Community News
Contentious school board approves project to remove “hairpin” drive
Former board member Dave Griffel addressed the board regarding a plan the Building and Grounds Committee toyed with during his tenure on the board.
Despite vocal objections from at least two of its members, the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted 4-2 to move forward with a $150,000 project to remove the “hairpin” drive in front of Gillespie Middle School and replace it with green space. The project also includes provisions to improve drainage in the area, which is known for becoming a sheet of ice during winter.
The board, however, deadlocked on approval of an alternate bid to repave the east half of Elm Street in front of the district’s administrative offices in conjunction with the main project.
Also on Monday, the board approved the district’s first golf program, set to start during the 2019-2020 school year, and quizzed chorus teacher Alexandrea Weinberg before approving a band and chorus trip to Walt Disney World in June 2020.
Supt. Joe Tieman told the board that DeLaurent Construction, Wilsonville, was the only firm to submit a bid for the hairpin turn-around project. DeLaurent offered a base bid of $150,000—$50,000 under the architect’s estimate—for the basic work. Additionally, the company provided an alternate bid of $26,000 for additional paving in conjunction with the project.
[pullquote]Tieman said the project could be comfortably financed using revenue from the county’s School Facilities Sales Tax collections.[/pullquote]
Tieman said the project could be comfortably financed using revenue from the county’s School Facilities Sales Tax collections. After accounting for a $230,000 bond and interest payment for the new BenGil Elementary School debt and a $55,000 payment for the newly completed Middle School science lab, Tieman said the district is sitting on a $400,397 balance in the sale tax fund. Next year’s allocation of sales tax revenue to the district is projected at $350,000 to $400,000. School Facilities Sale Tax revenues are restricted to expenditures for permanent improvements or new construction.
“A year or a year and a half from now, we should be sitting on a million and a half in that account,” Tieman said.
The project, designed by school architect Tom Hyde, calls for removing the paved surface associated with the turn-around, backfilling the area with topsoil and seeding the area with grass. The project also will include the installation of concrete curbing and sidewalks, and installation of stormwater drains. All of the drainage will be underground and will direct water to ditches along Route 16 on the east side of the middle school/high school complex.
Tieman said he met with Gillespie Mayor John Hicks who pledged to work with the school district to get those ditches dug out and cleaned, and to replace crushed culverts under entrances to the Middle School and to the school’s parking lot. Additionally, Hicks reportedly told Tieman the city’s ongoing project to replace water lines throughout the city would not damage the completed project since lines in that area would be installed by boring under the pavement.
[pullquote]Tieman said he met with Gillespie Mayor John Hicks who pledged to work with the school district.[/pullquote]
DeLaurent’s alternative bid of $26,000 refers to paving the east half of Elm Street and the south half of Oregon Street for the distance of the project. The base project calls for regrading the west half and north half of those streets, respectively, and repaving to restore the crown and improve drainage.
Tieman said Hicks could not say whether or not the city would participate financially in paving the sections of Elm and Oregon streets unaffected by the project since that would be a decision subject to approval by the City Council.
School board unanimously approves district’s first golf team program
“The alternate bid does not have to be voted up or down tonight,” Tieman said, “which would give me an opportunity to continue working with the city.”
Tieman said dealing with the turn-around has been a topic of discussion for more than a decade. Apart from drainage issues and aesthetics, he said the area also is a safety hazard. During the winter months, the area often becomes a sheet of ice. Students, staff members and visitors picking their way across the ice occasionally fall, though there apparently have been no serious injuries.
“I’m afraid of a severe head injury or a broken ankle or broken arm,” he said. “I’m not saying we would be liable, but it would be difficult to be in a courtroom and have to defend that position when we’ve done nothing.”
Tieman said his goal would be to complete the project before the start of the 2019-2020 school year.
“My recommendation is unequivocally, 100 percent to go ahead with this project and get it done while we have the money,” Tieman told the board. “It will take care of not only an eyesore but also a safety hazard.”
[pullquote]“It will take care of not only an eyesore but also a safety hazard.”[/pullquote]
While Tieman assured the board the money is available for the project, board members Weye Schmidt and Bill Carter objected to spending $150,000 to $176,000 in sales tax funds on a problem that might be resolved for less money.
The proposed renderings of the revamped “hairpin” project.
