Community News
Gillespie Council votes to implement one percent sales tax
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to implement a one percent Public Safety sales tax on retail goods sold in Gillespie. Council members also voted to declare approximately 56 acres of wooded land at Gillespie Lake as surplus property and offer it for sale.
A motion to implement the Public Safety tax by Ald. Frank Barrett, seconded by Ald. Wendy Rolando, was unanimously approved. Under legislation approved by the General Assembly and signed by the Governor, the city is authorized to impose the tax without the formality of a referendum. The state law essentially allows the city to replace a one percent grocery tax formerly collected by the state with a one percent Public Safety sales tax on all retail goods. The legislation requires revenue from the new tax to be earmarked for public safety, meaning the revenue will be deposited to the Police Fund.
A referendum on the tax this spring was soundly defeated by voters by a margin of 2:1.
“When I ran for Mayor, I swore that if this came up, I’d veto it,” said Mayor Landon Pettit. “Now that I’m sitting in this chair, I can see this is something we have to do.”
The new tax will become effective on Jan. 1, 2026, and is expected to generate approximately $230,000.
The sales tax was just one measure proposed by the Finance Committee to generate additional revenue for the city. Based on the committee’s recommendations, Mayor Pettit directed City Attorney Rick Verticchio to draft proposed ordinances to add a $1 surcharge water customers’ sewer bills, and to authorize collecting a three percent processing fee for all credit card/debit card transactions. Both ordinances will be presented in November. If approved, they will become effective Jan. 1.
“We’re probably going to have to look at this every year,” Pettit said, regarding the sewer bill surcharge. “We need to build up our sewer fund because we’re going have to tackle a sewer project in the next couple of years. Our sewer system is in terrible shape.”
Verticchio also will write an ordinance amendment to raise the fees for bulk sewer dumping to $50 for the first 1,000 gallons, plus five cents per gallon for each gallon in excess of 1,000.
“We are the only city around that has a bulk sewer dump,” said Ethan Martin, who manages the city’s sewer system. In addition, he said, the city’s rates for dumping bulk sewage is less than the nearest alternative facilities, meaning sewage haulers drive the additional distance to add bulk system to the city’s treatment system.
Finance Committee Chair Wendy Rolando said the committee also is looking into the potential for raising lake lot leasing fees.
“We have two departments that can be combined,” Pettit said, further discussing the committee’s work. “That will even out things for us.” He said one of the biggest problems the city faces is restrictions on what can be spent from specific line items in the city’s financial structure. Combining departments will combine appropriations, enabling the city to spend from a lump sum rather than a limited specific appropriation.
“These are minimal increases,” Pettit said. “Most people probably won’t notice them.”
“We’re making small increases,” Rolando noted, to avoid having to approve larger increases down the road.
SURPLUS LAKE PROPERTY
Council members voted unanimously to declare as surplus and offer for sale via sealed bids some 57 acres of wooded property associated with Gillespie Lake. The property lay on the west side of the New Lake and shares a portion of its boundary with the Old Lake. The city will retain a band equal to 150 feet from the high water mark along the Old Lake, and 50 feet from the high water mark along the New Lake. The bands of land being retained will allow the city to have access for maintenance.
Bids will be opened and acted upon at the Nov. 10 city council meeting.
There was some discussion of having an online or live auction for the property, but Verticchio said the city could save 10 to 20 percent by conducting the sale independently.
“You can place a notice in the newspaper,” Verticchio said. “If you don’t get an acceptable bid, then you can consider an auction.”
NEW BACKHOE
After several minutes of discussion, the council passed an emergency measure allowing the Mayor to act on the purchase of a new backhoe, provided the cost is $189,000 or less, and to sign documents with United Community Bank to finance the purchase.
The city had planned to trade in its current backhoe, but the current backhoe’s transmission failed this week, significantly reducing the trade in value. Before the current backhoe failed, the city had gotten a price of $156,134 for a replacement machine with a trade-in. Since the value of the trade-in has been reduced, the final cost to the city is not known at this time.
“Without a backhoe, we’re pretty much done,” said Mayor Pettit, summarizing the situation.
