MACON, Ill. — Meridian Community Unit School District #15 highlighted student achievements, athletic successes, curriculum initiatives and district facility improvements in its administrative reports for the October Board of Education meeting held Monday, October 19, 2026.
District administrators shared updates from Meridian Elementary School, Meridian Middle School and Meridian High School, along with information about upcoming projects and recommendations for district operations.
Student Achievements and School Activities
Meridian students have had a busy start to the school year, with numerous opportunities for academic growth, community involvement and extracurricular participation.
At Meridian Elementary School, students celebrated Homecoming Week by participating in themed dress-up days, the Hawk Walk and a districtwide community pep rally. The school also introduced a monthly attendance challenge to encourage consistent attendance. Mrs. Trimble’s class earned the highest attendance percentage for September and celebrated with an ice cream party. More than 209 elementary students also earned individual recognition for perfect attendance during the month.
Students participated in Fire Safety Week activities with members of the Blue Mound Fire Department, learning about emergency escape plans and fire safety. The Macon County Farm Bureau also visited the school to provide an Agriculture in the Classroom lesson about where food comes from, including products from livestock and crops. On October 14, the Elevate Dance Crew visited Meridian Elementary for an assembly focused on anti-bullying, respect, responsibility, perseverance and pursuing personal passions.
At Meridian Middle School, students continued working toward academic goals through personalized IXL learning plans. During August and September, 126 students met their mathematics growth goals, while 122 students met their English language arts goals. Students also participated in school spirit activities, fundraising efforts and community service projects. Middle school students are currently selling raffle tickets for a fall fundraiser, with daily cash prize drawings planned for November. Proceeds support student incentives, classroom supplies, the Hawk Buck program and other school improvement efforts.
Meridian High School recently celebrated Homecoming, with Taylor Kraft and Carter Miller recognized as Homecoming Queen and King. The school also congratulated Wyatt Martin on qualifying for the Illinois High School Association Boys Golf State Tournament. Additionally, five students — Juliet Childers, Annaliese Essien, Anthony Dillman, Jackson Howland and Eleanor Moyer — were selected for the Millikin Honor Band.
Strong Fall Athletic Season
Meridian’s athletic programs reported a successful fall season as teams prepare for postseason competition and the transition to winter sports.
The middle school baseball and softball teams both advanced to their respective regional championship games. The baseball team finished with an 8-7 record.
The middle school girls basketball season is underway, with the eighth-grade team holding a 5-2 record and the seventh-grade team starting the season 7-0. Twenty-four girls in grades six through eight are participating in the program.
The Meridian football team entered the final week with an undefeated 8-0 regular-season record. The soccer and volleyball teams are nearing regional competitions.
In boys golf, Wyatt Martin qualified for the IHSA Class 1A State Finals after shooting a 74 at sectionals. He became only the second male golfer in Meridian history to qualify for the state finals and finished tied for 44th among 112 competitors.
The high school boys and girls basketball teams and wrestling program are preparing for seasons beginning in November.
Curriculum and Professional Development
District staff participated in professional development on October 9, featuring Mark Schumacher, a former teacher and educational keynote speaker. The event included staff from both Meridian and Central A&M and focused on classroom insights and professional growth.
The district also scheduled monthly Tech Tuesdays throughout the school year. Planned topics include advanced TeacherEase and Google Classroom tools, Canva, artificial intelligence tools and student use of AI, and Adobe Creative Suite.
At Meridian Elementary, interventionists are piloting the NWEA MAP Assessment as a universal screener. The district will evaluate its effectiveness in supporting targeted interventions and data analysis compared with the current Aimsweb Plus assessment.
The high school is also exploring ways to expand students’ awareness of career opportunities, particularly in the skilled trades and occupations facing workforce shortages. Career Orientation students have begun using virtual reality simulations to experience different career scenarios.
Facility and Transportation Improvements
The district continues working on facility improvements and maintenance projects across its buildings.
Maintenance staff have begun preparing athletic fields for winter by removing equipment and signage and marking sprinkler locations ahead of aeration. Work also continues on district improvement projects and routine maintenance needs.
During the superintendent’s report, several facility and transportation projects were presented for board consideration. Recommendations included installing garage doors on bus storage sheds as a security measure, purchasing a school bus equipped with a wheelchair lift, and replacing the middle school gym roof. The proposed bus purchase was for a one-year off-lease vehicle with approximately 23,000 miles at a cost of $95,000 from Midwest Bus Sales. The garage door and roofing projects were recommended for funding through the county facility sales tax.
The district also discussed its annual risk management plan and a proposed revision to Policy 7:60 concerning nonresident students of district employees. The recommended policy change would eliminate tuition charges for children of full-time certified employees.
Financial and Administrative Updates
The Board’s agenda included discussion of the district budget, the 2026 tax levy and the October 7, Building Committee meeting.
The district is also reviewing its health insurance renewal. According to the superintendent’s report, the district experienced a 120% loss ratio from September 2025 through August 2026. The initial renewal proposal from Blue Cross Blue Shield included an overall increase of 35%. District administration is continuing to work with its broker on a more manageable renewal proposal while exploring other options.
The district’s annual audit and financial report were not yet complete at the time of the meeting. The superintendent noted that the change in auditors affected the timeline for completion.
The Board’s agenda also included personnel matters, including the employment of Ckyle Tucker and Rachel Butcher as bus drivers and Brandon Windell as a volunteer girls basketball coach.
The next regular Meridian CUSD #15 Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 16, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Meridian District Office in Macon.