Speaker helps start Elmwood White Out Week

By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post

ELMWOOD – A guest speaker had Elmwood CUSD 322 administrators buzzing during a short meeting of the School Board on Monday.

Motivational-speaker Terrence Lee Talley addressed grades 5-12 in two different assemblies.
Superintendent Joel Schmieg said Talley has spoken to more than 270,000 students across the country. His appearance coincided with the school’s start of White Out Week, which includes a variety of fundraisers for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

According to Principal Tom Bell, Talley shares stories from other students around the country to help audience members know they are not alone in their struggles and should never give up.

“To be able to captivate 5th through 12th graders … he did a really great job,” Schmieg said. “Terrence left our students and staff with two messages: ‘Don’t Give Up’ and ‘I’ve got your back,’ focusing on defining resilience and empathy and its power for others.”

Schmieg also praised the process of setting a 2026-27 school calendar, noting that 44% of school staff favored the selected version that features an Aug. 13 first day of school for students. Other notable dates include Dec. 21-Jan. 1 winter break and in 2027 a spring break from March 22-26 and tentative last day of school on May 20.

Before then, Elmwood plans to resurface the track. The project, funded in part by a $50,000 state maintenance grant, is expected to be completed this summer. Bids are due by Feb. 20 at 2 p.m. for a bid opening.

The district continues to be plagued by a shortage of bus drivers, Schmieg said.
“It is a definite need for us,” he said.

Schmieg noted that he is now a certified driver who can be called on in emergency situations. He then took a moment to praise bus drivers and the district’s grounds crew for recent efforts during inclement weather.

In other discussion, Board member Tori Goedeke reported that the elementary school is developing an afterschool homework club. Principal Marcy Brugger said students can stay 30-45 minutes after school to get homework done under teacher supervision.

In other action items, the board approved awarding an additional 20 sick days to teacher Stephanie Colgan to allow her to enter the early retirement program in May. She will retire at the end of the 2029-30 school year.

The board also approved hiring Amerika Harmon as junior high assistant track coach, Breanne Bell as high school girls assistant track coach and Allison Ramsay as an elementary aide.

The board heard from administrators that the high school scholastic bowl team leads the standings in the Peoria Area League and the Prairieland Conference. Also, senior Walter Lampe will represent Elmwood High School as its Lincoln Award winner for a Regional Office of Education banquet on Feb. 12.