The new backhoe will come with a standard bucket, plus forks and a grapple bucket.
In the future, Pettit recommended trading machines at 20,000 to 30,000 hours to retain trade in value.
CITY ENGINEER SHAKE-UP
Mayor Pettit introduced Brian Kulick and Danielle Juneau, representing Juneau and Associates, Inc., Granite City, an engineering firm Pettit retained after firing the firm overseeing the Plum Street improvement project. Juneau will replace Henneghan and Associates, Jerseyville, whom the council retained in December last year, after the previous firm allegedly botched Motor Fuel Tax project cost estimates.
“We were told they were waiting on the state,” Pettit said of the project. “The state told them back in July to send paperwork. It turns out they didn’t do it, so I fired them.”
Ald. Janet Odell-Mueller later confirmed Pettit’s account, reporting that she contacted IDOT and discovered the engineering firm had not filed paperwork requested by the state. The discrepancy apparently is a somewhat technical issue regarding expenditure of Motor Fuel Tax funds. Henneghan reportedly classified the project as a maintenance project, similar to oiling and chipping streets. Because of the specifications for the project, it reportedly should have been deemed a construction project vs regular maintenance.
Ald. Odell-Mueller said she attempted to call Henneghan several times without success and left a voicemail to which the firm did not respond.
In a separate action, the council gave Pettit power to act in signing an amended resolution providing Community Unit School District 7 a permanent right to run bus traffic on Plum Street. In exchange, the school district committed its share of CEJA grant money to help defray the cost of the Plum Street improvement project.
The delay resulting from the engineers’ omission postponed the Plum Street project until next spring. The project includes reinforcing underlayment at the intersections and other work designed to help the street hold up to school bus traffic. In the meantime, Pettit said street crews will use hot asphalt patch to patch the street and will clean ditches to improve drainage, hoping to mitigate against damage during the winter months.
In an another matter affecting bus traffic, the Mayor Pettit announced that city workers will be replacing culverts on Francis and Western streets with work starting “within a week.” Only one of the streets will be closed at a time.
“When we’re working on Francis, you can continue to use Western,” Pettit told CUSD 7 Transportation Director Tim Besserman, who attended the meeting.
CITYWIDE TRASH PICK-UP
After a lengthy discussion, the council directed City Attorney Verticchio to draft a proposed ordinance for action next month establishing a city-wide trash pick-up service. Nearby communities such as Mount Olive and Benld have implemented similar programs using a single vendor to pick-up trash weekly throughout the municiaplity. Ald. Dona Rauzi said the program will save city residents money, since the contract to haul trash will be the lowest bidder.
Residential pick-up could be as low as $19.45, several dollars less than what residents currently pay. Senior citizens could pay as little as $17.20. In addition to lowering costs for consumers, the winning bidder will provide for two annual city-wide clean-ups when consumers can get rid of larger items.
“I think this is something we should pursue,” said Ald. Roando, “but I don’t think we should approve it without having an informational meeting for the public.”
Verticchio advised against holding a public meeting before approving an ordinance. Input from such a meeting would be skewed, he said, because people opposing the measure will be motivated to attend while others stay home. He recommended passing the ordinance, then scheduling a public meeting to explain how the program will work.
One of the major objections in other communities, he said, has been from people who want to keep their current trash hauler.
“If you’re so attached to your trash hauler, you can do that,” he said. “But you’ll still be paying the assessment for city-wide pick-up.”
Rauzi said the City Clerk’s office told her that the city’s software couldn’t add a separate fee for trash pick-up to monthly water bills. But Verticchio suggested there should be a way to merge the trash bill with the water bill.
“If you bill it separately, what are you going to do if they don’t pay it?” Verticchio asked. “If it’s part of your water bill and you don’t pay it, we can shut the water off.”
Verticchio is expected to have a draft ordinance ready for council action next month.
STUTZ PAYMENT
The council voted unanimously to make a second payment to Stutz Excavating in the amount of $317,319.32 for work completed on the downtown Streetscape Project.
