Board of Education Work Session Summary: January 2026

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, January 12, 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. 

Superintendent Shoutout 

At each Board work session and regular meeting, Interim Superintendent Dr. Allen Duncan shares a few “Shoutouts” he receives from community members.  

Monday night’s Shoutouts went to:  

• Patty Odom, Worden 4th grade teacher for providing a supportive, engaging, and personalized learning environment that challenges students, fosters choice, and makes them feel valued.  

• Lauren Heigert, Cassens 5th grade teacher for engaging and challenging students while fostering kindness through initiatives like the “Kindness Krew”. 

• Laura Brennan, Liberty 7th grade special education teacher for not only supporting her students, but advocating for their individual needs, ensuring daily communication between home and school, and celebrating their achievements, which make a meaningful difference every day. 

• Michael Hubbard, Director of Security for his responsiveness and dedication in assisting a student and family during a time-sensitive hospital situation. 

• Leonard Manley, Liberty custodian for showing kindness and care by quickly helping a student recover and clean a lost retainer. 

Email Dr. Duncan (aduncan@ecsud7.org) if there is a staff member you would like to receive a “Shoutout.”  

2024-25 Audit 
Christina Jacquin, senior manager at Honkamp, P.C., provided a report on the 2024-25 audit. The district’s operating funds ended the year with an overall fund balance of approximately $32.5 million. The District’s Financial Profile is “Review”, the second highest level established by ISBE.  

Lincoln Middle School Phase 1/Secured Entries/EHS Commons – Final Closeout 
Chief Financial Officer David Courtney provided a financial update on three bond projects completed over the summer: Lincoln Middle School Phase 1, EHS Commons addition, and districtwide secured entry improvements. The update reviewed approved project budgets, final closeout costs, and next steps related to remaining bond funds. 

Next Steps: Staff will evaluate the budget and progress for Lincoln Middle School Phase 2, summarize remaining Phase 2 construction costs (including abatement and furniture) and conduct a second arbitrage calculation on interest earnings from the 2023 and 2025 bond issueproceeds. A status report will be provided to the Board of Education in February outlining estimated remaining bond funds and next steps toward addressing the Board’s next identified priority, Hamel Elementary. 

Spring/Summer 2026 Planned Facility Projects 
Courtney outlined facility projects planned for spring and summer 2026 to address infrastructure needs and long-term operational efficiency. Planned projects include:  

• Parking lot repairs, with a mill and overlay scheduled for the EHS teaching parking lot and a complete tear-out planned for the Midway Elementary School front lot.  

• Required tuckpointing at Glen Carbon, Woodland, and Leclaire Elementary schools to address identified brick deterioration and prevent water infiltration.  

• At EHS, ongoing plumbing issues related to aging infrastructure. Water lines serving HVAC systems and building fixtures are approximately 30 years old and have experienced corrosion-related leaks in recent years. Staff are developing a phased plan to complete this work over the next several years.  

• Interior renovations at EHS South to accommodate the relocation of offices currently housed in the Mark Twain I and III Office Buildings. Design work is expected to be completed by the end of January, with renovation bids anticipated for Board approval in late February. The Mark Twain III offices are expected to relocate by June 30, 2026, with Mark Twain I offices following by September 1, 2026. Hadley House continues to be used by the Facilities & Maintenance, Food Service and Technology departments as office space. The Board has clearly stated that Hadley House will not be demolished or sold while future options are evaluated. 

Instructional Materials and Supplies Purchase 
French – Levi Antrim, EHS World Language Chair, and Tirsha LeNoir, Curriculum Coordinator, presented proposed instructional materials aligned to Illinois and ACTFL standards, with differentiated assessments and integrated cultural components. Entre Cultures was selected to maintain consistency with the district’s German and Spanish programs. Total cost is $49,360.81, including physical textbooks, six-year digital access, novels/level readers, professional development, and student headphones. 

Physics – Nathan Rassi, Chair of the Science Department, Marvin Allen, Science Teacher, and Tirsha LeNoir, Curriculum Coordinator, presented materials for Physics, Honors Physics, and AP Physics aligned to Illinois and NGSS standards, learning targets, and course scope and sequence. National Geographic’s Physics and College Physics AP (13th edition) were selected for Physics and Honors Physics, and Physics for Scientists & Engineers AP (10th edition) for AP Physics due to alignment with the AP Physics C exam. Total cost is $45,401.28, including physical textbooks, six-year digital access, and a Vernier dynamics cart and track system with motion detectors. 

The Board of Education will be asked to approve both instructional material purchases at its January monthly meeting. 

School Start Times/7-Period Day/Transportation Study Update 
School start times for 2026-27 will not change.  

A ridership audit is being conducted in partnership with SIUE and First Student. Once the data analysis is complete, conversations will then be had about a two tier or three tier routing system with the focus on financial sustainability.  

Other factors that will be considered include student ride times (with the goal of keeping rides under 60 minutes), impacts on extracurricular activities, contractual obligations, KidZone staffing considerations, and overall operational efficiency. This work is ongoing, and multiple variables must be evaluated before any recommendations are made.  

Appointment of Interim Superintendent 
Dr. Allen Duncan, Jr. was appointed Interim Superintendent. Duncan has been serving as Acting Superintendent since September 25, 2025. Duncan most recently served as Assistant Superintendent, a role he assumed in July 2024. Prior to that, he was the principal of Liberty Middle School for four years, following five years as assistant principal. He began his career in District #7 as a social studies teacher at Edwardsville High School. 

Next Meeting:  
Monday, Jan. 26: Board of Education Monthly Meeting (7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School)