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Board of Education Monthly Meeting Summary: August 26

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Board of Education Monthly Meeting Summary: August 26

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, August 26, 2024, in the Liberty Middle School Auditorium for its monthly board meeting.    

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 District #7 Board of Education Board Docs once approved by the Board. 

From the superintendent’s report:  

  • At the beginning of this school year, each school building received updated crisis binders and crisis backpacks, reflecting the district’s new crisis protocols. The district is shifting to using the emergency codes Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter. These codes are designed to ensure clear communication and prompt action during various emergencies, including weather events, fires, accidents, intruders, and other threats to student safety. The shift also aligns with recommendations from the I Love You Guys Foundation and is a practice employed by school districts nationwide. This transition is part of the district’s broader implementation of the PREPaRE curriculum. This curriculum equips mental health professionals and educators with essential training for school crisis teams, emphasizing prevention, response, and recovery. 

  • The District surveyed Class of 2025 parents, students, and Edwardsville High School staff about moving graduation from Saturday to Sunday to accommodate students in IHSA postseason events. Out of 631 responses, 59% preferred Sunday, June 1, at either 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. More information will be coming. 

  • For community members who are not directly connected to the District #7 community but want to stay informed, they can sign up for District #7 E-news. This will keep them updated on district initiatives and news.  

  • This fall, the district is launching District Discussions, a series of monthly sessions held at various dates, times, and locations. These small-group meetings will provide an opportunity for open dialogue about all the things happening in District #7. The first session will be on Thursday, September 19, at 8:30 a.m. For more information or to sign up for a session, contact Carey Francis at cfrancis@ecusd7.org.  

Woodland School Improvement Plan 
The Woodland Building Leadership Team presented the Woodland School Improvement Plan, which is required by the state due to the school’s designation as Targeted on the 2023 Illinois School Report Card. Targeted means one or more student groups are performing at or below the level of all students group in the lowest performing five percent of schools.  

The school improvement team met throughout the summer to develop the plan.  

For the 2024-25 school year, the top priorities are delivering high-quality instruction, addressing each student’s needs, and fostering collaboration, while also adapting teaching methods to support individual learning styles. Additionally, the school set two school improvement goals:  

  1. Increase Woodland’s building-wide IAR score in ELA by 10% on the 2024-25 IAR assessment. 

  1. Increase Woodland’s building-wide IAR score in Math by 5% on the 2024-25 IAR assessment. 

The team will meet monthly to assess and monitor progress.  

Columbus Playground 
The Columbus Elementary playground will undergo renovations this fall, with work to start in September and expected to be completed by mid-November. The project includes upgrading the playground equipment, replacing the rock surface with a poured-in-place rubber surface, and installing grass around the playground area. A walking path will also be added around and leading to the equipment. Additionally, the retaining wall will be replaced. 

In action, the board approved:  

  • A three-year contract for student transportation services with First Student effective from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027.  

  • Entering a contract with Keller Construction to complete the renovation of the Columbus Elementary School Playground at a cost not to exceed $440,207.00 (excluding all electrical work). 

  • The Woodland Elementary School Improvement Plan for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Next Meeting:  
Monday, Sept. 9 – Board of Education Work Session (6 p.m. at Liberty Middle School)  
Monday, Sept. 23 – Board of Education Monthly Meeting (7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School) 

 

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