Pettit said city officials have been trimming the scope of the Project to keep the costs down. So far, the city has removed side streets from the plan and eliminated some street lights. Combined with other cuts, he said the project is currently nearly $1 million below the engineer’s $4 million cost estimate.
“We’re keeping everything as tight as we can,” Pettit said.
FRANCIS STREET SEWER
Ald. Bob Fritz reported that a proposal to salvage a deteriorating sewer line on Francis Street turned out to be far more expensive than the city can afford. Fritz said VisuSewer told him that before a lining could be installed, the sewer line would have to be cleaned and videoed. At $50 per linear foot, cleaning and videoing the 4,179 feet of the Francis Street sewer to come to more than $60,000.
PARK CAMERAS
Mayor Pettit asked the Park Department to look into the cost of installing surveillance cameras at Big Brick and Welfare parks. Additionally, he asked to investigate the cost of offering wifi and the two facilities.
“I think that’s one area where we’re lacking,” Pettit said. “Most places have wifi in their parks.”
GUESTS
Mike Nelson, representing Frontier Fiber Optic, reported to the council that company plans to start installing fiber optic cables in the city as part of a project to improve access to internet connectivity.
“We’re doing a massive build up in fiber optic,” Nelson said. “We’re going as fast as we can but not too fast. We won’t do anything ahead of a permit. We’re going to work with you” to avoid problems.
He said the company will be consulting with the city to locate underground utilities and other potential issues and the project proceeds.
Emily Martin, representing the Christmas Sparkle committee, appeared before the council to confirm the city could provide a storage area for a large commercial Christmas tree if the committee can afford to purchase it. Dan Fisher with Grow Gillespie said the group plans to use about $3,500 in CEJA grant money earmarked for promoting festivals. The Village of East Gillespie also has committed some CEJA funds to purchase the tree, and CUSD 7 has committed to covering the balance.
SURPLUS PROPERTY BIDS
The council accepted a high bid of $750 from Roger Conlee to purchase an F-350 pick-up truck declared surplus property by the council last month. One other bidder submitted a bid of $580 for the vehicle.
The council also accepted a bid of $678.18 from Everything Free Marketing, Ohio, to purchase a surplus Ford Taurus. Everything Free Marketing was the sole bidder for the vehicle.
No action followed a 35-minute executive session to discuss personnel issues.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Approved a resolution declaring a small parcel of property owned by the city as surplus and trading it to CUSD 7 in exchange for a property on Park Avenue which will give the city access to Bear Creek for maintenance work. The Board of Education approved the exchange late last month.
- Voted to donate $500 to support a Project Third Day golf tournament. Project Third Day raises funds to ensure underserved students have access to lunch and breakfast on weekends and other days when local schools are not open.
- Declared a wooded parcel at the end of Hickory Street as surplus property and offer the property for sale via sealed bids.
- Approved the appointment of John VanDoren to fill a vacancy on the Gillespie Zoning Board.
- Approved an ordinance dedicating a city-owned alleyway as East Burton Street.
- Approved a resolution to support an application for grant funding under the Safe Routes To School program.
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Ye Olde Christmas is the theme of the Macoupin County Historical Society’s annual Christmas Show, which will be held Friday through Sunday, December 5–7, at the John C. Anderson Home and Museum, 920 West Breckenridge in Carlinville.
“The Christmas Show is one of the most magical times to visit the Anderson Home,” said MCHS Board Member and House Manager Brandy England. “Some families make it an annual Christmas tradition to visit the Anderson Home when it is decorated for Christmas. It’s a great opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit and pick up some ideas for decorating your own home for the holidays.”
MCHS member Kendra Mize, of Bunker Hill, who has coordinated the decorating effort for more than two decades, has again marshalled a small army of volunteers to decorate all 13 rooms of the home. Each room features a themed Christmas tree, along with mantle pieces, centerpieces, tabletop decor, garlands and florals, and other special touches.
The home will be open for self-guided tours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 5; from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 6; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 7.
“We’re very excited to offer for the first time candlelight tours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday,” said Shawna Ashby, who serves as a co-manager with England. “Viewing the decorated home by candlelight promises to be a magical experience.”
