At its December 3 meeting, the Coal City Community Unit School District 1 Board of Education approved the 2025 tax levy.
The Board adopted a levy of $34,901,092 [excluding bond and interest] in anticipation of potential additional revenue related to the GE-Hitachi spent fuel property. The District has filed an assessment complaint with the Board of Review regarding that property. By levying for the full amount now, the District preserves its ability to capture additional funds should the property’s assessed value increase. Once the Board of Review issues its decision, the Board will be able to adjust the levy downward if necessary.
Although the 2025 levy represents a 19 percent increase over last year’s levy, the District expects that the tax bill on a $200,000 home will remain approximately the same in 2026 as it was in 2025. This is because a tax bill is determined by both the levy and the District’s Equalized Assessed Valuation [EAV]. If the Board of Review issues a favorable EAV for the GE-Hitachi property, the overall District EAV would rise further. An increased EAV helps offset the levy increase and could result in a reduced tax rate for District 1 taxpayers.
In other matters from the December meeting:
- Approved a new 5 year contract for Superintendent Chris Spencer that will take him to retirement in June 2031.
- Employed Samantha Guistat and Samantha Harsh as classroom aides at the Early Childhood Center.
- At the recommendation of Middle School Athletic Director Rodney Monbrum, the Board approved volunteer wrestling coaching assignments to Jacob Hiles and Ryan Wazilewski.
- High School Athletic Director Brad Boresi recommended and the Board approved six volunteer wrestling coaches—Zach Berman, Joey Breneman, Zach Finch, Bob McGuinn, Nick O’Bert and Brant Widlowski.
- Health Savings Account contributions were made by the Board to the superintendent, chief school business official, director of curriculum and instruction, director of student services, building principals and assistant principals, high school athletic director, director of buildings and grounds, administrative assistant to the superintendent and community relations specialist.
- The Board recognized IHSA State Tennis qualifier Rebecca Hall and the 2025 Boys Soccer Team on its historic year and third place finish at the IHSA State Finals.
- Jennifer Kenney, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction, presented the 2025 standardized tests scores.
- A second reading on nearly 100 revised district policies was held. The proposed revisions will be taken under consideration for a vote at the January 2026 Board meeting.
- A mid-year graduation request was approved.
- Board members accepted a donation of $12,823.96 from the Coal City Soccer Club. The donation covers the cost of the co-ed soccer program at Coal City Middle School. Implementation of a middle school program was proposed by the local soccer club and it agreed to fund the first three years. This was the third year of the program being funded by the youth athletic club.
- Jason Smith, chief school business official, was reappointed as the district's Freedom of Information [FOIA] and Open Meetings Act [OMA] officer for calendar year 2026.
- The superintendent presented the process of developing the school calendar and provided the Board with an update on the work being done to set the 2026-2027 school calendar.
- Board members were presented with information regarding known certified staff openings for next school year and discussed posting those positions.
The Board of Education is scheduled to convene for its monthly study session on Wednesday, Dec. 17. The next regular monthly meeting of the Board will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. Both meetings will be held in the Board Room of the District Administration Center beginning at 6 p.m.