Community News
Board outlines preliminary cuts, warns of staff reductions to come later
Members of the CUSD #7 school board listen while Sup. Tieman (with tie and microphone) addresses the teachers and staff members in attendance.
With upward of 50 teachers and staff members in the audience, Community Unit School District 7 Supt. Joe Tieman outlined more than $400,000 in cuts to which the board and administrators have agreed “in principle,” but warned staffing cuts are likely to be announced in the next two to three months to make up an additional $300,000 in budget cuts called for in the district’s deficit reduction plan.
Tieman’s presentation came during a special meeting of the Board of Education Tuesday afternoon in the Gillespie High School/Middle School Cafeteria. The 4 p.m. meeting was set to discuss the proposed cuts and allow teachers and staff to provide input regarding ways the district could save more money and achieve $700,000 in cuts for the 2016-17 school year as part of a deficit reduction plan approved by the board in December. The meeting was followed by an executive session during which board members were to discuss possible staffing cuts and another public meeting at 6 p.m. to hear questions and comments from the general public. Only one community member, however, attended the second session and the meeting was adjourned after only 15 minutes of discussion.
[pullquote]Only one community member attended the second session[/pullquote]Reading from a prepared statement, Board President Mark Hayes set the tone for the meeting, noting that shortfalls in state funding to the district have had a devastating impact on the district, prompting the board to approve a three-year deficit reduction plan at its December meeting.
Shortfalls in state aid, he said, have translated into the loss of about $3 million in funding over the past five years.
“CUSD 7 has been in deficit spending for several years as we struggle to continue to provide an outstanding education to all students,” he said. “The Board of Education has gathered information and met extensively to find a way to meet the $700,000 threshold while minimizing the impact on student programs. As a Board we take this process very seriously as the education of all students is always our top priority.”
Using a PowerPoint presentation that can be found online here, Tieman outlined reductions in expenditures for next school year totaling $404,400–about 58 percent of the $700,000 in budget cuts targeted by the board. Tieman said the cuts identified so far represent many hours of work on the part of administrators and board members. As a first step, he said he reviewed all of the district’s expenditures (a 250-page document) with an eye toward cutting as much as possible before considering staff reductions.
“I went through our expenditures line by line to look for places where we could be more efficient,” he said.
[pullquote]Every staff position is under review to be either reduced or eliminated[/pullquote]The remaining $300,000 in anticipated cuts are likely to involve staff reductions among both certificated and non-certificate personnel. By law certificated staff must be notified of RIF (Reductions in Force) at least 45 days before the end of the school year, meaning those reductions are likely to be announced during the board’s regular March meeting. The school district is required to give 30-days notice prior to terminating non-certificated staff members, which means those announcements may come in April or later.
“Every staff position is under review to be either reduced or eliminated,” Tieman said.
The magnitude of the staff cuts could be mitigated somewhat, according to Tieman and members of the board, if a referendum to impose a one-cent School Facilities Sales Tax is approved by voters during the March 15 primary election. If the measure is passed, an additional penny of sales tax will be collected on the sale of items already subject to sales tax in Macoupin County. Grocery items, medications and other consumer goods exempt from sales tax also will be exempt from the Facilities Tax. Money collected through the tax will be distributed to school districts throughout Macoupin County on the basis of total enrollment. Community Unit School District 7 will receive an estimated $370,000 annually as a result of the tax, about 18.5 percent of the county-wide tax collection.
[pullquote]The magnitude of the staff cuts could be mitigated somewhat if a referendum to impose a one-cent School Facilities Sales Tax is approved by voters during the March 15 primary election[/pullquote]While the new tax revenue cannot be used directly for salaries, Tieman and board members said the revenue would provide the district with some flexibility to shift money from other funds to the Education Fund to support salaries for instructional staff. The district currently has about 110 instructional staff members, about 87 of whom are certificated personnel. The outcome of the March referendum is likely to have an impact on the number and the nature of staff reductions the board intends to announce later that month.
“I can’t tell you that if it passes that $300,000 in cuts will go away,” Tieman told staff members. “The possibility is that we would have to RIF fewer positions.”
He indicated the administration and board is not yet ready to start announcing staff terminations yet because of the number of “unknowns” that will be answered in the next few weeks.