The final candlelight tours on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the home is five dollars for adults and one dollar for children ages five to 12, with four-year-olds and younger admitted free of charge.
The Anderson Home Gift Shop will be open during tour hours, offering one-of-a-kind gift items and stocking stuffers. Santa Claus will be on hand in the downstairs parlor to greet children and listen to their Christmas wishes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
While the decorated home is the centerpiece of the Christmas Show, several other features on the Historical Society’s grounds will be open. The Red Barn will be open and serving hearty beef stew, chili, homemade pies, and warming holiday beverages such as wassail and hot chocolate on Friday and Saturday.
The General Store and Print Shop will be decorated and open to the public, with the Print Shop offering its popular handmade Christmas cards and other items produced in the shop; kids can print their own blank “Santa List” to keep track of their Christmas wishes.
“The General Store offers unique gift items, including some small antiques, for shoppers to peruse,” England noted.
Local blacksmiths will demonstrate their craft in the MCHS Blacksmith Shop located on the north side of the Historical Society Grounds, with wrought iron gift items, including stocking hooks and decorative pieces, available for purchase.
The Macoupin County Historical Society’s Christmas Show runs concurrently with the Carlinville Christmas Market and Downtown Christmas events, and a free trolley and shuttle buses include the Anderson Home as a regular stop during the festivals, enabling visitors to ride from the square or the Macoupin County Fairgrounds to the Historical Society grounds.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted to approve a property tax levy request totaling $3,920,295 for 2025 property taxes payable in 2026. Because of tax caps and other factors, however, the district expects to collect only an estimated $3,786,607 of the requested amount.
In addition to acting on the tax levy, the board also held a lengthy discussion regarding annual district “report cards” issued by the Illinois State Board of Education to assess school performance from last year, approved a high school band/choir performance trip to Chicago in March, and agreed to apply for a school maintenance grant of up to $50,000 in matching funds.
The new proposed levy exceeds last year’s tax extension of $3,599,569 by more than $320,726—an increase of about nine percent if the levy were to be approved at the county level. The more realistic anticipation of $3,786,607 exceeds last year’s extension by $187,038, or an increase of about three percent. A Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), approved by Macoupin County voters in 1995, restricts increases in the levy to five percent or the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. This year’s CPI is estimated at 2.9 percent.
The approved levy seeks $1,650,000 for the Education Fund while expecting to realize $1,653,831; $450,229 for Operations & Maintenance, while anticipating $438,041; $200,000 for Transportation while expecting $180,434; $35,000 for Working Cash while expecting $42,602; $174,700 for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund while anticipating $117,788; $154,101 for Social Security while expecting $105, 248; $247,264 for Tort while anticipating $240,570; and $33,501 for Special Education while expecting $32,593. For Bond and Interest, which is not subject to PTELL, the district is levying $975,500 while anticipating the same amount.
Local property tax revenue accounts for about 20 percent of the district’s overall annual budget.
Because the levy request exceeds 105 percent of the previous year’s extension, a public hearing is required. That hearing is scheduled at the start of the board’s regular December meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15. In the meantime, the proposed levy is available for public inspection on the district’s website and in the district office.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Owsley emphasized the levy request is essentially a wish list for what the district would like to raise through property taxes.
“The levy is the ‘Christmas list’ I talk about every year,” Owsley said. “If you don’t put it on the list, you’re not going to get it.”
Projecting what the district can legally seek under tax caps can be challenging because the district’s total equalized assessed valuation will not be confirmed until after Jan. 1 while state law requires the district to file its levy request before the end of December. For that reason, local school districts routinely file requests that exceed what they actually expect to receive in property tax revenue, and rely on the County Clerk to adjust the request to the maximum amount the district can receive.
“Because of tax caps, we have one shot to capture increases in the EAV and new construction,” Owsley said. “If we don’t do that, we lose it in perpetuity.”
To calculate the new levy, Owsley projected a 15.12 percent increase in the EAV—nearly double the previous year’s rate of increase. By overestimating the EAV growth, the district expects to capture the entire increase in assessed valuation when that number is finally determined.
