Kewanee CUSD 229 board approves semester-long expulsion; reenrollment tied to counseling

The Kewanee Community Unit School District No. 229 Board of Education voted 5-0 on March 2, 2026 to expel Student A-2026 for the remainder of the semester. Superintendent Baney recommended the expulsion during a closed-session meeting and told the board that reenrollment would be contingent on the student completing or continuing a counseling or mental health program administered by a professional.

The recommendation was made following a closed session held under exemptions to the Open Meetings Act cited in the record as C(1) (personnel), C(2) (collective bargaining/salary schedules) and C(9) (student disciplinary cases), and the board referenced 5 ILCS 120/2 and the School Code of Illinois in the meeting minutes. Member Salisbury moved to approve the superintendent’s recommendation; Member Steffen seconded. The roll-call vote showed Members DeMay, Dev, Christiansen, Salisbury and Steffen voting aye. Members DeBord and Johnson were absent.

The board’s action approves the expulsion for the remainder of the current semester; the minutes state only that reenrollment is "pending the completion or continuation of a counseling/mental health program administered by a professional." The minutes do not specify a timeline for reenrollment, the counseling provider, or other conditions beyond that statement.

No public comment on the matter is recorded in the meeting minutes. The special meeting record shows the board reconvened from closed session at 6:37 p.m. and adjourned the full meeting at 7:01 p.m.

The action is recorded in the meeting minutes as approved 5-0; Members DeBord and Johnson were noted as absent for the vote.