Board of Education Work Session Summary: October 2025

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, October 6, 2025, 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 assist the District #7 community. The official minutes can be found on the Board of Education Dilligent website once approved by the Board. 

2023 Bond Referendum Priority Discussion 
Acting Superintendent Dr. Allen Duncan reviewed the prioritized list of projects from the 2023 bond referendum and provided an update on their status. The secured double entry and EHS Commons expansion projects are complete. The addition at Lincoln Middle School is finished, with existing renovations scheduled for completion in 2027. The first phase of water mitigation at Midway is complete, with evaluation continuing, and the asbestos abatement/renovation project at Hamel Elementary is in the concept design phase. 

In 2023, the district borrowed $89.3 million of the voter-approved $100 million in bond funds, which supported the Lincoln, EHS, Midway, and secure double entry projects. The remaining $10.7 million was borrowed in 2025, with 85 percent required to be spent within three years of issuance. Discussion regarding the allocation of these remaining funds continued. 

Liberty Middle School Gym Floor Replacement 
Following significant water damage in the spring caused by a volleyball striking a sprinkler head, the Liberty Middle School gym floor was removed, revealing a higher-than-normal moisture content in the area. Missouri Floor Company, the contractor approved by the District’s insurance provider to replace the gym floor, determined that a higher-grade moisture mitigation barrier is required before installation of the new gym floor. Without this barrier, the new gym floor would not be covered under warranty. The cost of the additional mitigation barrier is $45,320. The District is working with its insurance carrier and has requested coverage for this expense. This was approved by the board.  

EHS Commons Project Change Order Discussion 
Discussion was held regarding potential change orders for the EHS Commons expansion project for replacement of existing acoustical panels to match the layout of the new construction and for adding wood trim to 10 existing columns. Funding for these would come from any remaining funds within the Commons expansion project budget. If bond funds are to be used, this work must be completed as part of the current project; otherwise, the cost would need to come from another funding source. 

Consensus from the Board was to use any remaining unspent bond funds from the EHS Commons expansion project to support other bond-approved projects.  

2024-2025 Financial Audit 
Chief Financial Officer David Courtney shared final numbers from the 2024-25 financial audit, which will formally be presented at the October 27 monthly board meeting.  

Overview of Present Curriculum 
Director of Curriculum Tara Fox provided the Board with an overview of the curriculum process and current curriculum across all grade levels—elementary, middle, and high school. She also shared that implementation of a seven-period day at Edwardsville High School would not occur before the 2027–28 school year. Four subcommittees of the larger curriculum committee are focusing on specific areas: teacher support, special populations, intervention, and career pathways. 

Dr. Cornelia Smith, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, also presented on the District’s efforts to eliminate bias in the D7 curriculum. Equity principles, first introduced as part of the 2021 social studies curriculum review, are now included in all curriculum-related RFP documents. 

Next Meeting:  
Monday, Oct. 27: Board of Education Monthly Meeting (7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School) 
Monday, Nov. 10: Board of Education Work Session (6 p.m. at Liberty Middle School)