What’s happening in metro-east schools? Here’s a new column to keep you informed
Hello parents, teachers and students of Belleville and the metro-east.
I’m Madison Lammert, the education reporter here at the Belleville News-Democrat. This is my first edition of “Education Matters,” a one-stop resource for education news, notes and honors for the metro-east.
Look for this column online and in print twice a month. In the meantime, if you have an item you’d like to be considered for inclusion, email me at mlammert@bnd.com. Please put “Education Matters” in the subject line.
Let’s get started.
Honor Roll
- Belle Valley celebrated its 150th anniversary this past weekend. Current students and staff, returning alumni and community members gathered at an open house to honor the milestone.
- A handful of local students are part of the 2025-26 Illinois State Board of Education’s Student Advisory Council: East St. Louis sophomore Darion Millender, Collinsville senior Sara McChristian, Belleville West senior Emma Johnson and O’Fallon senior Deja Robinson. These student leaders meet with policymakers, community partners and more about issues that impact Illinois students and even recommend solutions, ISBE’s website states.
- Many schools name students of the month. Here are a few October shoutouts: Abigail Escobar from Belleville’s Washington School, along with Janiyah Rogers and Germani Hodges from Belleville’s Henry Raab School. Also, congrats to Central Junior High School’s October Citizens of Character Lola Barriger, Evan Hughes, Emmeirson Smith, Tawny Morrison, Laila Dickerson and Joseph Addy-Frazier.
- Two Kahoks received 2025 Collinsville Community Collaboration (C3) awards. C3 is a partnership between the school district, city and Collinsville Chamber of Commerce. Senior Laila Hutchison earned the Leaders of Tomorrow Award, and Kreitner Elementary 4th Grade Teacher Rachel Whitener received the Stan Schaeffer Education Community Leadership Award.
- Congratulations to the Whiteside District 115 Warriors on capturing the Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association baseball championship. The Warriors knocked off Marion Junior High, DuQuoin Middle School before defeating Waterloo Junior High in the championship game, 7-3, on Thursday. The team was given a first responders escort into town and met by cheering parents and classmates in the school lobby following the victory. The team is managed by Laith Fares. Team members are Jackson Thrune, Kade Lindley, Tyler Rakers, Maxwell Leroy, TJ Armour, Yusuf Fares, TK Puribhat, Mason McGehee, Jacob Hataway, Bently Lindemann, Miles Lockridge, Ajani Mitchom, and Dominic Kreiter.
Mark your calendar
- Belleville West Little Theatre’s annual fall play is “These Shining Lives,” which chronicles young women’s resilience after they were exposed to radiation when working at the Radium Dial Company in Ottawa, Illinois. Shows are at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9 through Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Belleville West Performing Arts Center, 4063 Frank Scott Parkway West. Tickets are $7 for students and $10 for adults, and can be purchased online.
- Friday, Oct. 17 is Wolf Branch Parent Teacher Committee’s fall festival. The event runs from 4 - 7 p.m. at Wolf Branch Elementary school and promises food trucks, vendors, games and more. Wolverines can get tickets and discounted armbands ahead of time online.
- The East St. Louis Flyers’ Senior Night is also Friday, Oct. 17. They’ll face O’Fallon High School at 7 p.m., and ESTL alum are encouraged to compete for best tailgate set up, according to the district’s Facebook page.
Parent resource round up
- Belleville Parks and Recreation offers a “School’s Out, Camp’s In” program for children ages 5-12 on days local districts don’t have school. The program runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Nichols Community Center and is $35 per camper, but before and after care are available for an additional cost. For more details, visit the Nichols Community Center’s page on Belleville’s website.
- T-Mobile’s Project 10Million provides free internet access for eligible students, as East St. Louis School District 189 shared on its Facebook page. More information can be found at T-Mobile.com/Project10Million.
In Case You Missed It
These last few weeks were big for local education news, and it can be hard to keep up with everything. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled major headlines below.
- Two firearms were found on Belleville high school grounds last month. The BND reported on these two separate instances – the first was at West, and the second was two weeks later at East. We talked to a mom whose petition for metal detectors at the schools garnered hundreds of signatures, as well as the school district and Belleville Police Department about how they collaborate to keep students safe.
- In related news, metro-east schools recapped the security measures taken at fall football games. “Nobody is naive enough to think that we can stop everything,” Granite City High School Athletic Director John Moad said. “The idea is to put as many deterrents in place as possible.”
- Teachers, secretaries and service workers in the Cahokia Unit School District are still working without a contract. The union and superintendent shared reasons behind the hold up with the BND.
- Illinois ranks 18th for state spending per student according to a report from advocacy organization Advance Illinois. Chalkbeat Chicago broke down this news.
- As reported by St. Louis Public Radio’s Hiba Ahmad, the Edwardsville School Board suspended Superintendent Patrick Shelton with pay. Allen Duncan Jr. is now acting superintendent.
- A Columbia High School English teacher resigned after sharing a quote from the late right-wing activist and Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk. A records request filed by the BND provides new insight into the days leading up to the teacher’s resignation, including a paid suspension.
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 5:15 AM.
Madison Lammert
Belleville News-Democrat