D7 Board Brief: September 14, 2026 Board of Education Meeting

The Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education met on Monday, September 14, 2026, in the Liberty Middle School Auditorium.  

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 Diligent website once approved by the Board. 

From the Superintendent's Report 

• District #7’s current enrollment is 6,742 students, a decrease of 189 students from last year. High school enrollment remains steady at 2,285 students, while the decrease is concentrated at the elementary and middle school levels. 

• Middle school parents now have access to new attendance features within ParentSquare. Parents receive automatic notifications when a student is marked with an unexcused absence, sent at 10:15 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Text and email notifications include a direct link for parents to submit absence information, helping families communicate attendance-related information more efficiently. 

• The annual Historic Lincoln School Alumni Foundation Golf Scramble was held Saturday, featuring 30 teams and raising nearly $30,000. All proceeds directly benefit programs and resources supporting students and families across District #7. 

• The district will communicate with families this week regarding updates to student reunification procedures. The district continues to utilize the I Love U Guys Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP) across all schools. A new Reunification Accountability Form is being finalized to help students and parents confirm they are safe and accounted for during or following an emergency. 

• District #7 will hold its first Teacher Advisory Committee meeting of the school year this week. The committee brings together teacher representatives from every district building to preview upcoming initiatives, gather feedback, and discuss districtwide successes, challenges and priorities. Dr. Duncan meets monthly with teachers representing elementary, middle and high school levels. The Board of Education will receive regular summaries and key takeaways throughout the year. 

• Superintendent Dr. Allen Duncan will host a series of community conversations throughout the school year, providing opportunities for families and community members to connect, share feedback and discuss topics important to District #7. Upcoming conversations are scheduled for September 29 at Route 66 Creamery, December 9 at Pâtisserie 29, February 9 at District #7 Central Office and April 22 at Cafe Birdie. Community members can use this link to RSVP or call Carey Francis at 618-655-6014.  

During his Superintendent’s Report, Dr. Duncan shares “Superintendent Shout-Outs” he receives from community members. 

Monday night’s Shout-Outs went to: 

• Jamie Anderson, principal at Glen Carbon Elementary, for her outstanding leadership, organization, communication and dedication to Glen Carbon Elementary, including a successful pep rally, strong school presence and commitment to students and staff. 

• Jennifer Sparks, PE teacher at Hamel and Midway Elementary, for her kindness and compassion in helping a new Midway Elementary student overcome a difficult morning and feel welcomed and supported throughout the school day. 

• Cindy Hoxsey, instructional technology coach, and Hilary Duncan, assistant principal, at Lincoln Middle School, for their support, mentorship and encouragement of a new Lincoln Middle School teacher, helping her feel welcomed, confident and set up for success. 

• District #7’s Maintenance Department for their quick response, efficiency and excellent workmanship in assembling a garage cabinet, demonstrating their dedication to quality and support for District #7 staff. 

• District #7’s Business Department for their work in transitioning the district from monthly to bi-monthly payroll.  

Know a staff member who deserves a shout-out? Email Dr. Duncan at aduncan@ecusd7.org. 

EHS Advanced Placement 
Director of Curriculum and Instruction Tara Fox and High School Curriculum Coordinator Caty Happe presented Edwardsville High School’s 2026 Advanced Placement (AP) results, highlighting significant growth in student participation, qualifying scores and opportunities to earn college credit. 

Highlights: 

• Increased participation: AP exam participation grew from 181 students taking 260 exams in 2022 to 322 students taking 709 exams in 2026. 

• Improved performance: The percentage of exams receiving a qualifying score of 3 or higher increased from 75% in 2022 to 90% in 2026. 

• Potential college savings: Students earned 79 more qualifying AP scores than the previous year, representing a potential $123,872.79 in additional college tuition savings for Edwardsville families. 

• Expanded opportunities: The district continues to explore additional AP course offerings. 

The presentation also reviewed the benefits of AP coursework, participation data and opportunities to improve access for students across all student groups. 

In action, the Board approved:  

• As part of being identified for school improvement during the 2023-24 school year, Woodland Elementary School established a School Improvement Team to conduct a needs analysis and develop an initial School Improvement Plan for the 2024-25 school year. The school’s 2026-27 plan builds on that work and includes four goals focused on: 

• Mathematics: All students will demonstrate measurable growth, with at least 70% meeting or exceeding their individual math growth goals. 

• English Language Arts: Address 100% of identified priority skills and concepts through targeted, standards-aligned instruction, using assessment and progress-monitoring data to guide instruction. 

• Attendance: Achieve a goal of 95% of students attending at least 90% of school days. 

• Behavior and Student Support: Ensure 100% of instructional staff consistently utilize schoolwide behavior reinforcement systems to support positive student behavior. 

The plan will next be submitted to the Illinois State Board of Education. 

Next Meeting 

• Monday, September 28 (6:30 p.m. at Liberty Middle School)