Music >> Rameen Karbassioon: City Spotlight is supported by Consolidated Communications.

CCI is honored to salute the cities and their leaders in the area as well as providing TV, internet, and phone service to local homes and businesses.

We live where we work and are proud to support the communities we serve; more information available at consolidated.com.>> Rameen Karbassioon: Welcome to City Spotlight where we're focusing on east Central Illinois communities.

Today, we're talking about Neoga.

Dr. Beth Pressler, superintendent of schools of Neoga, will join us a little later in the program to tell us what's going on with Neoga schools.

But right now, we're joined by the city administrator of Neoga, Brenda Evans, welcome.

>> Brenda Evans: Thank you.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And before we get started with what's going on in Neoga, Brenda, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

>> Brenda Evans: Sure, I was born and raised in Neoga, and have worked with the city for over 20 years.

And the last 12 years, I have been the city clerk and city administrator.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: So, you're a native of Neoga, you've seen a lot transpire over the years, what are some of the things that you've noticed that have taken place over time that you can recall were moments that were notable for Neoga?

>> Brenda Evans: Neoga's a very small community, close knit, and we've noticed that in times of need, they are very good with working with everybody.

So, it's nice to see that in a small community.

Also, that new businesses have come in and seems to be growing.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And as you've mentioned, you've been a part of the city government of Neoga for 20 years, and the city administrator position since 2003, when it comes to the rules and regulations one that you had mentioned to me is that you deal a lot with zoning.

And first of all, what is zoning?

For the folks at home, and why is that an important thing that Neoga has to deal with a lot?

>> Brenda Evans: Zoning is a tool that communities use to help develop a community.

That way, it give us a little guidance on where businesses or residential and industrial locations can be in the targeted area.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And one thing also that you had mentioned to me is that Neoga's the only community in Cumberland County that deals with zoning.

Why is that?

>> Brenda Evans: The other counties-- the other communities and counties as well has not dealt with zoning.

We put our zoning in back in 1999 and since then we have been able to perspire from that.

We've been able to grow with it in many different ways, including our industrial park and our residential and commercial areas.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: So, we're talking mainly about geography, and where things can be put.

How have you seen-- how's that-- how is it changed from time to time since you've said it evolved in 1999 is when you implemented zoning.

How has-- how've things gone in those about 15 years?

>> Brenda Evans: It's helped us keep the residential areas without having commercial convenient stores or junkyards, anything like that, that's not pleasing in a subdivision or residential location.

Also, allows us to keep the schools in certain areas, the parks in certain areas, so that's it's more convenient.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And are you pretty, pretty restricted in where things can grow in and out of Neoga?

You do have a lot of farmland around you.

>> Brenda Evans: We have a lot of farm ground around us, and I wouldn't say we're constricted in anyway as far as where we can go, it's just finding our ground.

Our boundaries are very tight at this time.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: Okay, let's move on to the economic landscape in Neoga.

First of all, tell us a little bit about some of the existing businesses that have been there awhile, and then you have had a new couple have popped up in the last couple of years.

>> Brenda Evans: We have, we have had numerous businesses that have stayed there for years.

And that's including the banks; one of the banks has been there since practically the beginning of time.

We've had an IGA grocery store that's been there for years, but it has also transpired-- transferred from the previous owners to a new owners who has updated and has made their own imprint as far as that business goes.

We've got a new boutique in town; we have a new bakery that's recently been in town.

We also have Brighton Cabinetry is our manufacturer in town that has been there for a few years, and has actually expanding, double it's size.

We have a new nursing home in the last few years.

So, it's been a very good few years.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And how would you say that being right there off the interstate has helped Neoga in any way, shape, or form over time?

>> Brenda Evans: I think it's helped a lot when people just passing through for one reason or another, they've been able to see what kind of a small community can do for them.

Recently, last year, last winter, we had a horrible snow storm, and unfortunately there was a lot of people on the interstate that were stranded in our community for about four or five days.

And it was amazing what our community did to pull together to give them shelter and keep them safe and warm for those few days.

And we've had a lot of friends come from that.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And speaking of things off the interstate, you mentioned that you have an industrial park that is right there off Interstate 57 and Route 45, and how are you using that to get potential businesses?

>> Brenda Evans: Well, one of the businesses is the Brighton Cabinetry location there, and they're expanding.

We also have another approximately 40-acres that we can entice other businesses to come in.

We have another location, there's a nice pond there that they can utilize if they ever need to.

So, it's a nice location.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And could you briefly tell us a little bit about the Cumberland County Development Corporation and how that impacts Neoga?

