Board of Education Monthly Meeting Summary: September 2025

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, September 22, 2025, in the Liberty Middle School Auditorium for its monthly session.   

These are not the official meeting minutes and do not include every detail from the meeting, but rather a summary to assist the District #7 community. The official minutes can be found on the Board of Education Dilligent website once approved by the Board. 

Superintendent's Report 

• To provide accurate information and address questions from our community, the district has launched a new webpage called You Asked, District #7 Answered. This page serves as a trusted source for facts, helping to clarify rumors and answer common questions. Stakeholders are also invited to submit their own questions.  

• Upcoming dates:  

• No School – Monday, Oct. 13 

• Homecoming Parde – Wednesday, Oct. 15  

• Homecoming Football Game – Friday, Oct. 17 

• Parent-Teacher Conferences – Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 29-30 

• Teacher Institute Day (No School) - Friday, Oct. 31 

Graduation 2026 
A brief survey was sent to both EHS seniors and senior parents asking them to indicate their preference on where graduation should be held in 2026. There were 365 parent respondents with 82 percent preferring SIUE. Of the 135 students that responded, 61 percent opted for SIUE.  

2023 Bond Project Review 
Prior to the bond referendum, District #7 launched Engage District 7 in 2022 to involve the community in developing a long-range facilities improvement plan. The process included two community engagement sessions (eight total meetings) in October and November 2022, an online survey, a Midway meeting, five Facilitating Team meetings, two districtwide mailers, and two online surveys. 

Key Findings: 

• Community Priorities (CES 1): Building safety/secure access, roofs and infrastructure, and functional needs such as student services, specialty instruction, and 21st-century learning spaces. 

• Project Rankings (CES 2): 1) Double-entry doors at all schools, 2) Lincoln Middle School rebuild, 3) Hamel Elementary asbestos remediation/rebuild, 4) Midway Elementary repairs, 5) Expansion of EHS Commons, 6) Safe and accessible playgrounds, 7) Safe and accessible gymnasiums, 8) Media center renovations/builds. 

Progress to Date: 
The district has completed double-entry doors at all schools and the EHS Commons expansion. At Lincoln Middle School, the addition and 1st floor renovation of the 1925 section are complete, with further renovation/demolition planned for 2027. Hamel Elementary asbestos remediation is in concept design. Midway’s first phase of moisture mitigation is complete, with further evaluation underway. Columbus playground is complete, with remaining schools scheduled in the FY2027 O&M budget. Cost opinions have been received for the Columbus gym and the EHS media center. 

BLDD met with Hamel staff last week to gather feedback on the conceptual designs that have previously been shared. From that, it was determined that option 2, which would move the cafeteria to the northern pod, would not work with the distance students would have to walk from the kitchen/server area. The renovation at Hamel will continue to be refined and brought back to the board at an upcoming meeting. 

In action, the board approved:  

• The general commitment agreement to join the Southwestern High School Conference commencing on July 1, 2026, for a period of 10 years.  

• The intergovernmental agreement between District #7 and the Edwardsville Public Library to ensure every District #7 student can obtain a library card. The library, with guidance from the Illinois State Library, will provide cards to students living outside the library’s taxing area or in areas without public library service. District #7 will pay $60.54 per non-resident card issued and used during the school year, with no charge for unused cards. All library cards will be automatically linked to student ID cards. 

• The intergovernmental agreement between District #7 and the Regional Office of Education – 41 Madison County to provide instructional services at the Madison County Detention Center for the 2025-26 school year.  

• The intergovernmental agreement between District #7 and the EGHM Foundation to support a City of Edwardsville project to build a multi-phase shared-use path along Route 157 through 2025. Since the plan does not currently include direct access to Woodland Elementary, the Foundation—a 501(c)(3)—will apply for an ACT Community Action Grant to improve multi-modal transportation, ADA accessibility, and alternative transportation options in Madison County. 

• The memorandum of understanding between District #7 and the National Preserve Foundation (Watershed Nature Center) that a district-employed certified teacher to support programs, including student field trips, at the Nature Center up to two days per week. NPF reimburses the district at a per diem rate, and on non-NPF days, the teacher serves as a permanent roving substitute within the district. 

• The resolution declaring an emergency and to award contract for asbestos abatement at Lincoln Middle School. Asbestos was discovered September 10, 2025, in non-occupied areas under renovation. While no risk exists for students or staff, immediate abatement is required to protect workers and keep the project on schedule. Containment will be prepared during night shifts, and abatement will occur October 29–November 2, when the building is empty. Parent-teacher conferences will be virtual at Lincoln only. The project will be funded through Health Life Safety funds. 

• The 2025-26 budget resolution. This is adopted annually and allows for the salaries of maintenance, grounds or custodial employees and the costs of fuel, lights, gas, water, telephone services and custodial supplies and equipment or any one or more of the preceding items to be paid from the tax levied for operations and maintenance purposes. 

• The adoption of the 2025-26 budget. The budget can be viewed here and is available on the District website under Public Documents and on the Business page.  

• The resolution to adopt the 2025 Madison County Multi-Jurisdictional All Hazards Mitigation Plan.  

Next Meeting:  
Monday, Oct. 6: Board of Education Work Session (6 p.m. at Liberty Middle School) 
Monday, Oct. 27: Board of Education Monthly Meeting (7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School)