Lake County Gazette

During the March 2025 meeting of the Board of Education, Superintendent Chris Spencer announced that the Grundy County Board of Review decided not to adjust the equalized assessed value of the GE-Hitachi Spent Nuclear Fuel Plant in Goose Lake Township.

For several years, the Board of Education and other local taxing districts have filed assessment complaints seeking a higher valuation of this facility, which is the only permanent high-level radioactive waste storage site in the nation. The facility holds 3,217 fuel assemblies—equivalent to 773 metric tons or 1.7 million pounds of spent nuclear fuel—with most shipments coming from California, Connecticut, Minnesota, Nebraska, and some from the neighboring Dresden Nuclear Generating Station.

The current value assigned by the Board of Review stands at $6.13 million. However, both the School District and six other taxing districts believe this valuation is significantly lower than it should be.

"The levy extension will go from an estimated 20 percent to around 12 percent. The tax rate should drop another .5 percent for the third year in a row to around $3.37," said Spencer.

In other matters discussed during the March 5 meeting:

- Three bids were received for mechanical projects at Coal City High School. The Board approved awarding Construction Solutions of Illinois with a contract costing $232,723 including a $20,000 contingency.

- Raymond James & Associates will complete a required continuing disclosure report for $1,500.

- An update on Facilities Assessment Plan with district architect Cordogan & Clark was approved; last updated in 2018.

- A contract addendum with Performance Services related to repairs at Coal City Intermediate School was approved.

- The Board entered into a three-year agreement with FinalSite for website and mass communications services.

- Donations included $91 from Trotter Farms towards lunch programs; $1,010 from Constellation for Motion and Graphic Design course equipment; $2,456.15 from Grundy County as school site donation; and a Library Media Grant worth $1,644.33 from Illinois Secretary of State applied by Allison Peterson, high school librarian.

- Sprout Educational Services will continue providing physical therapy service s for one more year.

- Resignations accepted: Mikayla Lange (special education teacher) effective May 29; Kenneth Litchfield (early childhood center custodian) effective Feb 6.

- Employment approvals: Madilyn Barajas (early childhood center custodian) effective Feb.26; Emily Cloe (one-on-one special education aide) effective Feb. 17; Brian Elms (district custodian) effective Feb.26

- Certified staff employed for2025-2026 school year include Brianne Clavenna( kindergarten teacher); Hannah Shirkey( preschool teacher); Nicole Zralka( fine arts teacher)

- Extra-curricular resignations accepted include Chad Larson(middle school boy s basketball coach); Joel Micetich(assistant high school varsity girls basketbal l coach); Emily Halliday Trafton(sophomore volleyball & girls basketball coach)

- Coaching assignments approved: Ashton Harvey& Nolan Berger(freshman boys bas eball); Brad Schmitt(assistant varsity girls softball). Volunteer coaching appr ovals Shawn Hamilton(track& field )Justin Hayse(boys tennis)

- Middle school coaching approval Valarie Clark as track coach

Honorable staff dismissals were approved effective at close-of-school-year fo r three permanent substitutes part-time teaching position twenty-seven aide pos itions Student enrollment end-February was2172 Next Meeting Scheduled Wednesday April2 Study Session Wednesday March26 Both Meetings Begin6 pm District Admini stration Center Board Room