Peoria board hears resident concerns about TIFs, receives audit and financial updates and approves multiple policy and personnel actions

The Peoria Public Schools Board of Education on May 11 heard public concern about tax increment financing (TIF) and took several administrative actions after receiving updates from district leaders.

During public presentations, Sarah Howard told the board that TIF districts can reduce the school district’s taxable growth and cited a 2018 total incremental EAV of $54,946,757 across 12 TIFs; she estimated the district’s foregone share closer to $30 million and urged the board to pursue carve-outs when new TIFs are created. The superintendent responded that the district works closely with the city on TIFs and noted both benefits and trade-offs of redevelopment tools.

Organic Like Life, the district’s food-service contractor, reported serving more than 2.5 million meals this school year and said it plans to provide roughly 80,000 additional meals during the summer to district and community sites.

Administratively, the board received an audit status update from the CFO: reconciliations for fiscal 2024–25 were completed with assistance from CLA and auditors have begun field work. The board also was introduced to incoming CFO Dr. Michael Curry, who said he will begin transitioning in early June and help manage next year’s audit work.

On financials, the district reported $185.1 million in year-to-date revenues through May 11 compared with $169.6 million as of April 27, and reported year-to-date expenditures of $203.4 million, with increases driven largely by salaries, benefits and utilities and by some state and federal grant receipts.

The board approved the April 27, 2026 meeting minutes (motion carried with recorded roll call and four ayes), approved the consent agenda with item 12 pulled for a separate vote, and approved administrator contracts as amended excluding several director-level positions. The board also considered an array of personnel and administrative policy updates (items labeled policy 5:140 through 5:185); the board voted to remove policy 5:160 (release of credit information) and to approve the other policy updates as presented.

Discipline items on the meeting report were approved, including expulsions and actions held in abeyance. Committee meeting dates for policy, buildings and grounds, and procurement were announced, and board members raised follow-up questions about grant funding for youth programs and the cost and length of summer programming.

The meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.