Community News
CUSD 7 School Board approves $15.9 million budget, approves resolution to use e-learning in lieu of snow days
A budget approved by the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night calls for more than $755,000 in deficit spending largely due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on both expenditures and revenue for the current fiscal year. The board approved the budget on a motion by Jenni Alepra following a public hearing required by law during which Supt. Shane Owsley discussed the details of the budget document.
In other action, the board also unanimously approved a resolution to submit to a plan for state approval calling for the district to use remote learning in leu of emergency days, commonly referred to as “snow days.”
“One of the things I learned from (former superintendent) Mr. (Joe) Tieman is that the budget is a plan,” Owsley told the board during the budget hearing, “and we know from this year that anything that is planned can go awry. This is just a plan. This could go a hundred different ways before the end of the year.”
In addition to the effects of the continuing pandemic, Owsley said the budget could be affected by potential reductions in state funding and by whether or not the Illinois Fair Tax constitutional amendment is approved by voters in November. The budget covers expected revenue and anticipated expenditures for the fiscal year that began July 1. If there are no surprises in the next 10 months, the budget projects revenues of $15,232,150 with expenditures estimated at $15,987,723. Deficit spending for the year would amount to $755,573, but Owsley pointed out that a substantial part of that deficit can be attributed to the construction of a new vocational education building expansion, revenue for which was received last fiscal year. Also contributing to the deficit are anticipated revenue shortfalls and increases in expenditures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Revenue from the County School Facilities Sales Tax, for example, is expected to fall by 25 percent due to lackluster retail sales this year linked to store closures early this spring.
The deficit is limited to two specific funds—Education and Operations, Maintenance and Building. The budget projects a deficit of $624,665 at the end of the fiscal year, and the year-end deficit for OMB is expected to total $240,394. Owsley called budget deficits “temporary,” noting the shortfall will be covered with existing positive balances in district funds. If the budget plays out as outlined, the district will end the year with $7,436,145 cash on hand, compared with $8,191,718 at the beginning of the fiscal year, as a result of dipping into reserves to cover the deficit.
“These are one-time deficits; the money is actually there from the previous year,” Owsley said. “All the other funds are in the black but just barely.”
The lion’s share of the budget is devoted to the Education Fund, accounting for $11,766,481 in projected revenue and $12,391,146 in anticipated spending, resulting in a deficit of $624,665. Owsley said the district is “heavily reliant” on state funding, noting that state funds account for 68 percent of the Education Fund revenue in the new budget. The state’s Evidence-Based Funding formula boosted the amount of state funding the district received last year and the district was expecting an increase of $475,000 in state aid this fiscal year. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on state tax revenues, however, Owsley said Evidence-Based Funding is frozen for this fiscal year. The $8,319,063 in state money for the Education Fund, Owsley said, “is exactly the same as last year.”
Federal funding for the Education Fund also comes with several caveats. The $1,967,143 in federal funds the district expects to receive includes grant program money for Title I and Title II and federal lunch assistance, but also includes COVID-19-related funding under the CARES Act, IDEA and vocational education funding that are one-time payments that will not be available a year from now.
Even the local funding component of Education Fund revenue is subject to speculation. Revenue generated from local property taxes is stable, Owsley noted, but local funding generated from lunch fees, book rental and admission fees paid for sporting events are likely to be less because of the district’s response to COVID-19.
Anticipated expenditures from the Education Fund include $7,697,793 for teacher salaries and related instructional costs, $3,264,654 for support services, and $3,500 for community services. The expenditure side of the equation also includes $1,425,199 in payments to other districts for students who attend classes not offered by CUSD 7 or travel to other districts for services not offered locally.
The Operation, Maintenance and Building Fund is the other source of deficit spending in the budget, expected to rack up a deficit at the end of the year of $240,394. The expected $653,677 in revenue is projected to come from $373,673 in local property tax revenue and $280,004 in Evidence-Based state funding. OMB expenditures are expected to total $894,071, including the expected $530,000 cost of the vocational education building expansion. One reason the OMB portion of the budget appears unbalanced, Owsley said, is because $50,000 in matching grant funds is being used to build the expansion was received last fiscal year even though the construction costs are reflected in the current year’s budget.
Owsley identified a number of what he called “outliers” that have had an impact on the current fiscal year’s budget. Those factors include COVID-19-related impacts on sales tax collections that are expected to limit the district’s share of School Facilities Sales Tax revenue to about 75 percent of last year’s receipt. Additionally, the school district expects to receive fewer payments from the state for transportation than it received last year. A vocational grant that will help pay for the vocational building expansion is a one-time revenue, Owsley noted, as are CARES Act payments and other relief money.
