degree and has experience working with gifted-and‑talented students in Missouri schools. The presenter said she will be placed on the district pay scale as a first‑year teacher while her certification paperwork is completed.

Board members asked whether Van Bruesen could work as a substitute while certification is pending and whether she was qualified for Advanced Placement instruction. The presenter said she had not yet taken AP-specific coursework but could do so over the summer and that students would still have opportunities to earn course credit and take end‑of‑course tests.

There were formal votes on the consent agenda and the budget. During roll call for both items, Noreen Friedrich was recorded absent; Andrea Corey, Adam Himkin (transcript shows variant spellings), Kelly Moyer, Greg Meyer, Lisa Schumacher and Tyson Search were recorded as voting yes. The presenter asked members to sign their vote forms before leaving.

No public comments or written correspondence were offered at the meeting. An enrollment report was circulated for board review but no enrollment numbers were discussed on the record.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (includes hire of Jennifer Van Bruesen): Passed; roll call recorded Noreen Friedrich absent, six yes votes from remaining members. - 2025–26 school budget: Passed; roll call recorded Noreen Friedrich absent, six yes votes from remaining members.

What happens next: Board members were asked to sign voting records before leaving; the transcript ends during a final roll-call exchange and does not capture any later adjournment of the regular meeting or additional follow-up steps.