Board of Education Work Session Summary: September 9

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, September 9, 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. 

2025-26 Calendar 
Due to multiple summer construction projects throughout the District, the start of the 2025-26 school year will be delayed by one week, with the first day of school tentatively scheduled for August 20, 2025. As the calendar is currently laid out, the last day of school would fall on May 29, four days after Memorial Day.  

In response to this shift and in addition to soliciting feedback from internal groups, the Board has requested feedback from key stakeholders, including high school students, teachers, and families. A survey will be developed and distributed to gather input on the proposed calendar adjustments. This feedback will help guide the finalization of the 2025-26 academic calendar. 

Strategic Plan Goal 4 Update 

Public Relations and Communications Coordinator Mary Ann Mitchell provided an update on Goal 4 (Family & Community Engagement) of the 2022-27 Strategic Plan. 

Website 

• The new website launched in December 2023 to improve the user experience and ensure alignment with District #7’s branding. Priorities for the new site were a modern, responsive design, easy navigation, and accessibility on any device.  

• Since its launch, the website has averaged over 18,000 users per day.  

• Outside of the homepage, the most visited pages are the PowerSchool Parent Portal and the calendar.  

• Around 60 percent of users access the website via mobile, which underscores the importance of mobile responsiveness of the new site.  

Communication Alignment 

• Beginning this year, all buildings are using the same structure for their weekly newsletters, making it easier for families to navigate and find information.  

Community Engagement/Communication with All Stakeholders 

• The district had a presence at several community events throughout the summer, interacting with stakeholders and handing out district-branded swag items.  

• To engage and inform all stakeholders, the inaugural District #7 Digest was mailed out last winter, while the development of District E-News is underway.  

Next Meeting: Monday, September 23– Board of Education Monthly Meeting (7 p.m. at Liberty Middle School)