Casey-Westfield Board Faces Impending Statewide Cell Phone Ban, Accelerates High School HVAC Overhaul

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

Article Summary: The Casey-Westfield Board of Education on Monday reviewed the impact of a looming statewide cell phone ban while approving emergency plans to expedite a total HVAC replacement in the high school’s 1927 wing following repeated boiler failures.

District 4C Facility and Policy Key Points:

• Superintendent Mike Shackelford alerted the board that Senate Bill 2427, known as the “Cell Phone Ban,” has passed both state houses and will require the district to change how it approaches student cell phone use.

• Following winter boiler failures, two professionals recommended the district immediately abandon the 1927 wing’s boiler system, prompting the accelerated installation of new HVAC units in the cafeteria, Band room, Ag Shop, and Industrial Arts shop.

• While the state is on time with general FY 26 payments, special and regular education transportation payments are only arriving at 58% of expected amounts, forcing the district to reallocate Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) to cover the shortfall.

• A recent roof leak over the Roosevelt cafeteria was successfully repaired by Martinsville Roofing, with water damage safely contained to the bleachers.

The Casey-Westfield Board of Education on Monday, April 20, 2026, grappled with impending state legislation, mounting transportation funding shortfalls, and an accelerated timeline for major facility overhauls at the Junior/Senior High School.

During his administrative report, Superintendent Mike Shackelford informed the board that Senate Bill 2427, commonly referred to as the school “Cell Phone Ban,” has successfully passed both houses of the state legislature and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. Shackelford noted that the impending law will “force some changes in the way we approach cell phones in our buildings,” though specific policy adjustments were not yet finalized.

The board also discussed significant infrastructure challenges, headlined by the ongoing failure of the boiler system in the 1927 wing of the Junior/Senior High School. After experiencing continued issues with the heating system throughout the winter, the district brought in two different professionals to inspect the infrastructure.

According to Shackelford, both experts recommended that the district “finish the transition away from the boiler system now,” rather than stretching the replacement over three phases across the next two summers as originally planned. To accommodate the expedited timeline, new HVAC units will be installed immediately in the cafeteria, Band room, Ag Shop, and Industrial Arts shop.

In other facility news, the board received an update on a roof leak that developed over the cafeteria at Roosevelt. Shackelford reported that the water was fortunately contained within the bleacher area, keeping structural damage minimal. Martinsville Roofing was dispatched to the site and quickly repaired the leak.

On the financial front, Shackelford provided a mixed budget update. While the State of Illinois is currently on time with all of its Fiscal Year 2026 payments, a specific shortfall in transportation funding is putting a “squeeze” on the district’s budget. Payments for regular and special education transportation are only arriving at about 58% of the expected amounts. To cover the gap and keep buses running, the district has been required to allocate more of its Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) dollars toward transportation costs.

Despite the transportation funding hurdle, Shackelford confirmed that with three-quarters of the fiscal year elapsed, the district overall continues to operate on budget.