Board of Education Work Session: February 2026

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, February 9, 2026, in the Liberty Middle School Auditorium for its monthly work session.  

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

Student Trip to Greece and Italy 
Lexi Keller, English teacher at Edwardsville High School, presented a proposed student educational trip to Greece and Italy in June 2027. The trip would provide students with immersive cultural and historical experiences, including visits to significant historical sites, literary landmarks, and cultural institutions. This experience is designed to enhance students’ understanding of classroom subjects and expand their global awareness. This is open to all EHS students.  

K-5 Physical Education Curriculum 
Curriculum Coordinator Tirsha LeNoir, along with elementary PE teachers Abby Comerford and Jennifer Stukenberg, presented the proposed K–5 physical education curriculum, recommending Spark PE as the resource. The curriculum was selected for being inclusive, adaptable, navigable, diverse, and comprehensive. The total cost is $65,000, which includes six years of digital access, two full professional development days, and a variety of equipment. The previous K–5 PE curriculum was adopted in 1997.  

Lincoln Middle School Phase 2 – Furniture Purchase 
Phase 2 of the district’s furniture purchases is planned to occur in three delivery phases: Summer 2026, December 2026, and Summer 2027. The total allowance for Phase 2 furniture is $850,000, with the current cost projection at $731,359.08.  

EHS Auditorium Seating 
Seating in the EHS auditorium needs to be addressed. CFO/COO David Courtney shared photos of the current seats and reported that initial bid requests from three companies resulted in two proposals. Due to budget considerations, companies were asked to bid on reupholstering the seats rather than full replacement. Carroll Seating submitted a cooperative pricing proposal of $79,475. Board approval is requested to accept the cooperative purchasing contract price at the February 23 meeting. The project is included in the FY26 budget under the Improvements line item in the Operations & Maintenance Fund. 

EHS South Renovation 
Planning is underway for interior renovations at EHS South to accommodate the relocation of administrative offices currently housed at Mark Twain I and III. The Mark Twain III move is scheduled for June 30, with Mark Twain I following by September 1. Offices being relocated include the Superintendent’s Office, Human Resources, Special Education, and the Business Office. The design phase was completed at the end of January, with current cost estimates between $700,000 and $750,000. District maintenance staff will perform much of the preparatory work. Funding will come from the district’s Operations & Maintenance Fund. Current Mark Twain lease costs, paid from the Education Fund through the Debt Service Fund, total $217,596.12 annually. A pre-bid meeting is scheduled for February 10, with the public bid opening on February 18. Board approval is requested at the February 23 meeting to begin renovations in early March. 

Proposed Bond Refinancing 
The district is proposing refinancing its Series 2017 bonds, which had a call date of December 1, 2025. Refinancing allows the district to use its higher than projected EAV increases to pay off the bonds faster, save interest, and maintain flexibility for future debt without increasing the tax levy.Option 1 would increase the 2026-27 debt service tax levy rate slightly from the current estimated 0.74 to 0.75, allowing faster repayment of the refinanced bonds and greater interest savings. Option 2 would keep the levy rate at 0.74 but prevent accelerated payoff. CFO/COO David Courtney recommends Option 1, which is expected to maximize interest savings, allow for earlier debt retirement of the refinanced bonds, and have minimal to no impact on taxpayers. The Board will vote on this during its February 23 meeting.  

Proposed Submission of HLS Amendment – 2026 Lincoln Asbestos Abatement At the last meeting, the Board approved two asbestos abatement bids for this summer at Lincoln: $177,600 for renovations and $129,700 for demolition. The district has the option to submit a Health Life Safety (HLS) amendment to the Regional Office of Education and the state for these projects. Approval of the amendment would allow the district to fund the projects through HLS rather than construction/bond funds. Board approval is requested at the February 23 meeting to submit the HLS amendment for the 2026 Lincoln asbestos abatement projects. 

Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Timeline 
CFO/COO David Courtney presented the Fiscal Year 2027 budget development timeline, outlining the process for both revenue and expenditure planning. 

2025-26 Mid-Year Revenue Projection 
CFO/COO David Courtney provided the Board with a handout outlining mid-year revenue projections for the current fiscal year. 

Next Meeting:  
Monday, Feb. 23: Board of Education Monthly Meeting (7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School)