Panther Families,
We have officially turned the corner to the end of the school year. For those of you keeping track, maybe your children and maybe even the teachers, we have just 16 days of school remaining this year. And our Class of 2025 has entered the single digits of days of school remaining. As we wrap up the year, we have several end of year events, which includes many celebrations outlined in our Key Upcoming Dates at the end of this message.
Our Student Achievement
Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2025! You have been an incredible group throughout your time at LeRoy Schools and have been outstanding leaders in your four years at LeRoy High School, particularly in your Senior year. The whole community enjoyed the ride as you earned the fruits of your labor academically, in sports, and co-curricularly. You are a group for underclassmen and our youth to model themselves after. It is my hope that those who come after you see the work you have put in and the commitment you made to each other. The successes you have enjoyed would not have been possible without those two things. We are excited for this year’s graduates to enter the next phase of their lives. We are confident that these graduates have the Habits of Success and rich experiences from their entire PK-12 preparation to enter the college, career, or industry of their choice. I have no doubt that each of you will be successful however you define success for yourself. Wherever you go, whatever you do, and no matter how much time passes, you will always be Panthers.
Our Facilities
Property Services Director, Ed Underhill, will be retiring after 39 years of service to the school district. Mr. Underhill is a 1975 LeRoy High School graduate that bleeds maroon and gold more than anyone I know. Ed has served our community, not only in his maintenance role with the district, but as a volunteer LeRoy firefighter over the course of his lifetime. Ed Underhill IS LeRoy Schools. It is rare anymore to find anyone that serves in one place for four decades and, in society today, it seems unlikely that we will see commitment for an entire career or lifetime in the next generations. It simply doesn’t happen anymore. Ed has given countless hours to our district, often missing out on family time and vacations, in order to care for our facilities. When there is an emergency need, Ed is there. Just this past week at a home track meet, a parent shared with me that we had a toilet dripping water in the bathroom. I messaged Ed to let him know, said I would shut the water off after the meet, and he could check it out in the morning. Within 10 minutes, he arrived, tightened up a loose part, and left. Problem solved at 6:00 in the evening. I am proud to have been able to work closely with Ed over the past 18 years, but particularly the last three as superintendent. And I am forever thankful for his service to our school district. We are also excited to welcome Rod Noe as our new Property Services Director. While there is no replacing Ed Underhill, I am confident Rod will approach the role with the same level of care and pride as Ed.
Our Community Relations
Mrs. Angie Clarke will be retiring as a 1st grade teacher after 33 years working in the district. Many may not know, but others will remember that Mrs. Clarke began working in the district as a junior high Science and Health teacher. She then subbed for us before being hired as an elementary teacher where she would serve the next 32 years. Over three decades, Mrs. Clarke has taught hundreds of students, helping them master foundational skills in reading, writing, and math. But teaching 1st grade also takes a very special person to nurture student social and emotional growth. In her classroom, students learn the importance of kindness, empathy, friendship, good manners, respectful behavior, and sometimes even how to tie their shoes. Her teaching has always gone beyond academics. She has laid the groundwork for her students to become not just good learners, but good people. Generations of students have graced the desks in Mrs. Clarke’s classroom, and most have taken part in her annual May Day Basket delivery. Much like Ed Underhill IS LeRoy Schools, Angie Clarke IS 1st grade at LeRoy Elementary School. Mrs. Clarke’s legacy of learning and genuine love for her students will continue to live on in the lives of the students she’s touched, the colleagues she’s inspired, and the community she has served for over 30 years.
Our Finance
It is the time of year where we all begin receiving our property tax statements. We are fortunate in McLean County that our property values are growing, which is good for our economy. As a school district, we do not have any control over assessed property values. We do have some influence over the school district’s property tax rate, specifically with variable rate funds - this is where the County Sales Tax will help in our next levy. With this year’s tax levy, we were able to maintain our tax rate. While maintaining or decreasing the rate is a responsible act for our taxpayers (our investors in our children’s education), that does not necessarily mean your tax bill will go down.
Here is a basic way to look at it. With last year’s rate, $5.29 would be 5.29% of $100. Let’s say that the same $100 is worth $125 this year (example of growing property values). 5.29% of $125 would be $6.61. The rate stayed the same, the value went up, so we pay more.
With the passing of the County Schools Facility Tax, I have occasionally received the questions “When does the 1% sales tax start?” and “When are my taxes going down?”. The sales tax will be applied beginning July 1st. We will use revenues to lower the next tax rate for Fiscal Year 2027.
Tax Levies are set in December for the following year. So the tax bill you are receiving now is from the property values assessed in 2024, the tax rate set in December 2025, and money paid in the 2025-26 school year. At the time of the levy for the taxes you’re paying now, the CSFT had not even been voted on yet. A new property assessment cycle has begun and we start the process over. We should begin receiving CSFT revenue by the end of October. Once we start receiving revenue we can use that revenue stream to pay off existing bond and interest to lower the tax rate. That will occur as a part of our December Tax Levy to affect the tax bill you receive a year from now.
Turning the Corner to Next Year
The 2025-26 School Calendar is attached to this message. Some highlights include: August 13, 2025 - First Day of Student Attendance and May 20, 2026 - Last Day of Student Attendance. The remainder of the calendar aligns to the 2024-25 calendar pretty closely. One note for next school year is that we will be utilizing Remote Learning Days in lieu of traditional snow days that need to be made up. More details will be shared in the fall. While there could be circumstances where we may have to use traditional emergency days that do need to be made up, it is most likely that May 20, 2026 will be the last day of student attendance. Keep an eye on Skyward, Seesaw, District App, and Facebook throughout the summer for additional information about the 2025-26 school year.
Have a great end of the school year! Thank you for your continued support of LeRoy Schools.
Go Panthers!
Jeff Baughman
Superintendent
Key Upcoming Dates
May 5
Teacher Appreciation Week - LeRoy CUSD #2 recognizes and thanks all of our district employees
May 13
LIFE’s Got Talent
May 14
Senior Scholarship Awards Ceremony
May 16
Elementary End of Year Awards Assembly
Class of 2025 Graduation Walk at LeRoy Elementary School
May 18
LeRoy High School Graduation Ceremony
May 19
8th Grade Awards Assembly
May 20
Last Day of Pre-K
May 23
Last Day of After School Panther Care
May 26
No School - Memorial Day
May 27
Last Day of Attendance for Students
May 28
Teacher Institute Day
August 13
First Day of Student Attendance
Involved Community - Competitive Students - Productive Citizens