>> Brenda Evans: Cumberland County Development Corporation is a countywide economic tool that we use.

They are able to give us training, they can help with current businesses as well as recruiting, they have a lot of resources for, I would say, enticing people to look at our community, so it's a nice tool to have.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: Let's move on to public works.

>> Brenda Evans: Sure.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And first off, let's talk about roads in Neoga, that's something that you mentioned you have to deal with annually.

>> Brenda Evans: We do, and our current council's been very good about designating almost $100,000 on top, in addition to our motor fuel tax dollars to keep our roads in nice, working condition, and up to what our residents expect.

So, it's always been really nice to have them in the shape that they are right now.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: Okay, a couple other things you could talk about involving public works, replacing water lines and the waste water treatment plant.

>> Brenda Evans: We are currently getting ready to start replacing one of the water lines on the east side of town.

We are working on grants, applying for some grants, to extend that replacement into other parts of that side of town as well.

And then we're going to work on our waste water treatment plant.

EPA is requiring us to do some things, so we're trying some new theories with that one there.

Also, we've got a grant for a Safe Routes to School program, sidewalks.

And that's going to connect three of our subdivisions that currently do not have sidewalks into town for safety and healthy reasons.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: Excellent; something to look forward to; let's move on to the Veteran's Memorial Park, that's something that you guys have been working on, raising funds for right now.

First off, tell us a little bit about that project, and where will it exactly be in Neoga?

>> Brenda Evans: The Veteran's-- the Neoga Veteran's Memorial Park is going to be located at the Jennings Park on the southwest corner.

It's going to have nice tablets in memory of all the veterans from Neoga who has served in any of the previous wars and things.

And then we're still collecting numerous names if anybody has any that needs to, please let us know, and we're collecting-- we're looking at just under $70,000 to build that.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: Do you have a target goal of when you'd like it to be complete?

Or you're just kind of going at the pace you are?

>> Brenda Evans: We would love to have it completed right away; however, funds are tight, and so we just do our little projects that we can throughout the year.

We've had fish frys, we've had spaghetti dinners, we've done breakfast at Neoga Days to raise funds, numerous different projects that we've done.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: All right, another thing to look forward to.

You also had mentioned Jennings Park there in Neoga; it's been there for quite awhile.

For those who haven't been to Jennings Park, tell us a little bit about the park, what it offers?

>> Brenda Evans: It's a beautiful wooded area that has a pavilion, numerous park projects and activities go on throughout the entire summer.

It's open for anybody that would like to use the pavilion, just get ahold of them and make sure that they have it free for a birthday party or a reunion or whatever there's-- it's a very nice park.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And briefly tell us a little bit about Neoga Days coming up in June.

It's a three-day event.

>> Brenda Evans: It is a three-day event, as with a festival.

There's local booths and activities going on, things from the parade is on Saturday afternoon, we have a carnival there for the three days, we have a beer garden in the last couple years that's been very successful, and just numerous tractor pull-- not tractor pull, I'm sorry, it's a tractor drive I think is what they call it for sure.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: All right, before we wrap up here with you, Brenda, I want to talk a little bit about the schools.

I want to ask you a question; Dr. Pressler will be on here in a little bit to talk about some of the things going on with those issues.

You're a native of Neoga, what do the schools mean to Neoga and the surrounding communities?

>> Brenda Evans: The city of Neoga understands how important it is to have a community with the school district.

And Neoga's such small that they are one of our biggest employers.

So, of course we're supportive of the board and the faculty and the students, and it's-- we understand the advantages and disadvantages that they're facing.

And any of the hurtles that may come up in the next few years.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: All right thank you, and my last question for you is, strengths of Neoga moving forward; what can you build upon?

>> Brenda Evans: Still working at marketing us, we're going to work very hard as far as getting new businesses in, which will just bring more people into the community.

We have a TIF fund, a business district, and we have a Relve Loan fund that currently there's two businesses that are using those funds to entice and make nice incentives for a new business to come in.

So, we see a lot of growth and positive things coming down the road.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: I want to thank you for coming on City Spotlight.

Brenda Evans, city administrator of Neoga, appreciate your time here.

>> Brenda Evans: Thank you very much.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And now, let's take a look at some of the upcoming activities going on in Neoga.

Music >> Rameen Karbassioon: We continue now on City Spotlight with the interim superintendent of Neoga schools, Dr. Beth Pressler, thank you for being here.

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: You're welcome; it's good to be here.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: Excellent, and before we get into the issues that are affecting Neoga schools at this time, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: My name is Beth Pressler; I am the interim superintendent at Neoga school district right now.

I am retired; I retired June 30th, of 2013.

