Belleville high school district tables 1-cent tax vote

Longtime school board member John Kasper resigned on Monday night, adding more uncertainty to the possibility of the penny sales tax being on the November ballot.

The Belleville District 201 school board tabled a vote on whether to recommend the penny sales tax to be on the November ballot before the voters. That issue now goes back to the Finance Committee. Kasper was one of three members on that committee.

“We just felt like now was not the right time (to vote on the penny sales tax) given everything with the state,” said Jeff Dosier, District 201 superintendent.

Assistant Superintendent Brian Mentzer said the committee would review the greater impact the sales tax would have and report back to the board.

“In this case, I don’t know whether (the report) will come in August or not,” Mentzer said. “I think there are some things the administration and board want to consider and fully understand before we ask the board to approve it.”

The board next meets Aug. 15; districts that want the penny sales tax must approve it for the ballot by Aug. 22.

Under state law, approval by public school district boards that represent more than 50 percent of the student enrollment within the county must be gained in order to put the sales tax referendum on the ballot. With a total enrollment about 4,800 students, District 201 is one of the largest districts in the county. Belleville District 118 has just under 4,000 students; East St. Louis District 189 has more than 6,000 students. There are 28 districts in the county.

Dosier said he is not aware of which districts may have already approved the measure to the ballot, and specified that Belleville 201’s decision was not based on other districts.

“It’s in our best interests” to wait, he said, given the already confused state of how Illinois will fund schools.

The added sales tax, by state law, can be used on additions and renovations, security and maintenance, as well as for debt on construction or renovation of buildings. Any additional revenue generated can not be used for instruction, which includes salaries and textbooks, or operating costs.

Kasper and his family are moving to Minnesota, and he profusely thanked his family “for allowing me to make a difference” with the schools as well as thanking the district for the opportunities.

“John’s been a very positive member, especially of the finance committee,” Mentzer said. “He’s the kind of person who can be critical when he needs to be but you know he’s always got the right intentions when he’s asking questions.”

The district is seeking a Belleville Township High School District 201 resident to apply for the vacant position. Anyone interested should submit a letter of interest and a resume by noon on July 26 to the district, care of the Board Secretary, at 920 N. Illinois St., Belleville. The board will screen applicants for interview; the successful candidate will fill the unexpired term left by Kasper until the April 2017 election.

In other business

The district hired several part-time teachers, and moved one previous part-time teacher to a full-time position.

▪  Cory Schaab will be a part-time physical education teacher at Belleville East

▪  Joseph Beevis will be a full-time teacher’s assistant

▪  Ross Peters, a part time teacher last year, will be a full-time teacher at Belleville East

▪  Neal Eilers will be a part-time art teacher

▪  Lindsay Carban will be a part-time English teacher at Belleville West

▪  Marlene Cunico will be a part-time social studies teacher at Belleville East

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Belleville high school district tables 1-cent tax vote."