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Kewanee CUSD 229 board approves revised cellphone and visitor policies, awards $120,000 flooring contract and confirms personnel changes
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Summary
At its Feb. 17 meeting, the Kewanee Community Unit School District No. 229 Board of Education approved revised student cellphone and visitor policies, awarded a $120,000 low bid for Belle flooring removal, adopted an attendance handbook policy and approved multiple personnel resignations, hires, transfers and leaves; all votes were unanimous among members present.
The Kewanee Community Unit School District No. 229 Board of Education on Feb. 17 approved a set of operational and personnel actions, including revisions to student cellphone and visitor policies, a $120,000 contract for flooring removal at Belle, a district attendance handbook policy, and a slate of personnel changes.
Superintendent R. Baney told the board the proposed policy revisions cover student cell phone usage and visitor procedures; the board voted to adopt revised policies 7:190, 7:190-AP5, 8:30 and 8:30-AP2 after a motion by Member Christiansen and a second by Member DeMay. The vote was recorded as aye by Members DeMay, Dev, Christiansen, Steffen and President Jeff Johnson; Members DeBord and Salisbury were absent.
Baney also recommended awarding the Belle flooring removal contract to Randy Borman, the low bidder at $120,000. Member Steffen made the motion to approve and Member Dev seconded; the board approved the contract on a unanimous roll-call vote of those present. The minutes record the award amount as $120,000 and specify Randy Borman as the low bidder.
On a separate motion, the board adopted the District Handbook Policy for Attendance. The recommendation came from Baney and the motion to approve was made by Member Steffen and seconded by Member Christiansen; the vote was unanimous among members present.
Personnel matters that originated in closed session were presented and approved in open session. The board accepted three resignations (Dannon Wheeler, bus aide, effective 2/13/26; Brittany Ouart, Belle playground supervisor, effective immediately; Mary Bates, district remote secretary, effective 2/1/26) and approved hires that include part‑time custodial and nurse positions, multiple assistant coaching positions, and ROE Irving 21st Century student aide roles. The minutes note that all hires are contingent on candidates obtaining required certification and qualifications prior to beginning employment. The board also approved an intermittent FMLA leave for Angela Washburn effective Feb. 17, 2026, and several transfers and volunteer coaching appointments; all personnel motions passed unanimously among members present.
In administrative updates, Baney said the KHS addition should be completed soon though a few items remain; TouchPro is finalizing a hallway-wrap design and measuring soon, and the district is awaiting roof-warranty information before reinstalling solar panels with CEDG. The HVAC system at the Petersen Auditorium is operating but awaiting balancing tests. Mr. Anderson provided an overview of testing preparation across district buildings and congratulated Alicia Ralston and Amy Miler for being named Outstanding Teachers by the Illinois State Board of Education. KHS Principal A. Tidwell reported that Jendayia Crowe became the district's first IHSA girls wrestling regional champion and Aaliyah Swearingen qualified for the state meet.
The board convened in closed session earlier in the evening for personnel, negotiations, property, security, student-discipline and litigation matters under 5 ILCS 120/2 and returned to open session before taking the votes listed above. President Jeff Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.; the board adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
Next procedural steps noted in the minutes include that the IESA scholar-athlete nominees will be rescheduled for the March meeting and that hires remain contingent on certification and qualification requirements.