Where I had been the superintendent for five-year period at Carrollton school district in Carrollton, Illinois.

I live in Jerseyville, which is north of Saint Louis by about an hour, so I'm a bit from you, bit away from you.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: Okay, so you've been dealing with the Neoga schools for just a short time now, a couple months.

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: Yes.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: As you told me prior to taping, you've had experience dealing with another school district that was in a similar situation as Neoga, if you can elaborate?

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: Sure, I'd be glad to, I was actually the superintendent at Triopia, which is up by Jacksonville, Illinois, and was contacted by Carrollton school board, board president at that time, they were looking for a superintendent, and that actually is my childhood school district.

I went there through my junior year in high school.

My mother taught in that district for years, and so I have a lot of loyalties and ties to it.

I was convinced that I should consider coming, and did so.

They were honest with me though; they knew they were in financial difficulty.

The truth is, and it's often the case, they didn't know how much trouble they were in.

In that situation, I learned after one week that we didn't have finances available to be able to play my employees within about a three-week period.

And so, I learned very quickly to scramble and what to do to address and emergency like this.

During that five years, they were five tough years.

People, of course, grieve and letting go of the things that they're used to, the status quo, those things are very difficult on people.

It's very difficult on a community.

And I found that to be the case when I was in Carrollton.

Even though it was my home community, I hadn't been there for 30 or 40 years, and they really did see me as an outsider.

So, we worked through those first several years with some tough changes.

By about year three, we were able to turn things-- turn the tide, and people could see the direction it was going.

I'm really proud of the work there.

The boards of education that I worked with there were amazing people, very dedicated, made some tough decisions, heard me, were willing to trust in me, and they went from a very precarious position to they've been in the black since, actually, you don't get your audit until after you get into the fall, late August, September, October, somewhere in there.

And so, when I left, June 30th, of 2013, I knew we were in good shape-- pretty good shape, but it was fun for me to hear then from the board press to call me several months later and say, not only do we have a balanced budget, you know, we're black in everything.

And they've been able to maintain that.

So, I'm very-- I'm excited for them, and I'm proud of the work that they did.

And quite honestly, when I was asked to apply for this job, it was-- you know, it was said, we know that you have the skill set that they so desperately need right now, and asked that I apply.

And I did, and came and met with them, and ended up making the decision to join them.

I've been there since February the 10th.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: Okay, short period of time.

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: Yes.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: So, tell us a little bit about the school district you're dealing with, how many schools, students, and staff you have in Neoga?

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: Okay, Neoga is a very similar size district to where I had been before.

The commonalities are just kind of amazing.

Similar budget size, similar student size, you name it.

So, there's about 660 students in the school presently.

I know that just a few years ago, they had closer to 1,000.

They've seen a steady decline in their enrollment, as most schools have to be perfectly honest.

Right now, the staff is about 110 or so.

We did have a recent reduction in force and there were 43 people impacted.

That doesn't mean 43 total jobs were lost, but 43 people were impacted, one-way or another.

It is a three-building school at present.

They've had-- they have beautiful buildings, exceptionally nice buildings.

And they went through a study prior to me arriving, and decided that because of their declining enrollment, in order to save more money, they closed one of the buildings.

So, the elementary building, which again, is a lovely facility, will be closing at the end of May.

And so, with that, naturally, you have reductions in positions there as well.

So, there are several contributing factors: closing of a building, going down to two buildings, which the middle school will become the new elementary.

The middle school age students will move back to the high school, which was originally built as a junior high-high school.

So, it'll all be on one campus, which obviously has benefits to it as well.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: Okay, I think you kind of answered some of my previous questions, but what has it been like to have to come into a school district and in such a short time frame, you've had to make some tough decisions?

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: We have indeed; we've been working hard and trying to work carefully.

I happened to work with a really dynamite staff.

I'm thoroughly enjoying working with the unit office staff and watching them grow.

It's been very impressive.

I'm also-- I've got to be honest, the administrative team, because I cannot be there every day, and because it's been such a short timespan, I have had to delegate and let them know I need this information, I need for you to audit this, this is what I want you to do, these are things I want considered, bring that information back to me, and so we've talked and worked through problems and problem-solved together.

I am terribly impressed with the young administrators in that district.

They-- they're really an unusually talented, sharp crew.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And prior to taping, you gave me the example of what Neoga is going through and you compared it to pay day loans.

For our audience out there, can you explain what you meant by that?

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: Well Neoga, right now, when I got there, we-- I had been led to believe that they would not have enough money in the education fund by June in order to make payroll.

And most of your employees in a school setting are paid out of education fund.

