Neoga Board Discontinues Extra-Curricular Programs Unless Donated Funds Can Be Raised

The Neoga Board of Education Wednesday voted to not fund extra curricular programs for the coming school year.

Specifically, the motion covers all sports programs and the directors of school musicals.

That means no sports would be offered at Neoga in the coming school year unless funds are donated to cover the cost.

However, Brad Keck of the Neoga Booster Club told board members at the meeting that they plan to work to raise the funds to keep the programs afloat.

Superintendent Beth Pressler said deadlines will be imposed by which funds to pay the volunteers and cover other costs must be available. The funds would be contributed to the District, which would pay the volunteer coaches to address insurance concerns.

The decision is the latest in a series of austerity moves by the Neoga district as work continues to dig the district out of a financial hole.

The Board also voted to eliminate the district's Agriculture and Industrial Arts programs. A retired teacher and and a longtime substitute teacher had served as instructors for the programs so the programs could be eliminated even though the deadline to RIF teachers has passed. Board members also approved the resignations of middle school Language Arts teacher Lacy Althoff and of custodian Richard Clayton, who have taken jobs with the Effingham Unit 40 school district. Their positions had been eliminated during earlier dismissals. The Board also recalled their speech pathologist to fulltime status so the pathologist can be shared with the Stew-Stras district.

There was good news at the meeting. The Board approved the lease of the Neoga Elementary School building by Quality Network Solutions of Sullivan. The business owner, Mel Workman, agreed to lease the building for two years at $12,000/year. Workman pastors Neoga Christian Church and plans to use the building for the Clothesline ministry of the church and for community theater productions.

The project will only utilize one wing of the school building. Workman and the District agreed to maintain the school district's Pre-K program in the other wing of the building. Pressler said the move would save the District some $30,000 in renovation costs to make space in the high school building suitable for Pre-K students. The two parties will split utility costs.

The Board authorized the issuance of an Educational Purposes Tax Anticipation Promissory Note. The action would make available a line of credit of up to $1 million to the District. Pressler said the note is issued with the District's promise to make cuts of up to $750,000 to get the district's books balanced. As envisioned, Pressler expects the District to use up to $605,000 of the line of credit, to be paid off when property tax dollars arrive later this year.

Meanwhile, Pressler continues to work for the district under terms of a two-year agreement. Pressler, who is retired as a fulltime administrator, can work up to 100 days/year without her retirement being affected. She said there is much more to do, more than can be done with her working two days a week. That means a realignment of administrative duties, and she expects that to be discussed at the Board's meeting next week.