BOE Monthly Meeting Summary

The Litchfield Community Unit School District #12 Board of Education met on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at the Kilton Fine Arts Center for its monthly board meeting.

These are not the official meeting minutes and do not include every detail from the meeting; instead, they are a summary to assist the Purple Panther community. Once the board approves them, the official minutes can be found on the LCUSD #12 Board of Education Minutes page on the website.

Litchfield High School:

Current HS basketball records: Boys- 10-8, 3-0 SCC Girls- 8-13, 2-3 SCC

The McGraw Boys Basketball Tournament is being played from January 19th-24th. Litchfield boys will play on 1/20 at 6:00 vs Pana and on 1/21 at 6:00 v Roxana. Bracket play will follow and will depend on pool play results. After the tournament, the boys team will host Calvary Academy on 1/27 and Hillsboro on 1/30.

Girls basketball will travel to Father McGivney on 1/20, to EAWR on 1/22, host Pawnee on 1/26, and travel to Sangamon Valley on 1/27 and to Pana on 1/29. They will also play at Blackburn College on 1/31 vs North Greene.

The wrestling teams will travel to Vandalia on 1/20, to Anna-Jonesboro (girls) and Richland-Olney (boys), on 1/24 and to EAWR on 1/28. Post-season for boys wrestling will begin on 1/31, with girls beginning on 2/6

The Competition Cheer team traveled to Mater Dei on 1/17 and to Breese Central on 1/18. They will compete at Granite City on 1/24. Their IHSA sectional competition will be held on 1/31.

Litchfield Middle School:

The 6th grade boys basketball team has finished their school season and will continue play into their rec season. They are currently 17-3 and were winners of the bronze bracket of the Hillsboro Hoopfest.

The 7th grade boys basketball team concluded their season after a loss to East St. Louis Lincoln in the second round of regionals. They finished with an overall record of 17-7. Congratulations to Coach Hires and his team on a great season!! .

The 8th grade boys finished the regular season with a record of 17-5. They will begin postseason play this Saturday at 11:00 am vs Piasa Southwestern. Congratulations to Coach Pennock and the 8th grade boys on a great season, good luck in the postseason.

The 6th & 7th grade volleyball team kicked off their season against St. Francis Holy Ghost from Jerseyville on January 7th. The 8th graders kicked off their season on the road against Southwestern. The Panthers will travel to Nokomis on January 27th and will host Mt. Olive on January 29th. The 7th grade volleyball team will be competing in the SCC tournament in Pana on Saturday January 31st.

The LMS Wrestling team hosted the inaugural Newk Invite in early January. This wrestling invite was named "The Newk" to honor long time Middle School Wrestling coach Dan Newkirk. Coach Newkirk not only attended the event, but was also one of the officials for the tournament. They have also attended the Crimson Invitational in Jacksonville the following weekend. In addition to the invites they have also traveled to Pittsfield, Porta and Roxana to compete.

LECC: It is great to be back in session. Our entire staff had the opportunity to engage in a trauma-informed workshop on January 5th with Elizabeth Frisbie. This workshop focused on strategies for working with students who are struggling to regulate their own behaviors in the classroom. While the primary focus is from a "trauma" perspective, many of the strategies can be used with all students. We have also completed some follow-up work.

In addition, we are working to return to more Developmentally Appropriate Practice (DAP) in the classrooms. This was a focused effort prior to the pandemic and something we are now revisiting with intent. These efforts help us engage all learners and assist children in learning to self-regulate through the use of academic (and a few non-academic) play centers on a regular basis as well as other strategies. We are utilizing a state coach to support our teachers in these endeavors.

With appropriate planning and scheduling, the Early Childhood Center has provided us with options for active play recesses when the weather is bad. We have used those indoor spaces when the playground is snow-covered, it is raining, or temperatures "feel like" 20 degrees or below.

Finally, students cashed in on their earned reward from the PTO fundraiser in the fall. One lucky student from each grade level gave Mr. Favre a pie in the face, and a second student from each grade sprayed the principal with silly string. It was MY first time having blue hair. I also came to the realization that spray whipping cream is NOT good for the eyes!