Apart from the Education Fund and the OMB Fund, other funds the district uses are balanced for the fiscal year, assuming there are no major changes or disruptions. The fund for Debt Service is expected to have $1,183,899 in revenue and $1,181,858 in expenditures, ending the year $2,041 in the black. Revenue for the Transportation Fund is projected at $557,065 with expenditures estimated at $547,934. The IMRF/Social Security Fund is expected to have $389,770 in revenue and $388,541 in expenditures. The Working Cash Fund, which can be used to shore up flagging funds with temporary funds during the year, is expected to have $34,834 in revenue with no anticipated expenditures. The Tort Fund which covers legal expenses is expected to have $181,233 in revenue with expenditures estimated at $125,000. The Capital Projects Fund is expected to have $465,191 in revenue and expenditures of $459,173.
All funds had positive reserve balances at the end of the last fiscal year and will end this fiscal year in the black. In total, the district expects to end the current fiscal year with $7,436,145 in cash reserves, compared with $8,191,718. The erosion in fund balances is attributed to the Education Fund and OMB fund, both of which are expected to experience deficit spending for the fiscal year.
In summary, the Education Fund began the fiscal year with $4,120,208 on hand and will end the year with $3,495,543. The OMB Fund began the year with $383,217 in reserve and will end the year with a positive balance of $142,823. Debt Service had $93,509 and will end the year virtually unchanged at $95,550. The Transportation Fund began with $188,113 and is expected to end the fiscal with $197,244 on hand. With $129,632 on hand at the beginning of the fiscal year, the IMRF/Social Security Fund is expected to end the year with a fund balance of $130,861. The district’s Capital Projects Fund had $544,918 at the beginning of the year and is expected to end the year with 550,936. With no anticipated expenditures, the Working Cash Fund is expected to grow from $2,519,637 at the beginning of the year to $2,554,471 at the end of the year. The Tort Fund, starting with a balance of $212,484, is expected to end the year with $268,717.
E-LEARNING IN LIEU OF SNOW DAYS
On a motion by Alepra, seconded by Becky Hatlee, the board voted unanimously to approve a resolution to authorize the district to use e-learning days in lieu of emergency days. Like the budget, the e-learning initiative was preceded by a public hearing prior to the board meeting. The action essentially means there will be no more “snow days” in CUSD 7.
During the hearing, Owsley told the board that the State Board of Education issued a letter in November 2018 allowing school district to implement e-learning in lieu of emergency days. At that time, CUSD 7 did not have the capacity to eliminate emergency days by using e-learning because not all students had computers and access to school resources for e-learning.
Teachers and the administrative team discussed the issue well before last spring’s school closure due to COVID-19.
“At that time, we didn’t have the capability,” Owsley said. “COVID forced our hand a little bit by giving us an opportunity we didn’t have before.” As of the start of the 2020-21 school year, all CUSD 7 students have been provided with Chromebook computers giving them access to online learning opportunities offered by the district. That capability allows the district to offer e-learning on emergency days.
Using e-learning in lieu of emergency days will prevent “snow days” from affecting the date for the last day of school, Owsley said. Additionally, it will mean the district can set a firm date for the start of summer school because the potential for a fluctuating last day of the school year will be eliminated. The plan also will enable teachers to maintain continuity by continuing instruction on days when students are precluded from attending class in person. Pragmatically, the measure will give administrators more latitude in determining when to call off in-person attendance because of weather conditions.
Under the state’s rules, the district is limited to using e-learning in lieu of emergency days to the number of emergency days built into the calendar. The school calendar for the current year identifies five emergency days.
Owsley said the district has met the prerequisites set by the State Board of Education for moving to an e-learning in lieu of emergency days plan. Those requirements include securing approval by the local teachers union, which concurred with the concept by a vote of about 70-20. The state also requires the district to file a copy of the plan with the Regional Office of Education. Owsley said the ROE Superintendent reviewed a preliminary plan and made a couple of minor recommendations which were incorporated into the final plan. The final plan approved Monday night will be filed with ROE.
The state requirements also require the district to meet minimum requirements regarding the number of hours of instructional time on emergency days and a system for reviewing and updating the plan as needed.
Owsley said the plan dovetails with the district’s efforts to provide remote learning opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic and will help prepare students for higher learning, which is also likely to become more reliant on remote learning.
“I don’t think we will ever see education go back to what it was a year ago,” Owsley said, adding the proposal will help prepare students for increasingly digital life after school.
Board member Bill Carter asked about limitations on the number of days e-learning could be used in place of emergency days. In the past, if the school was forced to close for more days than were built into the calendar, the state deemed those days as “Act of God” days. Such “Act of God” days basically were forgiven and did not affect the date for the last day of school.
“The state will only allow you to have the same number of e-learning days as you have emergency days built into the calendar,” Owsley said. “The state is pushing toward this because those “Act of God” days are not made up in instruction days.”
