Peotone Board of Education Meeting | October 20, 2025

The Peotone Board of Education meeting on Monday, October 20, 2025, was dominated by public comment as parents voiced outrage over an alleged assault at the high school homecoming dance and residents criticized the administration’s handling of a multi-million dollar budget deficit. Parents claimed major security failures led to a student being attacked by a non-student, while others argued that a proposed $200,000 budget cut was an inadequate response to a $4.5 million shortfall. More details on the homecoming incident and the budget debate can be found in separate articles.

In official business, the board appointed veteran district educator Brian Cann as the new Director of Instructional Technology. The administration also announced new three-year academic goals aiming for 70% proficiency in English and 50% in math by 2028.

Dawn Love Takes Acting Board President Role
Dawn Love, formerly the board’s vice president, has assumed the role of acting president following the resignation of Rick Uthe. Love acknowledged her new responsibilities during the meeting, stating her goal is to prioritize students, staff, and the community as the board faces difficult decisions regarding the budget and filling the vacant board seat. The board met in closed session to discuss applicants for the open position.

District Recognizes September ‘Go Big Blue’ Honorees
The district celebrated its first “Go Big Blue” Spotlight honorees for the September theme “Begin with Goals.” Staff members recognized for their dedication were Madison Burling (PHS), Sandy Voss (PJHS), Rebecca LeFevers (PIC), Alex Vinezeano (PES), and Jen Haag (District). Student honorees included Diego Hernandez (PHS), Gianna Krapf (PJHS), Logan Shanahan (PIC), and Birdie Wright (PES).

Special Education Cost Clarifications
Director of Special Services Crystal Johnson addressed the board to clarify figures regarding the cost of out-of-district special education tuition, stating a recent news article contained inaccuracies. Johnson refuted a claim that the district pays “millions” in private tuition, noting the approximate annual cost after reimbursements is just under $500,000. Following a discussion with board member Ashley Stachniak, Johnson agreed to provide a more detailed historical breakdown of outplacement spending and reimbursements at a future meeting.

Superintendent Announces New Community Engagement Series
Superintendent Brandon Owens announced the launch of a new “Who We Are” monthly engagement series, set to begin on October 22. The noon-hour meetings, available in-person or virtually, are designed to give the community an opportunity to learn more about district operations, ask questions, and provide feedback. Owens reported that at least 15 individuals have already signed up to participate.

Students Leading Pledge Suggested
Board member Ashley Stachniak proposed having students lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of future board meetings. She suggested it could be a fun way to involve students, perhaps as a behavioral incentive or through a competition. The board appeared receptive to the idea.