“There are some things on Feb. 9 that we cannot speak to,” he said. “We don’t want to say we are going to RIF these positions and then have to come back three weeks later and say, ‘Oops, you’re not going to lose your job after all’. I think we will have some sense of where we are going after the March election.”
BUDGET CUTS IDENTIFIED SO FAR
The cost reductions identified by the board so far include:
- Two positions being vacated by the retirements of certificated teachers Deb Olson and Trudy Giaudrone will not be filled, creating a savings of about $180,000, representing 25.7 percent of the $700,000 total deficit reduction plan.
- A custodial position being vacated by the retirement of John Balzraine in March 2017 also will not be filled for a savings of $27,900, or 3.98 percent of the total. That savings will be greater the following year (2017-18) when Balzraine’s full salary will be credited toward the deficit reduction.
- To prevent a younger clerical working from losing their job, Tieman said long-time district secretary Kathy McDaniel agreed to retire earlier than she originally anticipated. Her position will not be filled, potentially saving the district $45,000, or 6.4 percent of the total. Tieman praised McDaniel’s commitment, saying that she told him, “I will retire rather than let someone else lose their job.”
- A reduction in service contracts is expected to save $36,500 ,or about 5.2 percent of the total.
- The district also plans reductions in what it pays for supplies and services with a projected savings of $115,000, or about 16.4 percent of the total deficit reduction. Tieman said he looked at everything “from the thickness of liners in the trash cans to sports equipment” to reduce the cost of supplies and services.
The total of reductions to which the board and administrators have agreed “in principle” total $404,400, about 57.8 percent of the $700,000 in cuts being sought.
Tieman said the cuts identified so far “are creeping close to that $700,000 mark with no RIF notices. No one has lost their job. You may be doing a different job.” Even with $400,000 in cuts identified, however, “we still have $300,000 to go. We either have to eliminate $300,000 in costs or increase revenue to make up that difference,” he said.
Tieman laid the blame squarely at the feet of state government for the budget deficit scenario that has put the district in danger of being added to the State Board of Education’s “financial warning” list. Over the past five years, shortfalls in the amount of state aid received by the district has totaled about $3 million, he said. State payments account for about 75 percent of the district’s $10.6 million budget. Ironically, the Education Fund, which supports salaries for instructional staff, also represents about 75 percent of the budget.
The $700,000 in expenditure reductions sought for the 2016-17 school year is just the first year of a three-year plan that anticipates similar cuts in the second and third years. “We don’t know the unknown,” he said. “Right now, for the three year deficit reduction plan, I haven’t put in any new revenue. I’m just hoping that we get the revenue we have now. Unless there’s a huge increase in revenue next fall, we will be filing another deficit reduction plan.”
Moreover, he noted, “deficit reduction is not deficit elimination.”
“Cutting $700,000 next year does not balance the budget,” he said. “At the end of the three-year deficit reduction plan, there will still be a deficit.”
With the budget stalemate in Springfield and dwindling state dollars for education, the state remains behind on state aid payments to school for the current year. Tieman said CUSD 7 has received only one of four payments it is due for Special Education this year. At the same time, the district is required by law to continue to provide Special Education services. “Those costs don’t go away just because the state doesn’t make it’s payments on time.”
The same is true of state aid payments to support transportation services, he said. The district is legally required to provide busing services for all students who live 1.5 miles or more away from attendance centers as well as Special Education students who sometimes must be driven to educational facilities outside the district whether or not the state makes timely disbursements to local school districts.
“If the state of Illinois would fund us as they are legally obligated, which is $6,119 per student, then we aren’t having this meeting,” Tieman said. “That’s how you solve the problem. Give Gillespie Community Unit School District 7 the money we are supposed to have. Period.”
He said there are tentative plans being floated legislatively to revamp the school funding formula which would equalize per capita funding statewide and reduce reliance on property taxes for revenue. Those efforts, however, face substantial opposition from Chicago area school districts with large tax bases who spend two to three times the amount downstate districts have to spend on educating each student.
