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Kewanee CUSD 229 board approves $1.36M tennis courts bid, sets graduation date and advances regional athletics co-op
Summary
At its July 21 meeting the Kewanee CUSD 229 Board approved a $1,360,623 bid for KHS tennis courts, set the 2026 graduation date, adopted routine resolutions and pay rates, approved multiple hires and a termination from closed session, and voted 6–1 to send a broader athletics co-op counter-proposal to Wethersfield CUSD #230.
The Kewanee Community Unit School District No. 229 Board of Education on July 21 approved a $1,360,623 bid from Laverdiere Construction for Kewanee High School tennis courts, set the 2026 high school graduation for May 17 at 1:00 p.m., and took a slate of personnel and procurement actions.
Superintendent R Baney told the board the tennis bid includes post-tensioned concrete and electrical work and recommended awarding the contract. Member Christiansen moved to approve the base bid with alternate bids 1–3; Member Salisbury seconded and the motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.
The board also voted unanimously to keep the bus mileage rate at $2.75 per mile for the coming fiscal year, approved substitute teacher pay rates for 2025–26, and adopted a Bus Hazard Resolution. On procurement, the board approved continuing fuel purchases from Hodge’s following a review of bids from Hodge’s, River Valley Cooperative and Gold Star FS.
In personnel actions arising from closed session, the board accepted resignations from coaching positions (Emma Crofton and Ryan Hansen), approved a termination for cause of Employee A-2026, and accepted Gary Bradley’s resignation as KHS Scholastic Bowl coach; all of those motions passed by unanimous votes. The board approved a slate of hires recommended by Superintendent Baney — including Valerie Roy as district IT support specialist, Marianne Culver as restorative interventionist at Central, Joselyn Guerrero as Irving bilingual interpreter and multiple coaching and support positions — contingent on required certification and qualifications.
On interdistrict athletics, the board reviewed a letter from Wethersfield CUSD #230 proposing a co-op. The board considered five draft responses and voted 6–1 to send Draft #2, a counter-proposal that would expand cooperative sports beyond soccer to include tennis, boys and girls wrestling, bowling and competitive dance. Member DeMay cast the sole dissenting vote; Member Salisbury moved to send the counter-proposal and Member Christiansen seconded.
Superintendent R Baney also briefed the board on summer maintenance and construction: crews are preparing the high school for delivery of new boilers (delivery scheduled the following week), replacing damaged A/C units at Irving after a transformer-related power surge, welding steel on the KHS theater/classroom addition with concrete planned next week, and nearing completion of the Central roof project with KHS work expected to finish mid to late August.
The meeting opened with recognition of KHS track state qualifiers Tyson Currie and Leo Gandarilla; Mrs. Tidwell presented resolutions and coaches Jeff King, Nikki Kubiak and Amanda Johnson accepted them on the athletes’ behalf. The board fulfilled all FOIA requests and introduced a new principal evaluation tool for use with building principals.
The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
