Board of Education Monthly Meeting Summary: November 25

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, November 25, 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:  

• The next District #7 Discussion with Dr. Shelton is scheduled for Wednesday, December 4 at 7 a.m. If you are interested in attending, please contact Carey Francis at cfrancis@ecusd7.org or 618-655-6014. At each District #7 Discussion, Dr. Shelton is asking for feedback related to the potential for a seven-day period at the high school, as well as changing school start times and the transportation study.  

• District #7 has been selected by First Student to pilot their new FirstView 1.0 app, making us the largest district to test this updated platform before its full rollout in July 2025. This app replaces the current FirstView Classic and offers a fresh design, simplified technology, and enhanced tracking for home-to-school trips. Parents will receive instructions in December to download and register for the new app, which will go live at the start of the second semester on January 6, 2025. The current app will be discontinued on January 17, 2025. 

• District #7 recently conducted its first field test of the new OPENGATE weapons-detection system at last Friday’s girls' basketball home opener. OPENGATE will now be used for events with anticipated large crowds. 

• Due to change in the methodology for determining bond ratings for U.S. Governments, District's bond rating was recently reviewed by S&P Global. In that review, the rating was modified from a rating of A- to a rating of A+. 

• A calendar recommendation for the 2025-2026 school year and a preview of the draft calendar for 2026-2027 will be presented next month. Over 2,000 responses were collected from parents, District #7 staff, and community members through a survey regarding the 2025-2026 calendar. Due to scheduled construction on eight campuses this summer, the 2025-2026 school year will begin the week of August 18, with the first student day on Wednesday, August 20, and the last day (without snow days) projected as Wednesday, May 27. Feedback from various groups will be gathered in the coming weeks to address any concerns regarding the recommended calendar. 

Emerson’s 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award 
Hamel Elementary and Midway Elementary reading specialist Amy Ferguson was honored for her selection as one of Emerson’s 2024 Excellence in Teaching Award recipients. She is among more than 100 educators from across the St. Louis metropolitan area who are being recognized this year through the program as examples of truly outstanding educational excellence. 

Ferguson is in her 34th year of teaching – all in District #7. She is in ninth year at Hamel and Midway and has worked at five different elementary schools in the district, including Leclaire, Woodland, and Goshen. Ferguson will retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year. 

Read more about Amy and her award: https://bit.ly/494j9Jr  

In action, the board approved:  

• The 2024 Tax Levy Estimate (2025-2026 School Year). The 2024 current estimated EAV increase (assigned by the County Assessor) of all property within the District is around 1.5 percent - before application of any township multipliers. The assignment of multipliers is a requirement under Illinois statute which states the assessment of all non-farm property must equal 33.33% of its market value. Thus, the addition of the multiplier to the current assessment from the County Assessor results in the estimated 9 percent increase for the 2024 tax levy. Assuming the EAV growth rate remains at 9%, the 2024 tax levy rate would decrease from $4.67 to under $4.64 per $100/assessed valuation. 

• The reduction of the Special Treasurer Bond issued for the 2023C Debt Certificates and 2023D Health Life Safety Bonds from $2,000,000 to $675,000. 

• The operation of the middle school and high school activity funds for the 2024-2025 school year. 

• The Lincoln Middle School asbestos abatement bid package #1 - partial renovation - from General Waste Services in the amount of $397,750.00. The District received bids from four responsive bidders. The scope of work under this contract is for asbestos abatement to be performed on the first through third floors of the building that will remain from the "knuckle" down to the addition currently under construction. The abatement follows the scope of renovation to be completed this summer. 

• The Lincoln Middle School asbestos abatement bid package #2 - partial demolition - from Midwest Service Group (AAA) in the amount of $188,800.00. The District received bids from six responsive bidders. The scope of work under this contract is for asbestos abatement to be performed on the first through third floors of the building to be demolished. The area includes the cafeteria/kitchen/hallway, classrooms above and the tunnels located below the cafeteria. The abatement follows the scope of demolition to be completed this year. 

• The 2025-2026 EHS Course Handbook. 

• A Facility Use Agreement Between Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 and the City of Edwardsville for the use of the RP Lumber Center effective October 15, 2024, through October 14, 2026. 
   

Next Meeting:  
Monday, Dec. 16 – Board of Education Monthly Meeting (7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School)