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Columbia CUSD 4 board declines CCSI cooperative, approves tentative levy and SRO agreement
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Summary
The Columbia CUSD 4 Board voted to decline participation in the Career Center of Southwestern Illinois cooperative, citing cost and information gaps, and approved routine business including the 2025 tentative tax levy, an updated school-resource-officer IGA, the year-of-service record and the 2026 graduation date.
The Columbia CUSD 4 Board of Education voted to decline joining the Career Center of Southwestern Illinois (CCSI) cooperative after administrators told the board they lacked key details about membership costs and course offerings.
In a presentation, the assistant superintendent said current district participation at CCSI would be expensive on the figures available: using the district’s present enrollment basis, the administration estimated a projected assessment figure that — in the packet — contrasted strongly with a far lower cost to attend Collinsville Career Center (roughly $11,000 for four students) versus an $88,565 figure shown for CCSI under the updated numbers. The assistant superintendent recommended not signing the proposed lease and instead expanding internal vocational pathways or pursuing partnership with Collinsville.
After discussion about how CCSI charges districts based on district size (not participation level) and the lack of a formal course catalog from CCSI, a board member moved to decline the intergovernmental agreement and the motion carried by roll call.
The board also handled multiple routine agenda votes. Administration recommended and the board approved the 2025 year-of-service record and the district’s 2025 tentative tax levy (the 4.95% extension the administration said the district typically requests; the board will adopt a final levy in December). The superintendent noted the 4.95% extension is below the 5% threshold that would trigger a public hearing under state procedures.
Separately, the board approved an updated intergovernmental agreement with the city for a school resource officer (SRO). Administration noted recent state changes reduced SRO authority to issue certain citations (for example, vaping tickets), which had previously acted as a deterrent in the schools. Board members questioned the district’s cost share (about 75% of the officer cost, for an estimated 42 hours per week) and were told the summer schedule affects the proportion paid. The board approved the updated SRO IGA.
Other actions: the board set graduation for Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 1 p.m., and approved the consent agenda that included two personnel leaves (a one-year leave for Alexis Schlemmer, CHS assistant softball coach, and a Cafeteria leave for Pauline Dowell, Dec. 22–Apr. 13).
Board members asked for a Collinsville Career Center representative to present in December so the board could evaluate that alternative pathway. The board scheduled an executive session later in the evening for personnel matters and adjourned following that session with no action taken.
The votes described above were taken by roll call; formal documentation and the final levy will appear in the December meeting packet.
