Discipline and Bullying

When I joined the Board of Education in 2015, Governor Rauner signed S.B. 100 into law (Public Act 99-0456), effectively eliminating Zero Tolerance Policies (ZTP) in Illinois schools. This law introduced explicit restrictions, stipulations, and recommendations on professional development related to student discipline. It is essential to recognize that ZTP is no longer permitted under Illinois school code. Furthermore, research overwhelmingly indicates that ZTP is ineffective, often leading to reactive and exclusionary disciplinary practices that disproportionately impact students of color. The passage of S.B. 100 was a crucial first step in moving away from these harmful policies.

As part of this law, the Parent Teacher Advisory Committee was established to ensure collaboration between educators and families in shaping district policies. This committee does highly valuable work and I have a deep respect for what they do.  I have attended meetings as a member of the public to listen to discussions of parents and teachers.  

One such discussion focused on the Behavior Matrix, a framework guiding Responsibility Centered Discipline (RCD) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) interventions. The School Board supported the implementation of this Matrix, aligning with the objectives of S.B. 100. D7 leadership has consistently emphasized the importance of RCD and MTSS at both board meetings and advisory committee meetings. Dr. Shelton has led discussions on response to intervention, positive behavior supports, and social-emotional learning (SEL) to improve academic performance, support students, and foster a positive school climate. Effective discipline is not just about addressing poor behavior but about cultivating an environment where every student feels valued and supported.

To proactively build such an environment, District 7 has prioritized fostering a culture of belonging, comfort, and safety. In 2021, on Dr. Shelton's recommendation, we engaged in a book study of Belonging through a Culture of Dignity by Cobb and Crownapple, which laid the foundation for this work. Around the same time, Dr. Shelton began developing and implementing a Strategic Plan centered on our mission: empowering each student to achieve personal success.

To support this mission, the district has committed to data-driven tools like FastBridge, Panorama, and SAEBERS assessments to track student growth and enhance school climate. The Board of Education has also prioritized mental health funding, leading to a partnership with Chestnut Health Systems, which presented at the September 25, 2023, board meeting. As a result, D7 now has more mental health counselors than ever before.

Addressing issues like bullying and student discipline remains a top priority. During D7’s Anti-Bullying Week in February 2024, Stu Cabe engaged with students, parents, and even the Board to promote a culture of respect and inclusion. This initiative was funded through Dr. Shelton’s “Every One Every Day Edwardsville” anti-bullying campaign. Additionally, in January 2024, the Board implemented new guidelines for preventing and responding to bullying, intimidation, and harassment. To further strengthen students’ sense of belonging, Liberty and Lincoln Middle Schools have introduced the House system, designed to encourage positive decision-making and connectedness. During D7’s Teacher Institute, Brian Duckles led discussions on RCD, reinforcing our commitment to supportive discipline strategies.

While school disciplinary challenges persist nationwide, District 7 remains committed to a culture of belonging and student success. As a board member, I can assure you that we will continue working together—students, educators, families, and the broader community—to seek positive outcomes so that every student is empowered to thrive.

Our mission remains clear: to empower each student to achieve personal success by building a thriving community of learners and creating meaningful, authentic pathways to success.

District Safety and Security

I would like to discuss how D7 has implemented several safety and security measures over the past four years to ensure the well-being of staff and students. I am going to reflect on: 1. Emergency Preparedness and Collaboration with Law Enforcement, 2. Enhanced Security Infrastructure and 3. Communication Systems.

1. SSAVEIM Certification, Director of Security, and SRO’s

At the IASB/IASA/IASBO Joint Annual Conference this past November, Dr. Allen Duncan, our Assistant Superintendent, and I attended a work session on school safety, an overview of the SSAVEIM training, in which our own safety crisis team is certified. The speakers discussed the I love U Guys foundation (Home ♥ The "I Love U Guys" Foundation), from which our school district is currently adopting practices.  The work session ran a through a model of the reunification process, as part of a process designed to create a clear approach to crisis management. This process identifies communication, coordination, command structure and resource management. At the work session, Dr. Duncan and I participated in a walkthrough of the reunification process, as well, so that we understood the implementation of this plan. I appreciated Dr. Duncan’s discussion with me at the breaks, discussing our implementation of these practices under the expertise of the Director of Security Michael Hubbard, Jeff Wallis and our SRO team.  We discussed the vital importance of our partnership with our law enforcement, fostering a safe environment in our schools and building solid relationships between our students and officers.

