Lake County Gazette

Collinsville High School senior Griffin Crask-Weeks has been named the 2025-26 student school board member for Collinsville Community Unit School District #10. The district's board of education approved his appointment at its regular meeting on August 18, 2025.

The role of student school board member is non-voting and designed to provide a student perspective to the board. This position also includes serving on the CHS Student Advisory Board, helping connect students with district administration and leadership.

Crask-Weeks was motivated to apply after participating in the district’s Five-Year Strategic Plan committee. In his application, he wrote: "[Earlier] this year, I was selected to participate in the Strategic Planning Committee. By attending this committee I learned about both the current state of the district, and the goals of the district. With this [knowledge], I believe I have developed a good understanding of what is possible within the district and can bring a beneficial voice to the school board by being able to relate students' wants and priorities with those of the professionals and executives that I have had the privilege of conversing with during the five-year plan program."

He continued: "I believe that representation of the student body is very important. I believe that I am capable of representing my fellow students due to my experience with [the strategic planning committee] and my involvement in school. I understand that there are changes needed to be made in not only the High School, but the Unit I0 district as a whole," said Crask-Weeks.

Crask-Weeks participates actively at Collinsville High School as a member of Student Council, serves on the Childhood Cancer Awareness Club board, leads on Kahok varsity tennis team, and belongs to National Honor Society.

"During my time at CHS I have taken many challenging classes, participated in clubs, and been an athlete," said Crack-Weeks, "My experience in all aspects of the high school [will] allow me to bring these views from CHS and apply them in the school board ... to foster betterment with student experience in the district."

He is currently applying for college with plans to study engineering.

The first student member joined CUSD 10’s school board during 2015-16. Students interested in holding this position apply through Collinsville High School during their junior year each spring.

Collinsville Community Unit School District 10 serves Madison and St. Clair counties and includes multiple schools such as Caseyville Elementary School, Collinsville Middle School, Dorris Intermediate School, Jefferson Elementary School, John A. Renfro Elementary School, Kreitner Elementary School, Maryville Elementary School, Summit Elementary School, Twin Echo Elementary School, Webster Elementary School and Collinsville High School (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). The district has 418 teachers who earn an average salary of $60,392; women make up 81 percent of staff while men account for 19 percent (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). According to state data from ISBE, its demographic breakdown is approximately 56 percent White students; Black students make up about 14 percent; Hispanic students represent roughly 24 percent; Asian students comprise less than one percent (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/). In fiscal year 2020 it spent $16,872 per student for a total expenditure exceeding $104 million (https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/).