FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2026
Contact: Jason Spang, Superintendent, 217-792-7222, jspang@mp23schools.com
Mt. Pulaski CUSD #23 Board of Education Earns Governance Recognition Honor
The Mt. Pulaski CUSD #23 Board of Education has been recognized by the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) for its exceptional governance practices. Mt. Pulaski CUSD #23 was one of 53 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 our board of education earned this honor,” said Superintendent Jason Spang. “Our board of education is constantly working to improve its 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 district mission, vision, and strategic plan” said Jason Spang.
Conducting regular board policy reviews, implementing a superintendent evaluation process that culminates in a formal annual superintendent evaluation, adopting a board of education code of conduct, and positively impacting outcomes for students by improving organizational effectiveness as just a few areas where our board in cooperation with our superintendent go above and beyond for the district.
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 its 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 Blane Olson.
“There is a misconception that the work of the school board starts and stops at our regular board meetings. The majority of our work happens outside meetings: studying the issues, communicating with the community, advocating on behalf of our district. 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 President Olson.
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 is available on the Illinois Association of School Boards website.
