Board of Education Work Session: April 2026

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, April 13, 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’s Report 

• The district honored its paraprofessionals on April 1 in recognition of Paraprofessional Day, and its assistant principals during Assistant Principal Appreciation Week, April 6–10. 

• Construction at the former EHS South, which will become the district’s Central Office, is progressing well. The project remains on schedule, with a mid-June completion date. 

German American Partnership Program (GAPP) Exchange Trip to Germany 
EHS World Languages Department Chair teacher Levi Antrim presented on the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) and the school’s proposal to continue participation through an exchange trip to Germany in summer 2027. This would mark EHS’s fourth exchange, following partnerships in 2018, 2023, and 2025. 

Each year, students from Hermann Hesse-Gymnasium in Calw, Germany, visit Edwardsville in October, staying with host families for approximately two weeks. In return, EHS students travel to Germany in June, where they also spend two weeks living with host families and experiencing daily life abroad. 

EHS Science Curriculum – Chemistry, Environmental, and Astronomy  
Curriculum Director Tara Fox, along with EHS science teachers Amy Burian and Melissa Barnett, presented proposed curriculum updates for Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Astronomy. The total cost is $152,100 and includes six physical textbooks, six years of digital access, and lab supplies from various vendors. 

Hamel Elementary Update 
Interim Superintendent Dr. Allen Duncan met with Hamel Elementary staff prior to Spring Break to gain a clear understanding of the building’s needs. He engaged in meaningful conversations with teachers, asking about their priorities and concerns. That feedback was compiled into a survey highlighting the top 10 areas of need, which staff were asked to rank from 1–10. The top three priorities identified were asbestos abatement, a gym addition, and improvements to staff spaces, including the lunchroom, restrooms, and conference areas. 

Planned summer updates at Hamel include exterior painting, installation of a Wi-Fi repeater, and a review of the exterior grounds to determine potential improvements. Next steps include surveying Hamel families to gather parent input, establishing Board priorities, determining the scope, timing, and cost of asbestos abatement, and engaging an architect to begin planning and design. The district will also determine the appropriate construction delivery method, either working with a construction manager or selecting a general contractor through the formal bidding process, in coordination with the chosen project architect. 

2026-27 Budget Update 
The preliminary 2026-27 budget reflects a continued focus on balancing limited revenue growth and rising operational costs. New operating revenues are projected at $5.75 million, driven primarily by an estimated 7.5% increase in Equalized Assessed Valuation, while state and federal funding are expected to remain flat overall. At the same time, expenditures are projected to increase due to contractual salary adjustments, higher health insurance costs, and rising prices on services and supplies.  

Next Meeting:  
Monday, April 27: Board of Education Monthly Meeting (7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School)