Board of Education Work Session Summary: September 2025

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, September 8, 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. 

Facilities Renovation Update 
The district has narrowed renovation options for Hamel Elementary to two. Option 2 relocates the cafeteria to the north pod, with an estimated cost of $4.15 million. Option 4 adds a gym on the east side of the current gym/cafeteria, with an estimated cost of $7.25 million. Both options include pod renovations and asbestos abatement. To complete Option 2 by summer 2026, Board action would be required at the September 22 meeting. Option 4 would be scheduled for construction from summer 2027 through summer 2028. District administration will meet with Hamel staff prior to the September 22 meeting to gather input. 

EHS Parking Lot 
The EHS parking lot lines and space numbers will be repainted this fall.  

Graduation 2026 
The district will survey senior students and parents to help determine the location of the 2026 commencement ceremony. Graduation was moved to SIUE in 2025 due to construction at EHS. While costs are nearly the same at both venues, each has advantages and disadvantages. If the ceremony is held at SIUE, no additional tickets will be available. 

Overview of Swimming at EHS – Wellness Course 
Presented by Tara Fox, Director of Curriculum; Tim Funkhouser, EHS PE Department Head; and Kyle Stewart, EHS Associate Principal for Curriculum and Instruction. 

Swimming is taught as part of the 9th grade Wellness course at EHS, held in the Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center, which opened in 2014 through a gift from the Fruit family. The three-week unit includes aquatic safety, stroke mechanics, fitness, and activities such as water polo. Additional electives, including lifeguard certification, are offered based on demand. 

Wellness is a quarter-long PE class created about five years ago to include unique components such as CPR, which is a graduation requirement. While the state does not mandate swimming, EHS integrates it as a valuable life skill. 

Accommodations are available for students with personal, religious, cultural, or medical needs, and students are provided private spaces to change. The course also allows up to five consecutive “personal days” for situations such as menstrual cycles. Additional accommodations may be arranged upon request. 

Swimming instruction provides students with critical water safety skills, physical fitness, and opportunities for lifelong learning, made possible by the unique facilities available at EHS. 

In action, the board approved:  

• EHS track chute extensions for $25,100. This will extend the chutes 35 feet to the north and six feet to the south. Extensions on both ends were recommended for safety reasons.  

Next Meeting:  
Monday, Sept. 22: Board of Education Monthly Meeting (7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School) 
Monday, Oct. 6: Board of Education Work Session (6 p.m. at Liberty Middle School)