Community News
Anticipating $680,000 windfall, school board posts vacancies for multiple positions
GHS student Chance Reiniesch and MPACT’D/SADD group sponsor Jennifer Brown briefly addressed the board about a Whistle Stop/Is It Worth It program the group is sponsoring Wednesday evening at the Gillespie Civic Center.
Expecting an additional $680,000 in new state funding this fiscal year, the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night posted vacancies for the coming school year for a student services coordinator, a Response to Intervention coordinator, a music teacher position and a middle school social studies teaching position — all of which are either new positions or vacated positions the district had previously left unfilled.
The action followed a marathon executive session of more than 90 minutes during which Supt. Joe Tieman and four members of the board discussed personnel issues. The meeting was attended by Board President Mark Hayes and members Don Dobrino, Bill Carter and Were Schmidt—the minimum number required for a quorum. Peyton Bernot, Dennis Tiburzi and Jenni Alepra were absent.
According to Tieman, some of the personnel items approved Monday night resulted directly from confirmation that the district will receive $680,000 in additional funding as a result of the state’s new Evidence Based Funding (EBF) legislation, which is designed to address funding disparity statewide. The money is expected to arrive in six monthly payments of about $113,333 each. Tieman confirmed that the first payment to CUSD 7 has arrived and has been deposited. The EBF funding is in addition to the regular state aid the school district is allotted, and the state presumably is committed by law to maintain the current level of funding at a minimum in subsequent fiscal years.
A provision of the law requires local school districts to spend EBF funding on new initiatives aimed at school improvement. The new dollars cannot be used to pay for existing bills or existing programs, Tieman said.
[pullquote]The new dollars cannot be used to pay for existing bills or existing programs, Tieman said.[/pullquote]
“It’s designed to supplant, not supplement, programs,” he noted.
The student services coordinator and Response to Intervention coordinator are both newly created positions if the board ultimately votes to hire candidates for them. Response to Intervention refers to students who need intervention or additional services to ensure academic success. Tieman said the middle school social studies position is a position that was left vacant after it was vacated due to a teacher’s retirement. Likewise, the music teacher position, if filled, is a chorus position that would restore the complement of district music teachers to three.
“In some cases, just because we are posting a position doesn’t necessarily mean we will hire someone for that position,” Tieman noted. “Some of that will depend on the candidates we get for them.”
Tieman said the board’s action Monday night might seem counter-intuitive to district residents in view of district efforts within the last three years to cut more than $400,000 in deficit spending. “We wanted to make sure you didn’t think that we’d lost our minds in posting all these positions just three short years after we cut $700,000 in spending,” he said.
[pullquote]The previous cuts, he said, were necessitated by shortfalls in the amount of state aid the district received.[/pullquote]
The previous cuts, he said, were necessitated by shortfalls in the amount of state aid the district received. The underfunding, he said, amounted to about $4.5 million over the past decade.
“The $680,000 in additional money this year is good, but it pales in comparison to the $4.5 million we lost in the last 10 years,” Tieman said.
Later in the meeting, the board accepted job descriptions for district certificated personnel. Such job descriptions are subject to review by the teachers’ union, Tieman noted, adding that job descriptions for the new positions approved by the board Monday night will be submitted to union leadership for approval.
In other personnel action, the board posted vacancies for two elementary summer school teaching positions and two middle school teaching positions. Tieman said the new positions were made possible as a result of a grant recently secured by the district that will help pay the teacher salaries for the summer “allowing us to offer something for kids who need additional help.” He thanked principals and staff who helped with writing the grant proposal.
The board also posted a vacancy for a district math teacher. While it’s unusual to post for a position without designating the grade level, Tieman said: “math teachers are hard to come by.” He said the district wanted to open the position for applications as soon as possible and will make a grade level assignment based upon the qualifications of the candidates who apply for the job. “At this point, it is a district posting,” he said.
In other personnel action, the board:
- Hired Ashlee Gibbs as a high school summer school math teacher for this summer.
- Hired Amy Goldasicch as a high school summer school English teacher for this summer.
