The Fieldcrest Board of Education discussed the possibility of a tax referendum next April. The district is facing a $1.5 million
dollar deficit and needs to come up with a solution in order to meet the operating needs of the school district for the coming years.
Superintendent Michael Stagliano said that expenses normally increase 4.5 percent each year. He expects the district will be operating
in the red unless an additional source of funding can be provided. The board feels that it will need the extra funds from a tax referendum
along with money from an estimated $600,000 in working cash that can be moved into the education fund. The school board is considering raising
the education fund rate by .60 which will raise the rate on property tax from $2.97 per $100 in accessed property value
to $3.57. Stagliano said that if serious cuts can be made by March, then the .60 increase will be sufficient, else a $1.00
increase might be needed.
The board has until January 27 to place the referendum on the ballot.
In other news the board appointed Jessica Stremlau as the 7th grade girls' volleyball coach for East,
and Derek Renz as the freshman boys' basketball coach at the high school.
The board accepted a bid of $71,000 for the old Fieldcrest Elementary West property from Phil McCulley of Toluca.
October 27
Former Woodford County Sheriff Bill Meyers received a 3 year prison sentence for misuse of
sheriff's department credit cards amounting to over $200,000. Meyers resigned last November after
the start of an investigation by the Woodford County States Attorney. Meyers was accused of spending
the money on personal items including visits to area strip joints. He pleaded guilty last July
to federal money laundering charges and mail fraud.
U. S. District Judge Michael Mihm rejected Meyers claim that the money was used to feed a gambling addiction citing the
fact that Meyers had spent the money on personal items including over $20,000 for motorcycles. He
was ordered to repay $233,816.51 to Woodford County. Meyers will begin serving his sentence on
November 25 and will be eligible for parole after 31 months.
The Fieldcrest High School building was broken into early Tuesday morning around 3:30 a.m. The suspects
apparently entered through the cafeteria window (small) which they broke out.
They then broke out some glass in the high school office door which set off the alarm. No other damage or items were stolen.
Woodford county investigators were on the scene and took evidence. According to Superintendent Michael Stagliano
everything has been repaired. He said that they will be looking into increasing security.
Fieldcrest blew away Woodland 48-0 Friday night at South Streator. Quarterback Shaun Manning
led the Knights with 5 touchdown passes and 311 yards passing. Jordan Castrejon scored three touchdowns, two
of them on pass receptions from Manning. Jarrod Browning, Patrick Patterson and Kevin Orabutt each scored
a touchdown to complete the scoring. Fieldcrest has a 4-5 overall record with a 2-3 record in the Midstate North.
Next month