2. Enhance Security Infrastructure:

The community cited the need for safe and secure facilities as our number one priority as we came together to discuss bond projects in 2022, leading to the successful passage of the bond referendum in April 2023. In the summer of 2024, Cassens Elementary School, Goshen Elementary School, Liberty Middle School, Midway Elementary School and Worden Elementary School all received upgraded door hardware and access control software to begin functioning as secure entry vestibules this past fall. During the summer of 2025, secure double entries will be constructed at Edwardsville High School (light renovation), Glen Carbon Elementary School, Leclaire Elementary School, Woodland Elementary School, Hamel Elementary School (small addition), Columbus Elementary School and Nelson Elementary School (involved renovation).

3. Communication Systems:

There’s a reason why the school district upgraded phones for administrators in D7 and it is for access to emergency communication. To me, that’s worth it. This past year, the district tested and later launched the Crisis Go App with administrators. The Crisis Go app provides buildings with a platform under which to operate emergency drills and handle crisis situations. Our chief of security, Michael Hubbard, discussed safety and security measures at the Board meeting last April. He discussed cameras, emergency bus procedures, law enforcement access, the Crisis Go Emergency Management System, ASIM-SSAVIEM training, and more. He will provide an update this spring as well.

Board members and the community are educated on the tools and plans our District Leadership Team, teachers and staff use to ensure the safety of our students and staff. This includes evaluating the expansion of security measures in our schools, their impact on the tort fund, and how we effectively allocate resources to meet our district’s safety needs.

Please let me know your comments and ideas via text: 618-973-9465.

Mental Health and Literacy

Edwardsville District 7 phone ban resolution fails to pass But don’t let that headline mislead you - the real takeaway is the strong support for our own district’s cell phone policy. While the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Delegate Assembly voted “Do Not Adopt” on the proposed resolution, this doesn’t mean strict opposition to restrictions on cell phones in schools; it means a decision not to pursue a statewide mandate. I was very proud to discuss this issue with Board members throughout Illinois who voiced their concerns about mental health, literacy and wireless communication devices in our learning environment(s). Edwardsville District 7 remains committed to its policy, setting a model for balancing technology and learning in our schools.

As a school board member, I am increasingly focused on the 1. well-being of all our students and 2. their literacy development, examining the tools both board members and educators have available to support that, whether it is through supporting educators and staff regarding curriculum, creating policy, or utilizing community partnerships, i.e. -D7’s with the Edwardsville Public Library, where every D7 student is eligible for a library card! With the Libby app, our students can download up to five books at a time!

Here are my remarks at the IASB Delegate Assembly: Greetings, fellow IASB members.

I am here today to ask for your support on a vote to adopt the resolution regarding cell phone usage in schools. You may wonder why this issue is worth bringing forward. My answer aligns with what Mickey Smith Jr. said yesterday: we must “Keep on Going” to support what we believe in. He offered keywords: trust, relationship, influence, instruction, and vision, and linked social media influencers with trust.  This displacement has affected education. Trust should reside with our educators and our schools, not our social media influencers. Our attention should be focused upon what is in front of us, not on our phones.

Our own students have said that implementation of our policy has created an environment that encourages conversation and discussion in the classroom and out.

As of November 4, 2024, eight states have implemented statewide policies restricting cell phone use in schools. Twelve more states have introduced similar legislation, while nine states are piloting or recommending policies. That’s 29 states leading efforts to create phone-free school environments. It’s time for Illinois to take action.

Here’s why this matters. 

Firearms have been the leading cause of death for US children and teens since 2020. Less than 10% of those deaths are accidental. That leaves us with Suicide and Homicide.  Our children are in the midst of a mental health crisis and unfettered access to their phones is not helping - it is harming.

The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has urged Congress to issue warnings about social media’s mental health risks. Gallup data shows kids spend an average of four hours a day on social media. 