Earlier in the meeting, former board member Dave Griffel addressed the board regarding a plan the Building and Grounds Committee toyed with during his tenure on the board. He said one reason the area holds water is because the grassy area to the west is about four inches higher than the pavement. Additionally, water that drains to the east is impeded by culverts that have been crushed by traffic. The board’s tentative plan several years ago was to use school personnel to grade the grassy area down to the same level as the pavement and reseed it, replace damaged culverts, and clean and improve ditches along Route 16 to carry the water away. The total cost, he said, would have been no more than a few hundred dollars.
The plan never progressed beyond the discussion stage, according to Griffel. There were no engineering studies done and no formal cost estimates. He said board members did talk to city officials who agreed to work with the district on replacing damaged culverts. The district also would have to work with the owners of a nearby Dairy Queen to resolve the culvert issue.
“Water does run that way, but it’s impeded,” Griffel noted. “Would you want to try something like this for a year and see if it works and if it doesn’t, then consider something else?”
“This is an awful lot of money,” said Weye Schmidt, board member. “I don’t think that when we went to voters to approve the school facilities tax that this is what they envisioned spending that money on. I think we need to get rid of the water, but I think we need to come up with a cheaper way of doing it.”
Tieman, however, countered that when he conducted public meetings on the tax referendum, addressing the turn-around was a specific project constituents mentioned.
“The money is there and this is the time to get it done and get it done properly,” Board President Mark Hayes said. He added that he didn’t think there were other viable options for the board to pursue.
“How do you know that?” Schmidt demanded. He said Hyde had not been asked to develop any alternative proposals other than the one presented to the board Monday night.
“It’s tough to take out that much money (from the sales tax account) for this,” board member Carter said, “not that it doesn’t need to be done.”
Brought to a vote, a motion to accept DeLaurent’s base bid was approved 4-2 with Schmidt and Carter voting no. Hayes, Becky Hatlee, Don Dobrino and Dennis Tiburzi voted “yes.” Jenni Alepra was absent.
A second motion to approve the alternate bid for additional paving failed to pass when the board tied 3-3.
Schmidt said he was not comfortable in committing to the alternate bid without knowing whether or not the city would support the project financially. He also questioned the practicality of paving one-half of the street if the city opts not to participate. Hatlee joined Schmidt and Carter in voting against the measure.
Tieman said he would continue talking with the city to determine whether or not Gillespie would help pay for the paving. DeLaurent’s bid is good for 60 days and the alternate bid could be reconsidered by the board at its next regular meeting.
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Community News
Benld prepares to celebrate 72nd annual Italian American Days over Memorial Day weekend
A beloved community tradition returns this Memorial Day weekend as the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days brings three days of food, music, and family fun to Benld City Park from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.
Hosted by the Italian Club of Benld, the long-running festival celebrates the area’s rich Italian heritage while welcoming visitors from across the region for a full slate of activities.
Festivalgoers can expect a wide variety of homemade Italian favorites served throughout the weekend, including salami and meatball sandwiches, tortellini soup, bagna cauda, and cannoli. A daily fish fry featuring cod and whiting will also be available, along with classic festival fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian beef, and carnival treats. Beer, wine, and soda will be available for purchase.
In addition to the food, the event will feature carnival rides provided by Conner Family Amusement, Inc., with unlimited ride sessions offered throughout the weekend. Bingo will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m., and festival-themed shirts will be available for purchase.
Live music and dancing will take center stage each evening. Friday night entertainment includes a performance by Flip the Frog from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the park open from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday highlights include the Italian Club Car Show, with registration from 8:00 a.m. to noon and judging beginning at noon. The park opens at 11:00 a.m., and live music will feature Pat Jones in the afternoon followed by Borderline in the evening.
Sunday kicks off with the “Meatballs on the Run” 5K at 9:00 a.m., sponsored by the Gillespie Cross Country Boosters. You can sign-up to participate online here. The day continues with free spaghetti served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a bocce ball tournament beginning at noon, and a full lineup of live music throughout the day, including performances by Unbroken, Syner-Gee, and B&B Strings.
Connors Family Amusements will provide carnival armbands for $30. Armbands will be valid Friday (May 22) from 6:00 to 10 :00 p.m. and again on Saturday (May 23rd) and Sunday (May 24th) from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m, Advanced armband sales will be available from May 4th through May 21st at the Frank Bertetti Public Library and Benld City Hall for $25. Debit and Credit Cards will NOT be accepted.
Organizers note that no outside beverages are permitted in the park or at club events.
