Danville board approves travel for student-teacher team to Normandy research fellowship

The Danville Community Consolidated School District 118 Board of Education voted unanimously to approve travel for a Danville High School student-teacher team chosen for the Albert H. Small Normandy Institute Research Fellowship. Principal Jacob Bretz introduced the request and said the team — teacher Lori Woods and student Bailey Easton — was one of 15 student‑teacher pairs nationwide selected for the program.

Bretz and Woods told the board the fellowship includes archival research in Washington, D.C., followed by an international component in Normandy, France, where the student will research an assigned briefing topic and the team will work on a soldier biography. Woods said the fellowship “covers most of it,” but that a hotel night at the beginning and end of the trip likely will not be covered and those incidental costs were being planned for. Board members asked for a post‑trip report; Woods confirmed Easton will present the required briefing and return to report to the board.

The board approved the travel request by voice and roll call, with the chair announcing a 7‑0 vote. The motion authorized district staff to finalize arrangements for the Albert H. Small Normandy Institute Research Fellowship international travel request.