Board of Education Monthly Meeting Summary: December 16

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, December 16, 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:  

• Congratulations to Gabriella (12th grade at EHS), Ava (8th grade at Liberty), Brooks (3rd grade at Cassens), and Lily (preschool at Glen Carbon) for having their designs selected in the third annual holiday card contest to represent District #7.  

• The final District #7 Discussion was held earlier this month with discussion on the potential for a seven-period day at the high school, the changing of school start times, AP course opportunities, data about public school educators, and career pathway opportunities for students. More sessions will be held during the second semester at various days and times.  

• District #7 families should have received instructions on how to download the new First View app and register with information specific to District #7. The app will be available for use starting on Monday, January 6, while the current app will be discontinued after Friday, January 17. District #7 was invited by First Student to help pilot the new app, called First View 1.0.  

• On Monday, January 6, families will receive a survey regarding the transportation study and potential changes to school start times, planned for no earlier than the 2026-27 school year. The survey aims to gather community input on these potential impacts.  

GRP Wegman 
GRP Wegman provided an update on the District's lighting, roofing, and solar projects and presented an energy efficiency rebate check for $73,650. Highlights of the project updates include: 

• Lighting: All lighting projects have been completed, with approximately 12,000 bulbs replaced with energy-efficient LED lighting. 

• Roofing: New roofs have been installed at Liberty, EHS, Leclaire, Glen Carbon, and Woodland, covering over 315,000 square feet in just four months. 

• Solar: Solar installations are now complete at Leclaire, Hamel, Albert Cassens, EHS South, and the Jon Davis Wrestling Center. Installations at Goshen, Glen Carbon, Worden, Liberty, and EHS are either underway or scheduled to begin soon. 

2025-26 Calendar Approved 
The Board of Education approved the 2025-26 school calendar, which includes the following:  

• Teacher Institutes on August 18, 19 and 20, 2025 

• First day of student attendance on August 20, 2025 (half day attendance) 

• Parent/Teacher Conferences on October 29 and 30, 2025 

• Teacher Institute on October 31, 2025 

• Thanksgiving Break – November 26, 27, and 28, 2025 

• Holiday Break – December 22, 2025, through January 2, 2026 

• Teacher Institute on January 5, 2026, with students returning to school - January 6, 2026 

• Spring Break – April 1 - 6, 2026 (students returning on April 7, 2026) 

• Last Day for Student Attendance – May 27, 2026 

• 5 emergency days – May 28 through June 3, 2026 (if needed) 

• High School Graduation – Sunday, May 31, 2026 

2025-26 Calendar 

Secure Entry Construction Projects for Summer of 2025 Approved 
The Board of Education approved the final GMP contract with Holland Construction Services for secure entries at Hamel, Woodland, Leclaire, Glen Carbon, Columbus and Nelson Elementary Schools, and Edwardsville High School. The Final GMP for these projects is $2,425,952 and will be paid from the Construction Bond funds.  

In other action, the board approved:  

• The hiring of Terese Marinelli as Goshen Elementary principal for the 2025-26 school year.  

• The following principals to officially transition from interim to permanent roles, effective for the 2025-26 school year: Cole Kringlen at Columbus Elementary, Dr. Andy Williams at Woodland Elementary, and Dr. Debbie Reid at Nelson Elementary. Additionally, Ali Hiller, interim assistant principal at Woodland Elementary, will also have her interim title removed. 

• The 2024 Certificate of Tax Levy and Resolution for Tax Levy.  

• A lease agreement between District #7 and CBC Group, LLC, for warehouse/office space located at 19 Kettle River Drive, Glen Carbon, Illinois, for two years.  

• The purchase of furniture for Lincoln Middle School (Phase 1) not to exceed $460,408.00, built into bond funding.  

Next Meetings:  
Monday, Jan. 13 – Board of Education work session (6 p.m. at Liberty Middle School) 
Monday, Jan. 27 – Board of Education monthly meeting (7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School)