Herrin CUSD 4 board approves consent agenda, amends budget and OKs summer projects, hires and property purchase

The Herrin Community Unit School District 4 board on May 26 approved routine business items, amended its 2025–26 budget to reflect bond refinancing, authorized several summer facility projects paid by sales tax and grant funds, approved multiple personnel recommendations and voted to acquire property at 621 South 13th Street.

During the meeting, a presenter addressed the amended budget, saying the district’s bond refinancing processed last fall produced differences in premiums, bond interest and principal that exceeded the 10% threshold requiring a published minute and a corrective filing. The amendment the board approved was limited to adjusting bond interest and principal figures tied to that refinancing.

The board approved several summer projects including a rail fence around the high school parking lot (paid by sales tax funds), remodeling men’s and women’s bathrooms next to the high school commons (estimated at about $40,000 from the full service community schools grant), junior high playground completion and shade elements (roughly $40,000), and a second-level security door at Herrin Elementary (about $55,000 through a grant coordinated with the city). The presenter said playground and pre-K improvements are funded largely from a full service community schools grant and sales tax revenue.

By roll-call votes the board also authorized summer guidance hours, adopted the consent agenda, approved personnel recommendations (resignations and hires, including approval of Tiffany Young as a pre-K teacher), confirmed fall coaches for the high school, and approved the purchase of property at 621 South 13th Street in Herrin. The personnel items listed included the resignations of Amanda Coffee (paraeducator) and Lexi Barton (nurse), an employment recommendation for Cindy Fish, and postings for anticipated vacancies (paraeducator, a nurse for North Side Primary Center, and a junior high math teacher).

Board members moved and voted to close part of the meeting under the Open Meetings Act (citing section 122A and exceptions in 122C) to discuss student disciplinary cases, closed minutes, personnel matters (appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance and dismissal), litigation and land acquisition. The board also adopted closed minutes from the April 28, 2026 meeting.

The district announced a public budget hearing on the amended 2025–26 budget at the beginning of the June board meeting and said the amended budget will be available for public inspection in the unit office on May 27, 2026. The board adjourned; the next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the unit office conference room at 500 North 10th Street, Herrin.