- Hired Stuart Ringer as a high school summer school consumer education teacher for this summer.
- Hired Jennifer Brown as a high school summer school drivers’ education teacher for this summer.
- Posted a vacancy for a district special education teacher.
- Posted a vacancy for an elementary school computer teacher.
- Posted a vacancy for an elementary school teaching position for the 2018-19 school year.
- Hired Penny Feeley and Janice Hammann as summer school food service workers for this summer.
- Accepted the resignation of paraprofessional Amy Baker, effective immediately. Baker was working as a classroom aid at Gillespie Middle School.
- By a vote of 3-1 voted to hire Barbara Turner as a district custodian for the 2018-19 school year, pending a background check. Board President Hayes cast the sole dissenting vote.
Later in the meeting, Tieman explained the posting for an elementary computer teacher is related to a district-wide computer initiative to “at least explore the idea of a one-to-one program” that would make classroom computers available to individual students. He said the program is being developed by a technology committee that includes Tieman, Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto, Middle School Principal Jill Rosentreter, High School Principal Shane Owsley, and Mark Carpani and Steve Compton, technology coordinators.
Tieman said the committee initially would like to implement a pilot program at the fourth grade level with a mobile computer lab with up to 30 devices to be used by individual students in the classroom. As part of the program, teachers would be required to tailor the curriculum to computer-based teaching. Professional development to equip teachers to incorporate computer technology into their teaching strategies is expected to start as early as this summer, Tieman said.
[pullquote]Ultimately, the pilot program will provide a basis for administrators to determine the value of a one-to-one computer program.[/pullquote]
Ultimately, the pilot program will provide a basis for administrators to determine the value of a one-to-one computer program, Tieman said, and “whether we want to start implementing it one grade at a time.” The board’s action giving the district the ability to hire an elementary computer teacher, he said, dovetails with the program’s objectives, providing an opportunity for the district to hire someone to teach keyboarding skills at the elementary level.
Tieman said there was no need for board action at this time and that he would present budget information and an implementation strategy as the program develops. He said he wanted to present the preliminary information Monday night in the event any board members had questions or concerns.
BUS PASS POLICY
On Tieman’s recommendation, the board unanimously approved a revised bus pass policy to take effect with the 2018-19 school year, which will require parents of “bus eligible” students to designate two locations where their children will be allowed to get off the bus they normally ride. One of those designated departure locations must be the family home, with the second location being a day-care provider chosen by the parents. Tieman said “daycare provider” doesn’t necessarily mean a daycare facility, but can be the home of a grandparent or relative selected by the parents to supervise their children after school.
Bus eligible students are students who live 1.5 miles or more from the school building. Parents of non-eligible students can designate a daycare provider as a location where their children will be authorized to get off the bus.
Tieman said the policy will eliminate chaos in the office and on bus routes that can be created when students are given permission to get off the bus with a friend or at some location other than their regular departure point.
“It’s a nightmare for our building secretaries and our building principals between 2 o’clock and 3 o’clock,” Tieman said. “It’s creating an essence of efficiency but more importantly it’s creating an issue of safety. We want parents to know that short of an emergency, there will be no exceptions.”
TRACK RESURFACING CONTRACT
On a motion by Schmidt, seconded by Carter, the board voted unanimously to accept a bid of $76,131 from Fisher Tracks, headquartered in Boone, Iowa, to resurface the district’s all-weather track. Tieman said Fisher was the company that installed the track originally eight years ago and was the lower of two bidders to offer proposals for the project.
Tieman said the district actually had gotten about two years more life out of the original surface than what is normally recommended. The resurfacing is expected to be good for 12 to 15 years. In addition to resurfacing the track, Tieman said the project will include replacing much of the long jump area and pole vault area.
Earlier in the meeting, Tieman announced the John Schmidt Family Foundation, a frequent benefactor of the school district, donated $5,000 to assist with the cost of resurfacing the track. The Foundation was a major supporter of the track’s original construction. In addition, Tieman said the community All-Weather Track Committee will subsidize $32,000 for the resurfacing project’s cost.