LES: LES was booming with energy before winter break, and everyone returned rested, relaxed, and ready to learn! The staff started back on January 5th with a professional development day. The focus was on upcoming IAR testing in March. That morning the teachers spent time examining trends in last year’s scores, and they established a plan for addressing concerns for this year. Staff members also worked in their committees which are dedicated to strengthening the culture of the building, meeting individual student non-academic needs, motivating students academically, fostering comradery among staff members, and making decisions for the future of LES. The afternoon was dedicated to the implementation of a new referral process within the building. It was a long day, but very worthwhile.

LMS: We are fully back into the routine of the school year and off to a strong start.

On January 5, during the professional development day, teachers from the middle school and high school partnered together for an academic trivia competition. The combined English department emerged as the winners. This activity provided a fun and engaging opportunity for collaboration, connection, and community building between the two buildings.

We are currently finishing the i-Ready winter assessment window and have already seen encouraging preliminary growth among students.

Our December Success Day was very successful, with a focus on respectful behavior as our second-quarter theme. Students who demonstrated respectful behavior earned opportunities to participate in festive, Christmas-themed games. Some students even had the chance to decorate a teacher like a Christmas tree, which added to the fun and positive school culture.

As we move into the third quarter, our focus is on i-Ready mastery. Each time a student completes an i-Ready lesson with an 80% or higher score, they receive a small incentive and a ticket to enter a drawing to “tattoo a teacher” in March (temporary tattoos only). This incentive has generated excitement and increased student engagement.

LHS: Students and staff are off to a strong start in 2026. Our Public Relations class, with support from their teacher, Kelli Harris, continues to create high-quality Facebook posts that highlight engaging classroom activities, while our Digital Media class and their teacher, Trey Swanson, are producing impressive videos featuring local businesses, sports updates, and fun school-related content. I encourage you to view these items on the Litchfield Facebook page to see the great work our students are doing.

In addition, Mrs. Cress, Mrs. Ellis, and I met with incoming freshmen last week to share important information about high school classes and pathway options. Our Incoming Freshmen Parent Meeting will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, January 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the unit office. Current freshmen through juniors will select their pathways during the first week of February, with class meetings scheduled during the third week of February to provide detailed information about next year’s course offerings.

SCI has been named a finalist for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Clean Energy Pathway Grant, totaling $479,070 over two years. This funding would support continued administrative services for schools across the region and expand student access to high-demand career pathways. Specifically, the grant would provide students with opportunities to participate in the Laborers’ Construction Craft Preparation Program through the Illinois Laborers’ and Contractors’ Joint Apprenticeship Training Program, as well as the Industrial Maintenance/Advanced Manufacturing program at Lincoln Land Community College through SCI’s partnership. Students would also directly benefit from barrier-reduction funds to offset costs related to coursework, tuition, and transportation. Together, these investments will strengthen regional workforce pipelines while ensuring students have equitable access to training that leads to in-demand, family-sustaining careers.

Transitioning to Our New District Facebook Page

As we continue working to improve communication across Purple Panther Nation, I want to share an important update regarding our district’s Facebook presence.

The district has transitioned from our former Facebook group to a new, official district-wide Facebook page. This new page connects directly with Thrillshare, allowing us to share important updates consistently across Facebook, text, email, and our website.

Please note: the old Facebook group will begin being archived on February 2. We encourage families and community members to take time now to like our new page and download or save any photos or content they wish to keep from the old group before it is archived.

New District Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581114507291

The new page will serve as a single, district-wide communication hub, sharing updates from all buildings in one place. Comments will remain enabled as part of our responsibility as a public entity; however, the district will not be monitoring or responding to comments on Facebook. As always, questions or concerns should be directed to your building principal or district leadership so they can be addressed appropriately.

Cold Weather Reminder

As colder winter days approach, we encourage families to plan ahead and make sure students are dressed warmly for outdoor temperatures. Please bundle up with coats, hats, gloves, and layers, especially for students waiting at bus stops.

Families should continue to monitor local news stations, our district Facebook page, and Thrillshare for any weather-related announcements. Please know that it takes significant weather conditions to call a cold day, so being prepared for cold temperatures is important. Thank you for helping keep our students safe and comfortable during winter weather.