“Even though we know the EAV will likely be around the historical average, we base our levy on a much higher amount so as not to lose revenue from new growth,” Owsley told the board. “We can do this without running the risk of overtaxing taxpayers because the district will receive no more than what we are entitled to by law.”
Owsley said relatively stable increases in EAV have resulted in a steadily declining tax rate. Since 2014 when the rate was $4.24 per $100 in EAV, the rate has fallen to $3.20 for 2024. In other words, the county can use a lower rate to generate the extension to which the district is entitled because the value of taxable property has increased.
“As long as the EAV goes up by more than the Consumer Price Index, our tax rates are going to go down,” Owsley noted.
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT CARDS
The board spent several minutes discussing recently released school report cards issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. Interested persons can view local report cards by visiting https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
All three attendance centers received a “Commendable” designation, meaning there are no student groups that are underperforming academically, and the high school graduation rate exceeds 67 percent. Last year, BenGil Elementary School achieved an “Exemplary” designation—the top designation a school can achieve.
Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto said administrators knew the school would not earn an Exemplary rating, even though students are state average in English/language arts, math and science. The Report Card designations are based on growth rather than academic performance. With students already exceeding state standards last year, the opportunity for growth was limited.
Assistant Principal Tara Cooper agreed, noting BenGil Elementary’s student performance is in the upper half of schools statewide that are meeting academic standards. “So, while we are not ‘Exemplary,’ we’re very happy with where we are.”
Supt. Owsley told the board the State Board of Education is working on revamping the assessment system because of the growth vs. performance issue. “That’s why they’re redoing all of this because they are penalizing schools for meeting goals,” he said.
For Gillespie Middle School, the report card shows students meeting or exceeding state averages in math and science but significantly lagging in English/language arts.
“ELA is our most concerning area,” Principal Patrick McGinthy told the board, “along with absenteeism.” The report card shows a chronic absenteeism rate of 25 percent, but Owsley and other administrators said the rate is exacerbated by the State Board of Education including nearly all absences whether or not they are excused.
Rosentreter noted the State Board will allow a student to be absent five days for illness without a doctor’s excuse. On the sixth day, however, the absence is unexcused unless the parent or guardian provides a doctor’s slip. Many parents, however, are reluctant to pay for a doctor’s visit for a child that is suffering from a minor illness.
McGinthy said Middle School teachers are attempting to address the deficiency in English/language arts by increasing writing exercises and requiring students to write in conjunction with other curriculum areas.
Rosentreter noted that the assessment standards for high schools differ from the standards for elementary and middle schools in that the State Board emphasizes graduation rates. For Gillespie, the graduation rate is an impressive 86 percent, though chronic absenteeism checks in at 31 percent.
“Math is definitely our shining star,” Rosentreter said, noting the school scored 17.8 points compared with the state average of 18. The school performed less well in the areas of English/language arts and science, scoring 16 points on ELA compared with the state score of 18 and 17.2 points compared with the state average of 19.
The report cards are based on results for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test for elementary and middle school students, and ACT scores for high school students.
Administrators said it’s difficult to motivate students to do well on state-mandated tests since the tests do not affect the student’s grade point average. To incentivize testing, Rosentreter said the high school is offering to let students skip final exams if they hit state standards on the mandated tests.
Owsley noted that the district report card documents the continuing decline in school enrollment—dropping from 1,325 seven years ago to 1,082 for the 2024-25 academic year.
“We don’t see that turning around anytime soon,” Owsley said. “It’s not just a Gillespie thing; it’s a trend for schools throughout Macoupin County.
BAND/CHOIR TRIP TO CHICAGO
Following a presentation by band/choir instructor Brad Taulbee, the board approved a high school band and choir performance tour to Chicago set for March 19-21. Taulbee said the tour company retained for the trip places emphasis on security and safety for traveling students. The company supplements hotel security with its own security personnel to monitor student rooms during the trip.
The tour includes workshop sessions at Vandercook College in downtown Chicago, and performances by the choir at the John Hancock Center and by the band at one of the city’s museums.
