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

Bipartisan lawmakers reintroduce DACA protections

Bipartisan lawmakers reintroduce DACA protections

By Andrew RiceThe Center Square A bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers has introduced legislation designed to prevent more than 250,000 people brought to the United States as children, or “Dreamers,”...
Routh guilty on all charges in plot to kill Trump

Routh guilty on all charges in plot to kill Trump

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Ryan Routh was found guilty of all charges in a plot to kill Donald Trump by a federal jury that needed little time to reach...
Trump, Zelenskyy meet as Russia accused of violating NATO nations' air space

Trump, Zelenskyy meet as Russia accused of violating NATO nations’ air space

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square In the wake of repeated drone incursions into European airspace, President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while attending the 80th U.N. General...
WATCH: IL governor on photo with wanted suspect: 'No way to vet everybody'

WATCH: IL governor on photo with wanted suspect: ‘No way to vet everybody’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker is defending the use of taxpayer dollars for community violence intervention, even after he...

Illinois quick hits: Constitutional amendment would guarantee parental rights

By The Center SquareThe Center Square Constitutional amendment would guarantee parental rights Illinois U.S. Rep. Mary Miller has filed a constitutional amendment to what her office says would permanently establish...
Oversight committee expands probe on 'politically motivated' debanking

Oversight committee expands probe on ‘politically motivated’ debanking

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square As part of the investigation into possible “politically motivated discrimination” by the financial system during the Biden administration, the House Oversight Committee is expanding its...
'Brutal slog:' Government shutdown looms as bipartisan negotiations derail

‘Brutal slog:’ Government shutdown looms as bipartisan negotiations derail

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Government funding negotiations came to a standstill Tuesday after President Donald Trump cancelled talks with Democratic congressional leaders, saying no meeting “could possibly be productive”...

WATCH: Republican leader: says Pritzker budget cut EO a ploy for IL tax increases

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker blames President Donald Trump for ordering Illinois state agencies to find 4% budget cuts....
Nebraska attorney general sues Lorex over Chinese surveillance concerns

Nebraska attorney general sues Lorex over Chinese surveillance concerns

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers filed a lawsuit Tuesday against home security camera company Lorex. He says the company misled consumers about the safety of...
Colorado pushes ahead on clean energy as EV funding returns

Colorado pushes ahead on clean energy as EV funding returns

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Colorado is once again set to receive $57 million in federal monies as part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grant program. This comes after...
Trump lectures UN, Western Europe for policy failures

Trump lectures UN, Western Europe for policy failures

By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square In a fiery address to the U.N. General Assembly at its 80th session in New York City, President Donald Trump outlined his position and priorities...
Arizonans vote on successor to U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva

Arizonans vote on successor to U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva

By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square Arizonans cast ballots Tuesday in a special election to select the next representative for the state’s 7th Congressional District. This seat opened after U.S. Rep....
Google says Biden admin 'pressed' it to censor some COVID-19 content

Google says Biden admin ‘pressed’ it to censor some COVID-19 content

By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square Senior Biden administration officials pressured Google to remove COVID-19-related content that did not violate YouTube’s policies but the administration considered alarming, new information reveals. Following...
Judge’s questions during IL gun ban arguments gives rights advocates ‘hope’

Judge’s questions during IL gun ban arguments gives rights advocates ‘hope’

By Greg Bishop | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With Illinois’ gun ban now in the hands of a three judge panel of the federal appeals...
Illinois agencies to post monthly investment reports, lawmaker calls symbolic

Illinois agencies to post monthly investment reports, lawmaker calls symbolic

By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributorThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois agencies must now post monthly reports on how taxpayer dollars are invested, a move supporters...