When I got there, I had to get a better handle on it, and so I worked with a consultant from the state board of education, brought him in, asked are you seeing the same things that I believe I'm seeing?

And after working with him for a 10-hour day, we came to the conclusion that it's actually May when they would not have enough money for payroll.

So, in doing that, I now know that I've got to borrow money for May, June, July, August, September; that's a solid chunk of money to be able to bridge that gap for whenever the tax revenue starts to flow in.

So, when I compare it to pay day loans, if you think about the ads you see on TV, and you always think, oh my God, please don't let that be me or anybody in my family that experience that.

But you see these people who go and take out a payday loan, because they can't pay bills, they can't make it for the months.

And so, they go in, they get the pay day loan, and then when they get paid and goes to check and they're going to offer it back and pay it off, but what you see then is that cycle starts where people then with interest starts eating them up alive.

Then, when they go to pay off the loan, they're also taking out the next loan the very same day.

And unfortunately, Neoga's in the position right now that when I borrow that money to get us through the summer, when my taxes come in in September and October, I'm going to be marching to the bank with that payment, but the honest truth is, I'll also be taking out another loan to be able to make the next payrolls.

And that is a cycle, this deficit spending cycle that they've gotten locked into now that's very, very dangerous.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: $992,000 in position cuts were made at the last school board meeting, that, as you clarified to me, is money not saved.

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: Correct.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: If you could explain the funds used for special education.

I understand those funds have to be reallocated and where will you be reallocating those funds?

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: Right, as you said, there's $992,000 of positions that were eliminated.

But of that, 352,000 of those jobs were related to special education services.

Whenever you make cuts in special ed.

spending, there's this thing called maintenance of effort that you have to demonstrate to the government that you are instead of spending it on paying for employees that we don't have the need for because we don't have the numbers to merit it, we instead are going to spend that money, we're going to reallocate, we're going to spend it elsewhere on those students.

So, what will that mean in our situation?

They have been in dire need of materials, equipment, etcetera, that they just have been starved from having.

They've been going for several years with doing without.

Teachers have been buying their own materials.

So, what you're going to see here is for those students who're in those special ed.

programs, you're going to see new instructional materials, you're going to see new books, you're going to see equipment brought into those classrooms to help children with disabilities.

You're going to see appropriate technologies brought in.

Perhaps iPads to work with small groups of children that, again, need those kind of skills.

You're going to see students beginning to become involved in living skills, developing living skills.

So, we're going to work on improving our programs and spend that money there to make it a better educational experience for those kids.

It's hard to let relatives, neighbors, friends, to dismiss them from a job.

That's hard on my board members, I get that, but I have also-- I understand and I believe they fully understand now that our job is to make certain that we're there to meet the kids' needs.

And that money needs to be spent on bringing the best equipment and resources to them.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And as we wrap up here, Beth, what is the next step in this entire process?

And moving forward, what needs to happen for Neoga schools to approve the current situation?

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: Well, obviously, we're watching the April 7th election very carefully.

Whether it passes or fails will make a tremendous difference in what happens, the direction that we take.

If it should pass, that puts $800,000 on the extension base, which will help us tremendously to have $800,000 of new revenue flowing into the district.

But it can't be one-sided.

You have to also reduce your spending.

And right now, my target for this year, going into next year, is to be able to cut a total of $750,000.

When you look at a 750 where I'm spending less, and 800,000 where I have new revenue, that gives me a 1.4, 1.5 span here where now I can work with the board to turn this situation around.

If those two things would occur at the same time, I believe that I can stop the deficit spending, and I can keep the borrowing money to make payroll down to two times.

If the referendum fails and I'm not able to find money elsewhere, the honest truth is, that cycle, that payday feel, is going to continue, and it will continue to erode the system.

You'll start to have a shell of a school district, you'll lose programs, you'll lose the things that make Neoga, Neoga, and obviously, you know, I'm here to-- to take them, not just get them back on their feet financially, but I'’’m also here to help them move the district forward, to improve instruction, and make it a go-to destination.

Neoga is positioned between Mattoon and Effingham, great little bedroom community situation; it's a charming place.

So, what I want to see happen is them not just get themselves back on their feet, but rebuild for a better, a better tomorrow, and they can.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: Well, thank you Dr. Beth Pressler, the interim superintendent of schools in Neoga.

Thank you for your time today and for sharing the information on the Neoga schools.

>> Dr. Beth Pressler: Thanks for having me.

>> Rameen Karbassioon: And that'll do it for this episode of City Spotlight, thanks for watching.

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We live where we work and are proud to support the communities we serve; more information available at consolidated.com.

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