MAKE IT PROGRAM

The program ended the year with 38 students registered and they are full with a waiting list. They spent some time this past month learning about giving and helping others. They even went out in the neighborhood and did some caroling and visited Evergreen and LH and RC and caroled for the residents.

The theme for the summer program is "Diggin' It". They will be studying paleontology, dinosaurs, history, fossils, the beaches and sand, gardening, and other things that the kids will "DIG".

If you are interested in enrolling your student in MAKE-IT, please contact Kelley Walker at kwalker@litchfieldpanthers.org.

Here is a link to our current district's Facebook page to see some of the other wonderful things that our District is doing.

As a reminder, here is the link to our NEW FACEBOOK PAGE.

Strategic Planning Update

We are off to a strong and encouraging start with our district’s Strategic Planning process. Our first meeting brought together students, staff, parents, community members, board members, and administrators for open, thoughtful conversation about what makes Litchfield CUSD #12 special and how we continue to move forward together.

During the first session, participants shared pride in our close-knit community, strong relationships, and commitment to students, while also emphasizing the importance of preparing graduates with strong problem-solving skills, communication, collaboration, and adaptability. There was clear agreement that our plan should balance academic preparation with character, responsibility, and real-world readiness.

Our second Strategic Planning meeting will focus specifically on updating our Portrait of a Graduate—the knowledge, skills, and character traits we want every Purple Panther to leave our schools with, both now and in the future. This work will directly inform district priorities and decision-making over the next five years.

We appreciate the voices already at the table and encourage continued participation as this important work continues.

Dates of Strategic Planning & Portrait of a Graduate Committee

• Meeting 2: January 22, 2026 (5-8 pm) *

• Meeting 3: February 11, 2026 (5-8 pm)

• Meeting 4: February 25, 2026 (5-8 pm)--WILL BE HELD AT THE SCI CENTER

• Meeting 5: March 11, 2026 (5-8 pm)--WILL BE HELD AT THE SCI CENTER

• Meeting 6: April 15, 2026 (5-8 pm)

* not a Wednesday

The purpose of this group is to shape the district’s direction for the next five years and review the essential skills every LHS graduate should possess. Together, we will:

• Develop mission and vision statements.

• Establish core values.

• Identify district goals and priorities.

• Review and analyze current district data to guide our work.
  
  

Our collective efforts will result in clear Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals that will serve as the foundation for Litchfield CUSD #12’s future planning.

You can join in one or more sessions by contacting Kris Adamson at (217-324-2157) or via email at kadamson@litchfieldpanthers.org.

Bills payable for January 2026 total $300,968.79.

From the Education fund: $164,942.68; of this total $18,801.09 is payable for SCI.

From Operations & Maintenance: $56,544.95.

From Transportation: $23,823.63.

From Capital Projects: $10,903.00.

From Tort: $3,623.75.

From Health-Life-Safety: $19,499.28.

Treasurer’s Report

Ending balance in all funds at December 31, 2025 is $19,139,735.

Balance in operating funds is $15,880,160.

Balance in Capital Projects is $1,029,915.

Policy, Administrative Procedures, and Exhibits from Press Plus Issue #120

As part of our regular policy review cycle, the Board reviewed updates recommended through PRESS Issue 120. These were approved and will be updated in our Policy Manual. Most of these changes were required due to new or amended state laws and focus on keeping district policies current and compliant. Updates addressed areas such as school safety, district operations and transparency, personnel requirements, curriculum revisions, student behavior and attendance, and student records.

These revisions are largely compliance-driven and do not represent major philosophical shifts, but rather ensure our policies reflect current legal requirements and best practices for Illinois school districts. We will continue to monitor future PRESS updates as additional legislative changes are released.

2026-2027 District Calendar

The proposed 2026–27 school calendar was developed through collaboration with the district calendar committee and reflects a balance between instructional time, professional learning, family needs, and state requirements. The calendar includes two professional development days prior to the start of the school year on August 10–11, followed by an early-dismissal schedule during the first three student attendance days to support transitions at all levels.

Throughout the year, the calendar incorporates a combination of full-day and afternoon professional development opportunities aligned with district priorities, while also minimizing disruption to instructional time. Several early-release days are scheduled to support staff learning, collaboration, and continuous improvement efforts. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled in October, with an earned non-attendance day following conferences to support staff workload balance.

