It is the time of year when school boards put on file their upcoming year's budgets and a Piatt County district is on their fifth straight balanced budget.

Dr. Sheila Greenwood, Superintendent of Bement Schools says they are fortunate to be able to make that claim after the position the state put Illinois districts in.

According to Dr. Greenwood, the district faced some very hard times and she and the Board of Education set goals to get themselves turned around. She will retire after the next school year and wants to leave the district in good financial standing.

Like most rural school districts, Bement schools rely on local tax dollars. Dr. Greenwood says they work hard to keep the balance of not asking too much of the taxpayers but taking care of students at the same time.

Dr. Greenwood says getting the district back on sturdy financial footing has allowed them to give their staff the ability to dream big and she feels that is only benefiting the youth of the district.