Carter also asked about issues arising when a student fails to take home his or her Chromebook the night before an emergency day is declared. Owsley said teachers will have to make an effort to emphasize the importance of taking the devices home every night.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, following an executive session, the board voted unanimously to uphold the suspension of a district student. The student reportedly was suspended last year and the parents had appealed the decision to the administration and to the board. The suspension reportedly was completed last year and the student is again eligible to attend classes.
The board also voted unanimously to accept a Health and Life Safety Survey related to the high school/middle school complex. The report identifies specific life safety issues in need of remedy. The report is prepared by the school district’s architects and is filed with the Regional Office of Education. Owsley said the report identified only two issues to be corrected. One issue was a door that needs to swing open in the opposite direction to preclude interfering with the flow of foot traffic. The other recommendation called for the installation of carbon dioxide detectors in rooms equipped with rooftop heating units.
The board briefly discussed the sixth-day enrollment figures for the current school year. Owsley said the report showed some decline in enrollment—from 1,294 last year to 1,151 this year. Owsley attributed the decline to COVID-19 issues and a number of parents opting to homeschool their children. He predicted that enrollment will increase as the year progresses and ultimately will be at or near last year’s numbers.
Board members also voted unanimously to approve an Administrator and Teacher Salary and Benefits Report for the current school year. The report is available for public review online.
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Community News
Gillespie Council approves $15.7 million appropriation ordinance for current fiscal year
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to approve an appropriation of $15,758,490 for the fiscal year that began May 1. State law mandates an annual appropriation to set spending ceilings for specific municipal funds. The ordinance sets spending limits only and does not serve as a budget, according to outgoing City Treasurer Dan Fisher, who conducted a 15-minute public hearing prior to the council meeting.
Actual city expenditures are likely to be no more than a third of the appropriation total, Mayor Landon Pettit said. The city’s actual annual expenditures average around $3 million to $4 million.
The newly approved appropriation is about $1.4 million less than last year’s appropriation of $17,130,799, which was inflated by anticipated grant funds for the city’s ambitious streetscape project and Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) funds. The new appropriation also inflated somewhat by $4.5 million, representing grant and local funds, for the streetscape project, and $1.3 million in anticipated CEJA grant funds. Removing those two items would take the appropriation of primarily local funds down to about $10 million, which is significantly less than pre-COVID appropriations.
The new ordinances authorizes expenditures of up to $2,400,600 for the Water Department, compared with $2,845,700 last year. The Water Department appropriation includes up to $200,000 for water line system improvements and $100,000 for a water tower improvement project.
Up to $1,855.000 in expenditures is authorized for the Police Department, compared with $2,316,000 last year. The appropriation of General Administrative Expenses comes in at $1,364,500, compared with $1,356,500 a year ago. A spending ceiling of $929,000 is set for the Street Department, compared with $1,281,500 last year. The appropriation for Parks and Recreation is $697,800, compared with $846,000 a year ago. A total of $200,000 is appropriated for Parks and Recreational Areas, which is the same as last year’s appropriation. The ordinance appropriates $665,000 for Motor Fuel Tax expenditures, compare with $600,000 last year. Expenditures of up to $200,000 are appropriated from the Tax Increment Financing Fund, compared with $280,000 last year.
The new ordinance sets spending limits for the Emergency Services and Disaster Administration (ESDA) at $58,900, which compares with $33,900 last year and includes money to replacement storm/emergency sirens.
The ordinance appropriates $170,500 for Administrative Building costs, down from $220,000 last year. The ordinance sets a spending limit of $165,000 for FICA, compared with $160,000 last year; $65,000 for Liability Insurance, which is the same as the previous year.
The ordinance appropriates $42,020 for Salaries of General Elective and Appointed City Officials, which is unchanged from last year.
A total of $40,670 is appropriated for the Public Library, and $5,000 for the Municipal Band, both of which are the same as last year.
Presenting the Public Hearing was the last official act for Fisher. Soon after convening the council’s regular monthly meeting, Rusty Fredericks was sworn in to serve a two-year appointive term as City Treasurer. Fredericks will have the option to run for election to the office in April 2027.
STREETSCAPE UPDATE
Mayor Pettit told the council the long-awaited streetscape project to enhance the downtown shopping district is set to begin soon. In the meantime, he said the city will schedule public meetings with downtown business owners to advise them about when and how construction might affect their businesses.
