Board previews 2025'26 calendar and hears budget, mill-rate update; graduation date proposed for May 29

The Pecatonica Area School District board reviewed a proposed 2025'26 school calendar and heard preliminary budget information at the October meeting.

Doctor Scott told trustees the calendar was developed with input from administration and the superintendents council. Key proposals include starting the school year after Labor Day at the general contractor's request because elementary construction will run late, moving to one earlier monthly release (elementary at 12:15 p.m., secondary at 12:40 p.m.) to allow staff professional learning until 4 p.m., and repositioning spring break around Easter. Administration recommended scheduling graduation for May 29, 2026, rather than the earlier date that conflicts with Memorial Day weekend, and said the item will return for a formal vote in November.

On the budget, Doctor Scott previewed the district's 2024'25 budget and shared a preliminary mill rate of $9.52, down from $10.77 the prior year. He explained the reduction reflects property value changes across townships (from roughly 3% in some areas to as much as 26% in others) and reminded trustees that some referendum-related costs and additional furniture/technology expenses remain outside the $15,000,000 general contract. He also reported outstanding lunch balances of $10,393 and outstanding fees of $6,703, which continue to pressure the food-service fund.

Trustees asked clarifying questions about instructional days and hours, transparency on early-release and half-day listings, and potential conflicts with neighboring districts' graduation schedules. The calendar will return in November for a vote; no final fiscal votes were taken on the mill rate at this meeting.

Administrators invited board members to a construction tour and asked trustees to consider attendance at an operations-committee session scheduled for Nov. 4.