Taulbee said he is attempting to keep the cost affordable for participating students. Depending upon the number of students who ultimately go on the trip, he said he expects the cost to be about $739 per person. Additionally, he is lining up sponsors who can help with expenses for students who could not otherwise afford to participate.
“Security is my main concern,” said Board President Mark Hayes. “We just came back from there and seven people were shot in the area we were in.”
Taulbee said he expects to recruit seven to 10 chaperones and will ensure that the ratio of students to chaperones does not exceed 1:10.
SCHOOL MAINTENANCE GRANT
The board concurred with Supt. Owsley’s recommendation to again apply for a state School Maintenance grant of up to $50,000. The grant is a “matching” grant requiring the district to match grant funds dollar for dollar. The district has successfully applied for the grant for the past several years.
If the application is successful, Owsley said the funds will likely be used to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles in the choir room and elsewhere in the Middle School.
PERSONNEL
Following an executive session of about 40 minutes to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Tim Wargo as an assistant high school baseball coach and post the position as vacant, and voted to appoint Wargo as the head high school baseball coach for the coming season.
In separate actions, the board approved maternity leaves for Alexis Lupkey, district paraprofessional, and Gear-Up Coordinator Jordan Bartok. Lupkey’s leave is tentatively scheduled from Dec. 8 through March 18. Bartok’s leave is expected from Dec. 12 through Jan.6.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Christopher Whaley as a substitute bus driver, pending a routine background check and documentation of certification.
The board also voted unanimously to terminate Makayla Huff as a three-hour cook and post the position as vacant.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to rehire fall coaches as follows: Jordan Bartok as head high school girls volleyball coach with Shelsie Price, as an assistant coach; Cory Bonstead as head football coach with Nate Henrichs, Jarrod Herron, Korben Clark, Alex Jasper, J.O. Kelly, Billy Gill and Florian Seferi as assistant and volunteer assistant coaches; Jay Weber as head coach for the parent-funded high school cross-country program with Jack Burns as a volunteer assistant coach; Jake Kellebrew as head coach for the parent-funded high school golf program, with Michael Otten as a volunteer assistant coach; Tim Wargo as head middle school baseball coach with Trae Wargo as assistant coach; Michelle Smith as head middle school softball coach with Jim Matesa, Joe Kelly and Melissa Heigert as assistant coaches; and Liz Thackery as head coach for the parent-funded middle school cross-country program with Laura Peterson as a volunteer assistant coach.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, Supt. Owsley introduced newly hired School Resource Officer Jacob Linhart, and High School Principal provided a report with photos of a recent school-wide Veterans Day observance.
Linhart, who has served five years as a police officer on the Gillespie Police Department, replaces Wade Hendricks, who recently retired after serving three years as the CUSD 7 School Resource Officer.
Linhart said it is a “great privilege” to serve as a Resource Officer, protecting students and staff. “I’m honored that you guys are allowing me to do it,” he said.
High School Principal Rosentreter said the school served breakfast to about 200 veterans and their families Tuesday morning, Nov. 11. Later, the veterans were joined by nearly 700 high school and middle school students for a recognition ceremony in the high school gymnasium.
Since the event coincided with the 25th anniversary of CUSD 7’s Wall of Honor program, the annual event did double duty as an induction ceremony for five are individuals, all of whom happened to be U.S. Military veterans.
The inductees included the late Sergeant Major John Marion Malnar, Command Sergeant Major John “Jack” Burns, Colonel Mark Daley, Lieutenant Colonel William P. Falke and Captain Robert Leone. Rosentreter said Daley and Leone traveled with their families from Colorado and Texas, respectively, to attend the ceremonies.
Burns, a retired CUSD 7 teacher, later visited BenGil Elementary School to present a program and teach students how to properly fold an American flag.
Rosentreter recognized the City of Gillespie for a donation of $1,000 to help purchase food for the veterans.
Born in Benld and a resident of Sawyerville, “Big John” Malnar earned a Silver Star during the Korean Conflict and a Gold Star, awarded posthumously after he was killed in action in 1968 in Vietnam. A Marine training center at Camp Geiger in North Carolina is named in his honor.
