District overview
Summersville School District 79
Funding structure, how it compares to peers, and where major projects stand.
How Summersville Grade School is paid for and who decides
Summersville School District 79 runs one school, Summersville Grade School, which serves about 260 students in grades K-8 near Mount Vernon in Jefferson County, Illinois. Most of its classroom money comes from the state: in the FY2027 budget, about $2.06 million of the $3.36 million in Educational Fund revenue is state aid. Local property taxes add about $0.93 million and federal grants $0.37 million. An elected seven-member Board of Education meets monthly and votes on every hire and expense. Superintendent Kim Matthews plans to retire after 2026-27.
State aid is the biggest source
About 61% of Educational Fund revenue in FY27 comes from the state, and about 28% from local property taxes.
Small deficit, healthy savings
The Educational Fund plans to spend about $83,000 more than it takes in, from a starting balance of about $3.23 million.
Seven-member elected board
Jay Tate is president, Sarah Henninger vice president and Andrea Shupe secretary. Members vote by roll call on each item.
Shared services
Special education and food service come through Franklin-Jefferson Counties Special Education (FJSPED), under a joint agreement the board renewed in May 2026.
The state budget form calls the FY27 budget balanced under its rules, and no deficit-reduction plan is required.
Where the district stands
Federal NCES Common Core of Data, not a collected district document.
Major projects
Superintendent search
in progressSuperintendent Kim Matthews will retire at the end of 2026-27. The board posted the job for 2027-28 and listed hiring action on its October 2026 agenda.
- Retirement letter accepted; job posted
- Hiring action on agenda
- New superintendent expected
Funding
Operating budget
Health/life/safety and maintenance projects
in progressAfter the 10-year health/life/safety survey by Baysinger Architects, the board approved doors, fire strobes, siding, a canopy, HVAC units, kitchen plumbing and gym-roof work in spring and summer 2026.
- 10-year survey certified
- Doors, strobes, siding, canopy approved
- HVAC, kitchen and roof approved
- Survey amendments certified
Funding
State school maintenance grant and district funds
Recent news
Built from the board's agendas and minutes (November 2025 to October 2026) posted as public Google Docs on the district website, plus the FY27 budget and administrator salary report.
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