FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(9-23-25) Contact: Joel Schmieg, Superintendent
(Elmwood CUSD #322) (jschmieg@elmwood322.com)
Elmwood CUSD #322 Board of Education Earns Governance Recognition Honor
The Elmwood CUSD #322 Board of Education has been recognized for their exceptional governance practices by the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB). Elmwood #322 was one of 42 Illinois school districts to earn the School Board Governance Recognition honor for their effective governance behaviors and their commitment toward obtaining the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively lead the district.
IASB’s School Board Governance Recognition program acknowledges local boards of education that practice good governance behaviors as outlined by IASB's Foundational Principles of Effective Governance. The focus of Governance Recognition is on full board development and participation. Boards that meet the necessary requirements are recognized for the two-year honorary distinction.
“It’s not a surprise that the Elmwood #322 board earned this honor,” said Superintendent Joel Schmieg. “Our board of education is constantly working to improve their governance and leadership skills for our district, the students, and the entire community. The individual board members and the full board are always seeking out new learning opportunities to advance their governance knowledge and learn from the successes of their peers in other districts.
“The board engages with the community on issues of importance, and they do an outstanding job of monitoring the district’s performance to ensure that we are meeting the goals that align with our mission,” said Schmieg.
The Elmwood #322 BOE has shown a commitment to collectively and individually take responsibility for continuous learning and development as a board. In addition, the Elmwood #322 BOE has engaged stakeholders in development and adoption of a new Strategic Plan for the district. Most importantly, the board connects with the community on issues of importance to the district, engaging in two-way communication with district parents, staff, and community members.
The School Board Governance Recognition program aims to showcase how good governance creates a positive impact for students, staff, and the entire district community. It provides an opportunity for districts to tell their story about programs and projects that are improving outcomes in their local school districts and offers board members a chance to highlight how continuous learning, both by individual board members and the full board team, results in improved governance for the board of education and positive outcomes for the district.
“This board has shown its commitment to the district, and ultimately the students, by continually improving their leadership skills and knowledge. To be a successful board and provide a high-quality educational experience for our students, it requires a lot of time and effort and a commitment to continual learning,” said Board President Jessica Reyling.
“There is a misconception that the work of the school board starts and stops at our regular board meetings. A majority of our work actually happens outside the meetings; studying the issues, communicating with the community, advocating on behalf of our district, and learning the intricacies of school finance, just to name a few. Serving on the school board is a lot of work, but it’s worth it to see our students achieve success and go on to do great things in their lives and for their communities,” reiterated Board President Reyling.
The Illinois Association of School Boards is a voluntary organization of local boards of education dedicated to strengthening the public schools through local citizen control. Although not a part of state government, IASB is organized by member school boards as a private not-for-profit corporation under authority granted by Article 23 of The Illinois School Code.
More information about the IASB School Board Governance Recognition program can be found on the Illinois Association of School Boards website.