He noted that CUSD 7 also is hampered by tax caps that restrict the amount by which the board can raise property taxes. Neighboring counties, such as Montgomery, do not have caps, meaning they can raise taxes by as much as five percent annually. Macoupin County school districts are limited to raising taxes no more than the consumer price index, which last year stood at a meager .08 percent.
Sup. Joe Tieman said every staff position is under review to be either reduced or eliminated.
“We send our students into the world to compete with students from counties that do not have tax caps,” he said. “I have no control over revenue. I can control our expenditures to some extent, but I have no control over revenue. None.”
TEACHER COMMENTS
Speaking for the teaching staff, union president Michelle Smith asked about specifics regarding potential reductions in staff. While the board is not yet ready to announce specific staff cuts, Tieman said virtually all positions are on the table.
“We will look at non-certificated positions and we will look at certificated positions, including athletics and transportation costs associated with athletics,” he said. “Seventy-five percent of our budget is for personnel–at some point, it is going to involve people.”
Regarding athletics, Tieman noted athletic programs cost the district in the neighborhood of $190,000 and brings in about $10,000 in gate receipts.
“I often hear people say athletic programs pay for themselves,” he said. “No. They may be very good programs, but they don’t pay for themselves. I’ve put everything on the table from eliminating a program to reducing a program.”
Also responding to questions, he said there is very little room for additional cuts in Transportation because of the district’s legal obligation to provide bus service to rural students. Opting for an outside vendor to provide transportation services, he said, would be unlikely to provide significant savings and would substantially impact the services the district provides. Likewise, there is no substantial option for reducing Special Education costs. “We’re bound by law and, really, we’re bound morally and professionally, to provide those services,” he said.
Also responding to a question, Tieman said the district has not seriously considered moving district administrative offices into one of the attendance centers. “It’s something we may consider,” he said, “but it basically comes down to water, sewer and an Ameren bill.”
Only a handful of staff members addressed the board directly during the meeting, but Smith urged union members to contact their building representatives if they think of questions or suggestions later “because there is such a short time” between the March 15 election and the March Board of Education meeting.
“If you have a question or concern, please express it,” said Hayes. “It will help us as we make these decisions. It will help your future and the future of our children. There’s only eight of us and we can’t think of everything. The education of our children is the most important thing to us.”
EVENING PUBLIC SESSION
During the 6 p.m. session, which followed an hour-long closed-door session to discuss tentative staffing cuts, only Don Rauzi appeared to ask questions of Tieman and the board. Rauzi’s comments focused on the potential for reducing utility costs through energy conservation measures, reducing expenditures for sports and transportation costs associated with athletic programs and field trips.
“We’ll look at transportation for athletics. We’ll look at transportation for field trips,” Tieman said. “We just haven’t made those decisions yet.”
Rauzi acknowledged that sports program has been “a sacred cow” for the school district, but suggested that some sports currently supported by the school district should become parent-supported programs.
“Soccer parents can do it,” he said. “Why can’t other parents do it?”
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FELONIES
Rusty S. Menge, 54 of Hettick, is charged with reckless discharging of a firearm in connection with an April 12 incident.
Brandon L. Allen, 41 of Port Orange, FL, is charged with two counts of unlawful commercial use of game ($500+), two counts of outfitting service without a permit, hunting on others land without permission, five counts of obtain license/revoked in a another state, using license issued to another, and loan/transfer license in connection to an April 16 incident.
Michelle D. Heaton, 51 of East Alton, is charged with possession of methamphetamine (<5 grams) in connection with a December 14, 2025 incident.
Tanner L. Wolff, 24 of Litchfield, is charged with possession of methamphetamine (<5 grams) in connection with a December 13, 2025 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Larry E. Conlee, 42 of Mount Clare, is charged with resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee in connection with an April 11 incident.
Kenneth W. Bennett, 69 of Carlinville, is charged with violating an order of protection in connection with an April 14 incident.
Gregory A. Swift, 43 of Virden, is charged with heft of lost/mislaid property (<$500) in connection with an October 18, 2025 incident.
Brandon P. Bellm, 33 of Carlinville, is charged with battery/causing bodily harm in connection with a March 18 incident.
Joseph S. Augustine, 50 of Staunton, is charged with tossing/throwing a jackrock on property in connection with an April 14 incident.