With its mix of tradition, entertainment, and community spirit, the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days promises to once again be a highlight of the summer season in Macoupin County. For more information and updates, follow the festival on Facebook at Benld Italian American Days.
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Gillespie will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, May 11 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.
To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 7101336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 to schedule.
Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available
through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate.
For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 7475401. Donors who last gave blood on or before March 16, 2026, are eligible to give at this drive.
Blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure may be accepted as eligible donors.
ImpactLife is a nonprofit community organization providing blood products and services to more than 100 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as researchers and resource sharing partners across the country.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Wednesday night approved a package of four capital improvement projects totaling more than $160,000 in value. Work will start on the projects after the end of the current school year and is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026-27 academic year in August.
The board met on Wednesday night after Monday’s inclement weather forced the district to reschedule the board’s regular monthly meeting.
The board approved entering into a contract with Fisher Tracks, Boone, Iowa, to resurface the district’s all-weather track at a cost of $105,209. Supt. Shane Owsley told the board the district will use about $50,000 from an all-weather track activity fund, with the remainder to be paid with proceeds from an alternate revenue bond issue approved last year for capital improvements.
Great Western Abatement, Jerseyville, was retained to remove flooring containing asbestos from the choir room floor and middle school gymnasium school at a cost of $40,700. Great Western’s bid was the lowest of seven bids, ranging up to $65,000, submitted for the work. Additionally, the district is paying $8,900 to Reliable Environmental Services, Springfield, for engineering and design work associated with the asbestos removal.
All-purpose rubberized flooring material will be installed on the middle school gym floor by Dynamic Sports Construction, Leander, Texas, at a cost of $51,424.
For the first time in a number of years, the high school gymnasium floor will be sanded and refinished with new artwork. Blast Technologies, St. Louis, was hired to sand the 4,200-square-foot floor at a cost of $5,250. Designs Unlimited, Pinckneyville, will paint game lines and logos on the floor before sealing it with a clear stain at a cost not to exceed $18,738.
The board also accepted a bid of $33,890 from DeLaurent Construction, Wilsonville, to resurface the 118,700-square-foot parking lot at Benld Elementary School.
Though no action was taken, Board President Mark Hayes reported that the Building and Grounds Committee had directed Owsley to investigate the cost of replacing the CUSD 7 administrative building.
“This building is very much in need of replacement,” Hayes said. “It’s beyond its time.” During Monday’s torrential rainfall, Hayes said water came in through windows and water seeped in under the sill plate, bringing displaced nightcrawlers into the building. Staff members ran fans after the storm in an effort to dry out the interior.
According to Hayes, the school has been in contact with the local Baptist Church to investigate the possibility of acquiring the former Trinity Baptist Church for use as an administrative building. Church officials, however, have not yet made a decision about the fate of the former sanctuary after Gillespie’s two Baptist churches merged.
Owsley said the current administrative building comprises about 6,000 square feet. Current estimates are $400 per square foot for new construction which would translate into about $2.5 million to replace the administrative facility. The district might be able to shave some dollars off that estimate by reducing the size of the building.
“There’s a lot of unusable space in this building,” Owsley said, suggesting a more efficient floorpan could reduce cost. He also mentioned the possibility of a basement to provide storage space for outdated documents.
In addition to construction costs, Owsley noted, the district would be responsible for tearing down the existing building.
“I have no idea what’s in this building,” Owsley said, raising abatement concerns. “I’m guessing disposal of this building is going to be expensive.”
Hayes said Kevin Wills, the district’s bond issue advisor, will attend the June board meeting to discuss the possibility of refinancing some existing bonds to free up enough revenue to build a new administrative building. The administration currently is housed in a “temporary” structure that has served as the administration building for several decades.
MINE SUBSIDENCE STUDY
After several minutes of discussion, the board took no action in relation to entering into a contract with Marino Engineering and Associates to assess the district’s risk for incurring damage from a mine subsidence event. Owsley said existing maps show that portions of Gillespie Middle School are undermined. While the high school is not undermined, a major subsidence would likely damage the high school as well as the middle school. In recent months, more than one residential home on Elm Street near the school property has experienced damage from mine subsidence.
Marino’s $94,000 Phase I proposal would “determine the likelihood of something happening to one of our buildings,” Owsley said. The problem is that too much information could negatively impact the district’s ability to purchase subsidence insurance. “Information is great until it’s not.”
