May 4, 2026/

Meeting Summary and Briefs: Casey-Westfield Board of Education for April 20, 2026

Spread the love

Casey-Westfield Board of Education Meeting | April 20, 2026

The Casey-Westfield Board of Education met for a regular session on Monday, April 20, 2026. The board accelerated major HVAC replacements at the high school to address failing boilers, navigated state transportation funding shortfalls, and approved nearly $100,000 in new Chromebooks and Promethean boards for Monroe Elementary. Following the regular business agenda, the board adjourned into a closed executive session at 7:27 p.m. to discuss specific employment and litigation matters under the Open Meetings Act before reconvening in open session at 8:10 p.m. to vote on personnel changes.

Personnel Changes Approved: Following executive session, the board voted unanimously to accept the immediate resignations of Color Guard Instructor Rebecca Geffs and HS/JH Volleyball Coach Jessica Daugherty. Daugherty also resigned as an HS Supervisory Aide, effective May 26. The board formally employed Cassie Brewer as a Title I Interventionist at Monroe, Laney Gowin as a Cross Categorical Special Education teacher, Julia Kerchief as an HS Spanish teacher, and Aaron Justice as the Head HS Boys Basketball coach for the 2026-2027 school year.

Board Policy Updates: The board unanimously approved the first reading of several upcoming board policy updates. The updates are being implemented as presented in the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) PRESS issue #121.

Upcoming Academic Events: Building principals announced several upcoming end-of-year dates for families. Monroe Elementary will host a 1st and 2nd Grade program featuring special music by the 4th grade on April 23 at 9:00 a.m. The Monroe 5th and 6th-grade awards program will be held on May 8 at 9:00 a.m. At the high school, Awards Night is scheduled for May 12, with Graduation slated for May 17 at 2:00 p.m.

Records Destruction: As part of the consent agenda, the board authorized the destruction of the verbatim audio records of closed board meetings that are 18 months and older, as permitted by Board Policy 220 and 220-E1. The board also approved the scheduled disposal of regular district records for Fiscal Year 2026.

Crete-Monee Students Don Hard Hats for VIP Construction Tour: During the Crete-Monee Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, board members praised Bear Construction for their community outreach at the district’s active building sites. According to Board Member William J. Sawallisch Jr., the construction company recently provided students with hard hats and safety vests, allowing them to take a guided walking tour of the ongoing facility upgrades. The students were given a behind-the-scenes explanation of how large-scale construction projects operate. District officials confirmed that despite the ongoing daytime work, the construction has caused no interruptions to daily school operations.

Casey-Westfield First Graders Receive Donated Books: During the Casey-Westfield Board of Education meeting on Monday, April 20, 2026, the Monroe Elementary building report highlighted a generous community donation. The local “Casey In Action” organization, alongside retired teachers Janet Squires and Dianna Hickox, visited the school to ensure every Kindergarten and First Grade student received a free book of their choosing to take home and keep.

‘Monroe Madness’ Sweeps Casey-Westfield Elementary: The Casey-Westfield Board of Education on Monday, April 20, 2026, learned about a highly engaging school-wide activity at Monroe Elementary dubbed “Monroe Madness.” Embracing the spirit of spring college basketball tournaments, students participated in a structured, bracket-style voting competition. Classrooms voted on various categories, including favorite foods, shoes, and school subjects. The advancing brackets and final results were prominently displayed on a school-wide bulletin board to foster a sense of community connection among the young students.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Refilling Strategic Petroleum Reserve begins

Refilling Strategic Petroleum Reserve begins

By Alton WallaceThe Center Square About 1 million barrels of crude oil that will go toward replenishing the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve have been purchased, the U.S. Department of Energy...

WATCH: Lawmakers call out Pritzker for lack of transparency with budget cuts

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers say they are not getting information from Gov. J.B. Pritzker or state agencies about the...
Report: Barriers to social mobility largely manmade

Report: Barriers to social mobility largely manmade

By Tate MillerThe Center Square Authors of a new report on social mobility across the 50 states said that barriers to social mobility are largely “man-made” and can be solved...
Fetterman hospitalized for heart episode

Fetterman hospitalized for heart episode

By Christen SmithThe Center Square Pennsylvania Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman remains under observation at a Pittsburgh-area hospital following a heart episode early Thursday. The senator’s spokesman posted to his...
Federal services to slowly recover following end of government shutdown

Federal services to slowly recover following end of government shutdown

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square With the longest government shutdown in history finally over, federal agencies are slowly bringing affected services back online and hoping to resume normal operations by...
IL congressman pushes military to accept CLT, experts say it could shape education

IL congressman pushes military to accept CLT, experts say it could shape education

By Catrina Barker contributiorThe Center Square An Illinois congressman is pushing to expand testing options at U.S. service academies, a move experts say could revive academic rigor and expand access...
MS-13 members prosecuted nationwide for brutal murders, fentanyl trafficking

MS-13 members prosecuted nationwide for brutal murders, fentanyl trafficking

By Bethany BlankleyThe Center Square Federal, state and local law enforcement officers continue to target Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) U.S.-Salvadoran transnational gang members nationwide. MS-13 was designated as a foreign terrorist...
Lakers Volleyball Claims Region XXIV Championship

Lakers Volleyball Claims Region XXIV Championship

Featured photo caption: The Lake Land College volleyball team defeated the Vincennes University Trailblazers on Sunday, Nov. 2 to claim the Lakers’ first Region XXIV Championship since 2014. Pictured back...
Illinois, Chicago residents rank high taxes as state’s top issue

Illinois, Chicago residents rank high taxes as state’s top issue

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With the state now losing a resident to another state every nine minutes and more than...
Jan. 6 panel cost twice previous estimates, hiring TV producers to dramatize attack

Jan. 6 panel cost twice previous estimates, hiring TV producers to dramatize attack

By Mark StricherzThe Center Square The U.S. House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol cost almost twice as much as previously reported, including...
00-KianDavisInteception

Road Warriors: Casey-Westfield Overwhelms Nokomis 48-14 to Rumble into IHSA Elite 8

Feature photo caption: Kian Davis comes away with a fourth-quarter interception and returns it deep into Nokomis territory. Davis's takeaway set up the Warriors' final touchdown of the game, helping...
00MadiGelbGetsTheBlock

Lady Warriors’ Season Ends in Hard-Fought Regional Championship Loss to ALAH

Featured photo caption: Madilyn Gelb forms a solid wall at the net, shutting down an opponent's attack with a block. Gelb contributed two blocks and was also one of the...
Illinois quick hits: Illinois House members vote along party lines; More than 40% of CPS teachers missed 10 or more school days; State Treasurer says Bright Start earns gold

Illinois quick hits: Illinois House members vote along party lines; More than 40% of CPS teachers missed 10 or more school days; State Treasurer says Bright Start earns gold

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square Illinois House members vote along party lines Illinois U.S. House members voted along party lines as the chamber approved legislation to...
solar panels photovoltaics in solar farm

Residents Voice Solar Project Concerns; Clark County Board to Seek Expert for Ordinance Review

Clark County Board Meeting | September 19, 2025 Article Summary:Following public comments from residents expressing concerns about transparency and safety related to a planned solar project, the Clark County Board...

WATCH: Longest-ever government shutdown ends after 43 days

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House of Representatives voted to reopen and fund the federal government Wednesday night, ending the longest government shutdown in American history. President Donald...