TRAFFIC
Casey C. Trebing, 28 of Worden, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with an April 10 incident.
Ayman Y. Omar, 51 of Lake Saint Louis, MO, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with an April 12 incident.
John M. Steward, 29 of Springfield, is charged with speeding 35+ mph over the limit in connection with an April 12 incident.
Kylie T. Hunter, 29 of Springfield, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with an April 12 incident.
Diana C. Hardison, 60 of Bunker Hill, is charged with driving on a revoked license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with an April 12 incident.
Jimmy Monroe, 75 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a revoked license and improper traffic lane usage.
Richard A. Stuckey, 70 of Brighton, is charged with failure to notify of damage to an unattended vehicle in connection with an April 9 incident.
Camden G. Zumwalt, 18 of Staunton, is charged with speeding 35+ mph over the limit in connection with an April 14 incident.
Trinity A. Pruitt, 22 of Benld, is charged with unlawful possession of cannabis/driver and driving 1-10 mph above the limit.
Keith M. Steele, 27 of Auburn, is charged with speeding 35+ mph over the limit in connection with an April 11 incident.
Joshua D. Strode, 48 of Chatham, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with an April 10 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Marshall Emery versus Maurissa Emery
- Coltan Milton versus Chelsea Milton
- Micah Gotter versus Pamela Gotter
- Katie Ritter versus Thomas Ritter
- James A. Donaldson versus Cheryl A. Donaldson
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Cristopher C. Miller and Yvonne M. Rendon, both of Carlinville.
- Earl W. Tiepelman and Maria J. Goth, both of Mount Olive
- Phillip L. Randazzo and Trisden M. Haggett, both of Gillespie.
- Christopher T. Bertolis and Jordan R. Ryan, both of Mount Olive.
- Robert A. Lee and Dawn M. Hilderbrand, both of Maryville.
- Jason T. Daube and Jamie M. Goble, both of Brighton.
- Gabriel E. Bliss and Grace A. Hobson, both of Virden.
- Matthew G. Weidner of Bunker Hill and Claire A. Wilton of Carlinville
- Michelle L. Dettwiler of Litchfield and Heather N. Geary of Vine Grove, Kentucky
- Hunter Gl. Niemann of Litchfield and Hannah M. Ward of Pawnee
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SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2026
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Spruce Street in reference to a traffic crash.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of East Elm Street in reference to found property.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of South Street in Benld in reference to a noise complaint.
An officer was dispatched to Park Street and South Trolley Street in Benld in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to Fillmore Street and Burton Street in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Shelby Street in reference to a 911 call.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Central in Benld in reference to a medical issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South 1st Street in Benld in reference to a 911 call.
An officer was dispatched to the 2300 block of Staunton Road in Mt. Clare in reference to a civil issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of 2nd Street in Benld in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of West Central in Benld in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of South Mt. Olive Road in Eagarville in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Walnut Street in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to Spruce Street and 5th Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026
The school resource officer was dispatched to the Gillespie High School Office in reference to a juvenile issue.
An officer was dispatched to the Gillespie High School in the 600 block of Broadway Street in reference to a traffic crash.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Litchfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to illegal dumping.
Douglas D. Davis, 59 of Benld, was arrested on a Macoupin County warrant for failure to appear for driving while license revoked.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of Francis Street in reference to criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Central Avenue in Benld in reference to a battery.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of East Elm Street in reference to criminal trespass.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Kentucky Street and Central Avenue in Benld. A 16 year old male from Benld was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of North Francis Street in reference to a juvenile issue.
An officer spoke with a female at the Gillespie Police Department in reference to fraud in the 600 block of Gillespie Street.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2026
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Hard Road and Dorsey Road in Benld. Camden G. Zumwalt, 18 of Staunton, was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer was dispatched to the 1400 block of South Macoupin Street in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of Charles Street in reference to harassment.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Park Avenue in reference to illegal parking.
An officer was dispatched to Dorsey Street and Hard Road in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer spoke with a female at the Gillespie Police Department in reference to to harassment in the 300 block of East Maple Street.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Central Avenue in Benld in reference to a security check.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of North Main Street in Benld in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of West Pine Street in reference to a well-being check.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2026
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of Park Street in Benld in reference to a well-being check.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Staunton Road and Henrietta Street. Lester W. Harvill, 56 of Benld, was arrested for improper lane usage and driving under the influence.
