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Zion District 6 board unanimously approves 2025 estimated tax levy, lease easement and staffing increase
Summary
At its Nov. 17 meeting, the Zion District 6 Board of Education unanimously approved the 2025 estimated tax levy, an amended lease and easement for the Start Early property, the addition of 2.0 FTIE for special education and the consent agenda, including two staff hires. Public comment raised concerns about taxpayer spending and CEJA grant implications.
The Board of Education for School District No. 6 (Zion District 6) on Nov. 17 approved a series of administrative and budgetary measures, including the district’s 2025 estimated tax levy, an amended lease and a grant of easement to ComEd for the Start Early property, and an increase of 2.0 full-time equivalent positions in special education.
All measures passed by roll call vote with unanimous support from present members. Denise Lear moved to approve the estimated tax levy resolution; Jacqueline San Diego seconded. The transcript records the board’s approval but does not state the levy amount. The amended lease for the Start Early property and a ComEd easement were approved on a motion by Denise Lear and a second by Jacqueline San Diego. The special education staffing increase was moved by Jacqueline San Diego and seconded by Robert Surano; the board approved adding 2.0 FTIE for special education staffing.
The board also approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from the Oct. 20 meeting and personnel recommendations. The superintendent recommended no resignations and the employment of Martel Adams as a paraprofessional at Lakeview Elementary (effective Nov. 3, 2025; Classified Step 1, $20.63 per hour) and Brenda Beasley as a Parent Liaison at Elmwood Elementary (extra-duty stipend of $10,000 for the 2025–26 school year). The consent agenda was moved by Robert Surano and seconded by Jacqueline San Diego and approved by roll call.
During public participation, resident Charles Fitzgerald expressed concern about taxpayer spending, potential impacts on the community tax rate and implications tied to the CEJA grant. The transcript records the concern but does not include a response from board members or staff. Staff member Julie Gentzen later thanked the board for supporting field trips and noted a planned ZCMS sixth-grade trip in January to Feed My Starving Children.
The meeting motions were consistent with board procedure: each action was made, seconded and approved by a roll-call vote with no nays recorded. Where statutory requirements were noted for personnel approvals, the superintendent’s recommendations were conditioned on completion of required medical exams, background checks and other items as required by the Illinois School Code.
President Margie Taylor and district administrators noted upcoming calendar items, including a Dec. 8 joint board meeting. The transcript records no amendments to approved motions and no further fiscal details for the levy or staffing budget offsets.
The board entered closed session later in the meeting for personnel-related matters; no actions taken in closed session were described in the public record. The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