Cell phones don’t belong in the hands of a developing brain during learning hours. They are a nuisance, a distraction, and a barrier to literacy. In 1976, 40% of high school seniors reported reading six or more books a year for fun, while only 11% said they hadn’t read any. By 2022, those numbers had flipped. 

Literacy is the foundation for developing critical thinkers and preparing students for the rigors of adulthood.

As Dr. Maryanne Wolf reminds us, every child can “become something they never imagined” through deep literacy. This resolution helps create environments where students can focus on learning, free from digital distractions.

This proposal is not about mandates but about empowering local districts. By collaborating with the General Assembly, we shape legislation that reflects our collective expertise, providing an equitable educational experience for all Illinois students. Importantly, this isn’t a financial burden—We are not using pouches. We are enforcing the rules.

Safety concerns? The resolution accounts for exceptions like emergencies, health conditions, and IEP accommodations. A clear and consistent statewide policy would create safer, more predictable environments for students and staff.

While IASB press policies offer guidance, they lack the enforceability of legislation. Without legislative support, not all Illinois students will benefit equally from the data-driven solutions we know are necessary.

As school board members, our duty is to strengthen public education through local control while collaborating at the state level to ensure the best outcomes for all students. The long-term benefits of reducing cell phone use in schools—improved academic performance, mental health, and emotional resilience—are at the heart of this resolution. In supporting this resolution, we make a statement: Illinois students deserve a learning environment that prioritizes their mental health, academic growth, and future success.

Let’s act boldly to create the schools our students need.

Thank you

District 7 Finances

When I decided to run for ECUSD7 school board in 2015, I knew that Edwardsville District 7 schools provided an outstanding education, but we had seen tough financial times. At that point, I wanted to work toward identifying how to overcome budget deficits and borrowing, and to communicate with our community as to how to solve that problem. In 2017, District 7 voters passed Proposition E, which helped us to work toward financial stability. In 2018/19 and 2019/2020, the school board was able to deliver a balanced budget, and to begin the work of establishing cash reserves, while providing new technology and security enhancements, as well as reinstituting curriculum studies.

Our tax rate, which was initially expected to be $4.77, has been below that point consistently.

The 2024 tax rate is expected to be $4.6380.

2023 $ 4.67

2022 $4.69

Since 2017, the D7 community has been diligently building a solid financial profile. S&P Global Ratings raised the district's credit status two notches from "BBB" to "A+” which as Dr. Shelton said, "Anytime we're talking about borrowing money, (a better bond rating means) a savings for the average taxpayer in District 7. In a press release, Joseph Vodziak, S&P credit analyst, said, "The upgrade reflects the district's improved financial profile, …..which has resulted in very strong operating results in each of the past five years and results anticipated at the end of fiscal 2023.” Shortly thereafter, in April 2023, D7 voters approved a no tax rate increase $100 million bond, which is currently funding the rebuilding of Lincoln Middle School, the completion of double entry security doors at all schools, the expansion of the EHS Commons, repairs at Midway, asbestos removal at Hamel and Lincoln, and subject to board member approval in the next several weeks, the EHS Media Center. Recently, the District completed the Columbus playground work, which was paid for out of O&M funds that were carried over from the previous year. Mr. Courtney, the CFO, expects that the working cash fund will have a balance of $6.2 million by June 30, 2025. In addition, interest earned to date on the Bond is $6.8 million.

These financial milestones reflect the dedication of our school board, administration, and community in ensuring that District 7 remains on a stable, sustainable path. Through sound fiscal management, strategic investments, and transparent communication, we have strengthened our financial position while continuing to enhance our schools, improve security, and expand educational opportunities. The district's improved credit rating, growing cash reserves, and ability to fund major projects without increasing tax rates are testaments to our commitment to both student success and taxpayer responsibility.

As we look ahead, I remain committed to maintaining this financial momentum—ensuring that District 7 remains strong, innovative, and well-prepared to meet the needs of our students for years to come. I welcome the opportunity to continue this important work and invite you to reach out with any questions or thoughts. Together, we can keep moving District 7 forward!

All of this information is sourced from the District 7 website, or has been made available through Boarddocs; the comments from Dr. Shelton were sourced from the Intelligencer.

- Terri Dalla Riva