The calendar currently includes Election Day as a non-attendance day. While Illinois School Code does not currently require schools to be closed for a state election, the last time a state election occurred, the code was changed later in the process to require schools to be closed. As a result, some districts are proactively including Election Day in their calendars to avoid mid-year disruptions should a similar legislative change occur.

Including Election Day at this time allows the district to plan conservatively while maintaining flexibility. If Election Day is not ultimately added to state code as a required non-attendance day, the district can remove that day from the calendar and shift the scheduled teacher institute day to October 9. Should that adjustment be necessary, it would be brought to the Board for consideration and action no later than the August Board of Education meeting.

The calendar also includes planned Fall, Winter, and Spring breaks, designated non-attendance days for federal and state holidays, and emergency days at the end of the school year. The district may utilize up to five e-Learning days in place of traditional emergency days when appropriate. The last day of student attendance is scheduled for May 21, pending the use of emergency or e-Learning days.

Review/Approve memorandum of understanding between LCUSD #12 and the Teamsters Local

Union No. 525

This memorandum of understanding is limited in scope and focuses on maintaining fairness and consistency as the district uses calendar flexibility. It is designed to ensure that employees who work year-round are appropriately recognized in years when a traditionally observed holiday becomes a student attendance day.

The agreement does not change other contract provisions or holiday practices and does not impact employee groups whose schedules are already determined differently. Overall, it provides clarity for how the district will handle this situation moving forward while keeping all other expectations and agreements in place.

Revised Memorandum of understanding for School Resource Officer between the Board of Education of the Litchfield Community Unit School District #12 and the City of Litchfield

The Board approved an updated School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement for the remainder of the year. This update is required due to recent changes in Illinois law that further clarify the role of School Resource Officers and limit certain law enforcement actions involving students during the school day.

The most significant change in this amendment is the explicit prohibition on School Resource Officers issuing tickets or citations, or arresting students, on District property during normal school days when school is in session. This change aligns the agreement with current state law and reinforces the distinction between school discipline and law enforcement responsibilities. Student discipline remains the responsibility of District administration, with SRO involvement limited to situations involving criminal activity or an immediate threat to health or safety.

Additional updates further clarify expectations around law enforcement interventions, student interviews, searches, and information sharing, ensuring compliance with updated statutory requirements while maintaining student protections, due process, and confidentiality. The agreement continues to emphasize the SRO “triad” model, focusing on safety, relationship-building, and education, rather than routine discipline.

This updated agreement serves as an amendment for the remainder of the current school year only. It allows the District and the City of Litchfield to remain compliant with new legal requirements while maintaining continuity of services. A new, comprehensive SRO agreement is currently being collaboratively developed by the District and the City for the 2026–27 school year.

Approve Emergency Use of Health Life Safety Funds

At last night's Board of Education meeting, the Board approved an emergency resolution allowing the district to use Health/Life Safety (HLS) funds to address a failed hot water heater at Litchfield High School/Middle School. While the complex has multiple hot water heaters, two of our larger ones were installed at the same time and serve the same area, making this a critical operational issue. The emergency approval allows the district to move forward promptly with repairs to ensure safe, uninterrupted food service and daily operations for students and staff.

Hires:

1. April Pier as a Substitute Bus Driver for the District effective immediately and a Route Driver beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
2. Timothy Cyprian as a Substitute Bus Driver for the District effective immediately.
3. Danielle Varner as a Substitute Bus Driver for the District effective immediately.
4. Gregg Hires as a Substitute Bus Driver for the District effective immediately.

Reassignments:

1. Robyn Engstrom, Elementary Nurse, to CTE Health Science Instructor and Elementary Nurse beginning the 2026-2027 school year.

Transfers:

1. Kayla Davidson from Clerical Aide to Secretary, beginning January 5, 2026.

Resignations:

1. Juletta Ellis, Director of SCI effective June 30, 2026.

2. Jeanne Gebhardt, Bus Driver for the District effective January 31st, 2026.

Retirement

1. Bob Witter, Director of Transportation & Building /Grounds effective August 31, 2026
2. Marvin Savage, Bus Driver and Mechanic for the district at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.
3. Karen Savage, Bus Aide for the district at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

1. One FMLA requests was approved by the Board.