EDWARDSVILLE - During their regular meeting on May 26, 2026, the Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7 Board of Education discussed the possibility of creating a Curriculum Advisory Committee.
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The committee would support the curriculum reviews completed by teachers and administrators. Board President Bob Paty explained the purpose behind creating a new committee.
“The Curriculum Advisory Committee exists to inform, educate, and ensure that all curriculum decisions brought before the Board are reviewed, assessed, and accompanied by well-reasoned recommendations prior to Board action,” he said. “That’s really the function of the committee, to make sure that, by the time it’s come to the Board, it’s hit all the wickets.”
Board members discussed the purpose and makeup of the proposed committee.
Member Matt Breihan clarified that the goal of the committee isn’t to make curriculum decisions, but rather to “act as a form of checks and balances.” Paty agreed that the committee would have “an oversight role” to ensure that there is “alignment” between curriculum decisions and the district’s goals.
“The purpose isn’t to run the district. It is to act as a form of checks and balances,” Breihan said. “When it comes to the operation of the district, that still lies with the superintendent and his powers and the teachers. The operation section of the curriculum should have teacher involvement from the district level, not on the committee level.”
As written, the term of the committee will end in June 2028. But the Board has the ability to reassign the Curriculum Advisory Committee as a standing committee.
Appointed Superintendent Dr. Allen Duncan asked for more clarity regarding the purpose of the committee. He pointed out that reviewing curriculums would be a continuous cycle.
“Is this committee truly designed to open up the doors for the community, for stakeholders, for teachers, for parents, for educational experts to come in and help us provide feedback and look at our process, or is it something different?” he asked.
Duncan added that his team has no concerns about the formation of a committee and that he is “100% behind” the plan. But he emphasized that “the collaborative piece” is the most important aspect of this plan, and he believes the current proposal is “missing some of that collaboration of teachers, stakeholders, Board members.”
As proposed, the committee would consist of five to seven members who are nominated and appointed by the Board and superintendent. The members must be Board members or have “relevant degrees or experience in the field of education, curriculum, and who are not currently employees of the district.”
Paty explained that he feels it’s important for the committee members to not be employed by the district. He wants the committee to provide “oversight,” and he expressed his hopes that community members like retirees will show an interest in joining the committee.
“The committee is brought along from the beginning instead of being addressed at the end,” Paty said. “There’s nothing more frustrating for me as a Board member than when you have problems with a curriculum that’s brought before the Board and you put up a roadblock and people say, ‘But think about all the people who have been working on this for two years.’ If that’s the case, then that’s the wrong time to bring it to the Board. If the Board does have a problem with it, you’re treating the Board like a rubberstamp.”
Board member Alma Carver echoed Paty.
“We don’t want to get to a point where we’re faced with a decision but we don’t necessarily know what has happened to get to this decision or we’re asking all these questions at the eleventh hour when we could have been asking them at the first or second hour and changing course if need be,” she said.
Board member Jill Bertels suggested that the Board could be more involved in the curriculum review process. She asked if a new committee “is really needed.” Breihan added that it is “very important” that teachers and staff members still feel like they are a part of the process.
Paty emphasized that the committee cannot exist without the support of the district. He said the committee would take a “30,000 feet” view, while the district takes a “5,000 feet” view. This is where collaboration with teachers, administrators and parents would occur.
“We’re not talking about the committee choosing the books. We’re not talking about the committee choosing how it’s taught. We’re not choosing whether it’s taught in the third week of the spring or the fourth week of the spring,” he said. “We just want to know that there’s a plan. The Curriculum Review Committee from the district should be doing that. So really, this committee that we’re talking about is just kind of oversight to make sure. Did you hit the wickets? Did you jump through the hoop?”
Board member Sara Bauer said she agrees with the committee’s purpose, but she feels there need to be more stakeholders involved on the committee. Paty said the coordination between the committee and the superintendent will be “critical.” Board member Lynne Sanderson added that people must work with D7 staff before they come to the committee with complaints.
Breihan and Bertels noted that the Board of Education members who join the committee should be on different election cycles. Paty encouraged Board members to nominate themselves if they are interested in serving on the committee.
The Board agreed to continue their conversation about the Curriculum Advisory Committee at the upcoming Board retreat. No action was taken regarding the committee as part of the May 26 meeting. Board member Scott Ahart was absent.
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