The district currently pays about $300,000 for mine subsidence insurance on the middle school, high school and vocational arts building. The school carries no subsidence insurance on BenGil Elementary because mine shafts under the building were grouted before the school was built.
“If we find out there’s not a major concern,” Owsley noted, it could reduce the district’s subsidence insurance costs.
On the other hand, if the study reveals a high risk of experiencing mine subsidence, the insurer could drop the district at the end of the current policy’s term. With only two companies in the country offering subsidence insurance, the district could end up with no insurance at all to cover damage from mine subsidence.
The only way to avoid that scenario would be to implement whatever options Marino might recommend to reduce risk. Those recommendations would likely include grouting (backfilling) mine shafts under the middle school. Grouting for the elementary school cost $4 million. To grout under the middle school would likely run as much as $6 million or more.
The only way the study would make sense, Owsley suggested, would be if the district was “comfortable making the corrections the study is going to make.”
Moreover, $94,000 would cover only a preliminary assessment.
“To get a full understanding of what’s going on underground, we’d be looking at a half million dollars,” said Owsley.
The issue was allowed to die when no board member moved to consider the contract.
COMMUNITY SOLAR PARTICIPATION
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to enter into a contract with Summit Ridge Solar to participate in a community solar project. Under terms of the 15-year contract, the district will realize a 13 percent savings on electrical power bills. The contract is automatically renewable for five years unless the district chooses to withdraw.
“Illinois provides a number of incentives for using solar,” Owsley said. “However, not everyone likes the look of having solar panels on their property. This will get us the benefits without putting up solar panels on our property.”
Summit Ridge’s proposal was the most lucrative of the proposals the district received. Other companies offered shorter terms with savings of five percent.
After 20 years, it’s likely the savings would drop to five percent. Owsley said he was told the district was better off going with the longer contract to get 13 percent in savings for as long as possible.
The school district was able to secure such favorable rates, according to Owsley is because there is an issue with solar fields storing the power they generate. “Our main usage time is during their maximum production time.”
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, the board recognized sophomore Matrix Wright, whose art was the only entry from the United States included in the 2026 TOLI International Student Art Exhibition. The exhibition is a project of The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies in New York. The exhibit includes student art relating to themes associated with the Holocaust.
Wright’s work, entitled “An Immortal Continuum,” attempts to portray “the constant entrapment a Holocaust survivor might feel.”
Exhibition organizers received more than 250 entries from around the globe.
BUDGET PROCESS
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Board President Hayes, board members voted unanimously to begin work on developing a district budget for fiscal 2027. Board members also approved a routine measure to permit expenditure of fiscal 2027 funds after July 1, pending approval of a new budget.
The school district’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 but new budgets typically are approved two to four months after the start of the fiscal year.
The current fiscal year’s $19 million budget was approved in September last year.
PERSONNEL
Following a one-hour executive session to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to approve the request of long-time middle school English and language arts teacher Kim Henderson, effective at the end of the 2028-29 school year.
Board members also voted unanimously to hire Andrew Crook as a first-year, non-tenured high school English teacher for the 2026-27 school year, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check. A graduate of Gillespie High School, Crook earned his teaching certificate at Illinois College, Jacksonville and for the past two years, he taught English at North Mac High School.
In separate actions, the board made multiple assignments to staff the district’s summer school program. Those hired include: Jessica Kelly as a middle school teacher, Ashlee Gibbs as a high school math teacher, and Jennifer Brown and Rob Macias as high school drivers’ education instructors. Each of the positions are contingent upon adequate student enrollment to offer the classes. In addition to academic staff, the board hired Andy Hirstein as a summer school food service worker.
The board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Foli Seferi as high school paraprofessional and as assisted football coach. Both resignations are effective immediately.
In other personnel action, the board appointed Cate Plovich as the BenGil Elementary School yearbook sponsor, and appointed Josh Ross as a volunteer assistant football coach, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
• Approved a mens highs school soccer coop with the Carlinville School District, with the provision Carlinville will dissolve the agreement if it pushes its program into a higher competitive classification.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Lewis and Clark Community College under which the college will recognize some high school courses as college level credits.
• Approved early graduation requests for an undisclosed number of students, provided all graduation requirements are met.
• Approved renewing the district’s membership in the Illinois Elementary Schools Association.
• Approved the final calendar for the 2025-26 school year pending no further emergency days. Barring the use of emergency days, Monday, May 18 will be the last day of student attendance, with graduation ceremonies set at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 17.
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