Board of Education Work Session Summary: August 12

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, August 12, 2024, 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 District #7 Board of Education Board Docs once approved by the Board. 

Back to School Report 

• Enrollment is expected to be over 7,000 students before school starts on Wednesday.  
• A job fair was held on August 1 with over 40 attendees interviewing for jobs. Openings that remain are five custodial and one maintenance, although those positions have candidates, 10 paraprofessionals, and two certified positions for a psychologist and social worker.  
• In the last couple of weeks, the facilities team has focused on the exterior of the buildings and has done an excellent job getting all the schools ready. 

Transportation Policy/Contract 
The Board reviewed a new three-year contract with First Student for bus transportation. The previous contract was developed in 2013. First Student will continue to be responsible for routes and schedules, although the District retains the right to make changes.  

The Board also discussed changes to the transportation policy to align it with the new contract.  

Citizens Advisory Council Committee Review 
The board discussed Board Policy 2:150 and the proposal of removing the Citizens Advisory Council from that policy now that the district has the Parent Teacher Advisory and the Steering Committee. This will be brought back to the board at the regular meeting on August 26.  

2024-25 Budget 
The Board granted its permission to display the 2024-2025 tentative budget by signing a Notice of Public Hearing. This notice will announce the display of the District #7 tentative budget for a period of at least 30 days beginning on Friday, August 23, 2024. The public hearing on the budget has been set for Monday, September 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. at Mark Twain I, Suite 220, 101 W. Vandalia, Edwardsville, Illinois prior to the District's regularly scheduled Board meeting. The Finance Committee will review the tentative budget at its August and September meetings and the Board of Education will be asked to adopt the final budget at the September 23, 2024, Board meeting. 

Next Meeting:  
Monday, Aug. 26 – Board of Education Monthly Meeting (7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School) 
** A reminder that beginning with this meeting, the video stream of meetings will move to YouTube. **