Catherine A. Brister, 50 of Staunton, was arrested on a Calhoun County warrant for failure to appear for violation of a court order.
An officer spoke with a male at the Gillespie Police Department in reference to to harassment.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Stemmi Street in Wilsonville to assist the Macoupin County Sheriff Department.
An officer spoke with a female at the Gillespie Police Department in reference to juvenile issue on Dorsey Road in Mt. Clare.
An officer spoke with an officer at Gillespie Police Department in reference to harassment on Fries Lane at Gillespie Lake.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Litchfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to illegal dumping
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of North 6th Street in Benld in reference to a 911 call.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026
An officer was dispatched to Gillespie Police Department to speak with a female in reference to child abuse.
An officer was dispatched to the Gillespie Police Department to speak with a female in reference to a child custody issue.
An officer was dispatched to the 600 block of West Osie Street in reference to criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to Staunton Road and Illinois Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of LJ Avenue in reference to a wellbeing check.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Maple Street and Jersey Street. Amy L. Vollintine, 31 of Sorento, was issued a citation for suspended registration.
An officer was dispatched to Benld City Garage in reference to criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to Walnut Street and Kentucky Street in Benld in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Central in Benld in reference to criminal trespass.
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2026
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of East Chestnut Street in Benld in reference to a traffic crash.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a 911 call.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Henrietta Street in reference to suspicious activity.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of North 7th Street in Benld in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Berry Street in Mt. Clare in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of North 5th Street in Benld in reference to a civil issue.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Broadway Street and Oregon Street. Daniel L. Harpole, 31 of Brighton, was issued a citation for speeding.
The school resource officer was dispatched to Ben-Gil Elementary School in reference to an issue with a parent.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of East Elm Street with an Alderman in reference to an ordinance issue.
An officer spoke with a male at Gillespie Police Department in reference to a civil issue in the 600 block of West Osie Street.
An officer was dispatched to the 800 block of Harding Avenue in East Gillespie in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was out at a business in the 400 block of East Central in Benld speaking with a male in reference to suspended registration.
SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2026
John E. Wenzel, 74 of Mt. Clare, was issued citations for driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident in the 300 block of North Macoupin Street.
An officer assisted Macoupin County Sheriff Department at South 4th Street and East Spruce Street in Benld.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of North Hard Road in Benld in reference to a 911 call.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Locust Street in Benld in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to Meadowlark Drive in Benld in reference to unwanted solicitors.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of North 5th Street in Benld in reference to neighborhood issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to a security check.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of Western Street in reference to a 911 call.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South 5th Street in Benld in reference to a 911 call.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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FELONIES
Justine D. Pocklington, 27 of Standard City, possession of methamphetamine (<5 grams), aggravated feeling police/21 mph over, no valid registration, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a February 2 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Katlyn N. Pilger, 21 of Benld, is charged with theft/unauthorized control (<$500) in connection with a March 28 incident.
Donald L. Lloyd, 46 of Staunton, is charged with criminal trespass to land in connection with an April 5 incident.
TRAFFIC
Tarina S. Slaughter, 47 of Girard, is charged with improper use of registration/title, unlicensed, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with an April 4 incident.
William C. Geiser, 60 of Gillespie, is charged with reckless driving in connection with an April 6 incident.
Lauren E. Wolfe, 21 of Granite City, is charged with improper use of registration/title and expiration of registration in connection with an April 3 incident.
Jim T. Wahl, 53 of Cottage Hills, is charged with driving on a revoked license in connection with an April 8 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Nora Washington versus Joseph D. Washington
- Samantha Lehnen versus Chad Wallace
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Colton D. West of Hettick and Alina M. Carver of Scottville.
- Devin J. Martin and Mariah P. Crane, both of Bunker Hill.
- Jonathon E. Swisher of Shipman and Mackenzie P. Calvin of Saint Charles, MO.
- Lucas Boschelli and Danielle J. Boatman, both of Carlinville.
- Todd R. Leverton and Jennifer L. Bowman, both of Carlinville.
