By Casey Jarmes | The News-Review
PACKWOOD – Following two public hearings in the same special school board meeting on April 28, the Pekin School Board approved a budget for the upcoming fiscal year centered on a property tax rate of $1.95688 per $1,000 of taxable valuation. In the public hearing prior to the vote, a local woman begged the board to not approve any budget that did not include funding for an elementary counselor, stating that students cannot focus if hungry, anxious or traumatized and that, without early intervention, there are increased disciplinary issues, worse grades, and a higher dropout rate. She noted a CDC study stating that ⅙ of children between ages two and eight have a diagnosed mental, behavioral or developmental disorder, and that Pekin is the only one of the twenty school districts in the Great Prairie AEA region without an elementary counselor. Board president J.J. Greiner stated that the district had a position for an elementary counselor posted online, but had received no applicants, as far as he knew. Elementary principal Liz Goodwin stated they had received an application in March. Greiner stated that they could always amend the budget if a counselor is hired.
The board also approved staff wage increases including an increase of 1.87%, 3.02% including insurance, for most sallaried employees; no increase for admin and central office staff; a raise to $15 for activities coaches; and a 50 cent increase for bus drivers, associates, and other hourly workers, except day care staff, which will be discussed at a later date.