Though not a Wall of Honor inductee, Jacob Miller, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and recipient of two Purple Hearts, was recognized with a standing ovation.
The annual Veterans Day breakfast and ceremony provides students with an opportunity to meet and recognize local veterans as potential role models for their own futures.
Owsley said the event is a major event on the district’s calendar which grew out of a simple flagpole ceremony initiated 25 years ago.
CEJA GRANT FUNDS
Board members briefly discussed plans for about $74,000 in anticipated Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant funds. The federal program is intended to compensate communities that have experienced revenue loss as a result of coal mine closures.
Owsley said the district committed about $86,000 in last year’s CEJA grant funds to the City of Gillespie to help pay for improvements to Plum Street, which is heavily used by district school buses. He has not transferred those funds, however, pending the start of the project.
Owsley said he was seeking the board’s input on how the money should be used.
“We could continue to partner with the city on Plum Street,” he said. “But there are plenty of project areas within the school.” The money could be used, for example, for continuing asbestos abatement. He identified other upcoming needs, including a new roof for the high school/middle school and an HVAC project.
President Hayes pointed out the school district paid for improvements to Kelly Street when BenGil Elementary was built and subsidized a project to reconfigure drainage on Broadway Street, in addition to the dollars committed for Plum Street.
“The school district is not in the business of building roads,” he said. “I think we’ve been more than generous with the city.”
Board member Peyton Bernot agreed the money should be committed for use by the school district.
TRIPLE I CONFERENCE
Several board members who attended a conference for board members and administrators Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, in Chicago, commented briefly about their take-aways from conference sessions. Popularly known as the Triple I Conference, the convention is sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
Owsley said more than 700 Illinois school districts were represented, making the Triple I the largest gathering of education professionals in North America.
Bernot briefly reported on a session he attended regarding upcoming legislation and financial outlooks for school districts. He described the session as “much less optimistic” than sessions he’s attended in the past.
Owsley was among the convention presenters, discussing social-emotional learning. He commented that several districts attending reported efforts to involve students in school administrators. Some districts, he said, appointed a non-voting student representative to the school board to take part in discussions directly affecting students.
“When you think about it, we hear from faculty members and we hear from parents,” Hayes commented. “The people we don’t hear from are the most important part of what we do.”
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The Holiday Sparkle Committee of Gillespie is preparing for the 4th Annual Holiday Sparkle Lighted Parade and Community Tree Lighting, set for Sunday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Gillespie. This beloved community tradition invites residents and visitors to kick off the holiday season with lights, music, and festive cheer.
Food trucks will line the parade route starting at 4:00 p.m., offering a variety of tasty options for families to enjoy before and during the celebration. The event will culminate in the illuminated parade and the ceremonial lighting of the community tree, signaling the official start of the season’s celebrations.
A highlight of this year’s festivities will be a special performance by Gillespie area students in grades 3 through 5. The group will join together to sing Christmas carols, lending their voices to the town’s joyous welcome to the holidays.
Parade participants are invited to bring extra sparkle to the evening—whether by entering a parade float, walking in the parade, or simply attending to enjoy the atmosphere. Participation helps make the event truly magical for the entire community. The only requirement for the parade is all entries have to incorporate holiday lighting.
To join the parade lineup, interested participants can sign up at https://forms.gle/L7Q4tEkgjj8Lt5E47. The Holiday Sparkle Committee expresses gratitude for the ongoing support of residents, businesses, and volunteers who help bring this festive occasion to life each year.
The second part of the holiday festivities will take place on Saturday, December 13 when the Sparkle will sponsor the vendor fair and food trucks in downtown Gillespie including a visit from Santa. Vendors will be located in the Gillespie Civic Center, Zion Lutheran Church, and Emma G’s Upscale Boutique while local businesses and eateries will also be open. An egg nog jog benefitting Gillespie Cross Country will also be held on December 13 and interested participants can join here.
The Holiday Sparkle Committee invites everyone to mark their calendars and join in the celebration. For more information, please contact the committee by email at gillespieholidaysparkle@gmail.com or visit Gillespie Holiday Sparkle on Facebook.