Board members also accepted a contract totaling $19,830.81 to replace carpeting in the high school/middle school library. Quality Flooring, Gillespie, will provide materials and Fox Flooring will provide labor for installation. Work on the project is expected to start in July.
Tieman said the carpeting now in the facility was installed when the building was constructed. In 1993, the library was flooded and the carpeting had to be dried out to salvage it.
“We’ve been living on borrowed time,” Tieman said. He said he initially recommended replacing the flooring with tiling but was convinced by the librarian and building/maintenance supervisor that carpeting would be a more appropriate choice for a library because of concerns about sound absorption. Base on a recommendation by district architect Tom Hyde, the carpet will be replaced with carpet “tiles” that can be replaced individually in the event of damage or staining.
Tieman also reported that Middle School Principal Rosentreter and middle school teaching staff had met with Hyde to select furnishings for a planned new Middle School science lab. Work on that project is expected to begin in June after the end of the current school year, with a target completion date in mid- to late-October.
WHISTLE STOP PRESENTATION
GHS student Chance Reiniesch and MPACT’D/SADD group sponsor Jennifer Brown briefly addressed the board about a Whistle Stop/Is It Worth It program the group is sponsoring Wednesday evening at the Gillespie Civic Center. Reiniesch said the event will focus on substance abuse and the impact alcohol and/or drug abuse can have on the well-being of students and adults. Two sessions are scheduled—one offering hot dogs and chili for dinner at 5 p.m., with presentations set from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and one providing dinner at 6:30 p.m., with presentations set from 7 to 8 p.m.
Reiniesch said the group has enlisted the participation of local law enforcement officials, paramedics, prosecutors and Circuit Court Judge Kenneth Deihl. Sessions will be tailored for students, parents, and youngsters in the eighth grade and younger
For parents, Reiniesch said, a mock bedroom will be set up on the south side of the Civic Center where parents will be invited to “see if they can identify any drug paraphernalia” or other signs their son or daughter may be involved with drug use. Information also will be presented concerning opioid abuse and other issues.
Brown said the group also plans to push awareness of the “social host law” that holds adults responsible for injuries or deaths resulting when they allow teens to drink in their homes. “A lot of people aren’t aware of it,” she said.
Brown said attendance is not limited to CUSD 7 residents. “Whoever wants to come is more than welcome,” she said.
The Whistle Stop is a new initiative of the Students Against Drunk Driving organization.
“Our school and a school in Chicago are the only ones doing it in Illinois this year,” Brown said.
She said the Macoupin County Anti-Meth Coalition is helping sponsor the event by providing funding for food.
The board also heard from Marine Staff Sgt. Jared Hohmeier, a recruiter who has worked frequently with GHS students bound for military careers. Hohmeier reported to the board about a program sponsored by the Marine Corps that allows schools to send educators to the Marine Corp training facility in San Diego. The program allows educators to view Marine Corp training programs and learn about career and education opportunities available to high school seniors who join the Marines.
The cost of the program is paid for by the Marine Corp.
“Basically what it cost the school is finding someone to cover their class for a week,” Hohmeier said.
SCHOOL CALENDARS
The board approved a revision to the 2017-18 school calendar that pushed the last day of student attendance to May 18, slightly more than a week earlier than originally scheduled. The change is possible because the district used only three of 10 emergency days built into the calendar at the beginning of the year.
The board also approved the 2018-19 school calendar calling for the school year to start about a week later than usual in August. Tieman said the school altered its starting date in deference to the Bunker Hill School District which has a construction project underway and “asked us to start three or four days later.” CUSD 7 cooperates with Bunker Hill on special education services and other programs.
“Through our problems with tornados and such, they’ve honored our requests to start later in the past and we want to honor that for them this year,” Tieman said.
To keep the late start date from pushing the last day of school deeper into the summer, Tieman said the calendar reduces the number of emergency days from 10 to five. The calendar also adds additional afternoon for school improvement and calls for the Thanksgiving holiday to start on Wednesday rather than Thursday.
In other action, the board also approved renewing the district’s membership in the Illinois Elementary School Association.
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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.