The streetscape project has been in discussion for about six years. Aimed at improving aesthetics and the business climate downtown, the plan calls for establishing downtown as a cultural center for small festivals, farmers markets, concerts and other activities. The plan includes converting parking from perpendicular spaces to diagonal spaces. The parking arrangement will marginally reduce the number of spaces. Triangular “dead spaces” at intersections will be converted into “green spaces” with small trees and other plantings, along with green spaces interspersed along each block. Sidewalks will be replaced, drainage will be improved with grates leading to the city’s storm sewer system, and new, more attractive light poles will be installed. With the creation of green spaces at intersections, the distance for pedestrian crossing will be reduced from 76 feet to 46 feet, not only improving aesthetics but also improving safety for pedestrians.
The city received a $4 million grant from Rural Development, a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and awarded a construction contract in March to Stutz Excavating, Inc., Alton, contingent upon the federal funds being released to the city. Pettit said the first installment of the grant money has been received, enabling the city to start construction.
In a related matter, the council voted unanimously to employ Lake Manager Ethan Martin to the city’s on-site manager for the project. Martin basically will monitor construction to ensure the work is congruent with contract provisions. Martin will be paid a supplemental salary in addition to his earnings as Lake Manager for the duration of the project, after which his wages will return to their original level.
WELFARE PARK IMPROVEMENTS
On the Mayor’s recommendation, the council voted unanimously to spend up to $50,000 for new bleachers and playground equipment for Welfare Park. Pettit said the existing wooden bleachers at the park are deteriorating and dangerous to spectators. He recommended replacing them with six four-row aluminum bleachers—two for each athletic field—which require less maintenance than the existing bleachers. The aluminum bleachers are low enough to not require handrails and will cost a total of $15,480, plus about $380 for hardware. Pettit said he also located playground equipment with plastic covered metal for about $3,000 from Uline, Inc., not including shipping and engineered mulch.
Improvements are nearing completion at Big Brick Park, which includes new playground equipment, picnic tables and other improvements.
“I’d like to see a little more focus on our parks,” Pettit said. “They’ve been let go for too long.”
“That’s why it’s so expensive when we do improvements,” said Ald. Wendy Rolando, who moved to authorize the expenditure.
Pettit said the city is due to received $70,000 in CEJA funding as part of the current grant cycle. That money should arrive in two to three months.
In the meantime, he said the city can pay for the improvements with existing funds and reimburse itself when the grant funds are available.
In a related matter, the council authorized the mayor to apply for a new round of CEJA grant funding for the current fiscal year.
BENLD POLICE CONTRACT
The council approved Ald. Dona Rauzi’s proposal to cease police protection services to the City of Benld if Gillespie and Benld can not reach an agreement for a new contract within 30 days. The current contract expired April 30, and Gillespie has continued to provide police protection to Benld for $20,000 per month under terms of the current contract. In April, both parties agreed to a 90-day extension to continue negotiations.
The 90-day extension will end next month, after which the City of Gillespie will terminate services.
Gillespie has provided police protection services to Benld for five years after the Benld Police Department was disbanded.
NUISANCE PROPERTIES
The council added 416 East Elm to a previously prepared resolution to declare 307 E. Elm as nuisance properties, after neighbor Geri Meyer voiced concerns to the council about the condition of the house.
“It’s a dilapidated house,” Meyer said, citing loose siding and a large whole that allows raccoons and other wildlife to enter the home. “It’s right there on what I call the main drag, and I was just wondering when someone was going to do something about it.”
Ald. Dona Rauzi said she spoke to the property owner, who assured her he was working with a contractor to start work on the house within the next two weeks.
“That’s exactly what he told me when I moved in two years ago,” Meyer commented.
“Other than that, I don’t know what I can do,” Rauzi explained. “I can’t force him to remodel his house.”
City Attorney Rick Verticchio agreed. “While you can’t force him to do it, this council can declare it a public nuisance,” Verticchio said, which would give the property own 30 days to at least start the work or face further legal action. “If you need to give him more time, you can do that but the first step is to declare it a nuisance.”
FOOD TRUCK ORDINANCE
On a motion by Ald. Rauzi, the council voted unanimously to amend an existing food truck ordinance to offer an annual permit at a cost of $300. The current ordinance required a daily permit fee of $25. Rauzi’s motion included a provision to waive fees for food truck operators who have already spent $300 or more for permits this calendar year.
Rauzi said the amendment will benefit food truck operators, and simplify record keeping for the Deputy City Clerk.
LJ AVENUE PARKING
Also on a motion by Rauzi, the council voted 6-1 to rescind a previously approved ordinance banning parking on the west side of LJ Avenue. The school district plans to post no parking signs in front of gates to the football field and along a 50-zone zone to restrict parking near a fire hydrant.
The issue has been somewhat controversial since Community Unit 7 School District rerouted buses at the beginning of the school year to synchronize class starting and ending times for all three attendance centers.
Ald. Janet Odell-Mueller case the sole negative vote. Ald. Rauzi, Ald Rolando, Ald. J.Q. Halteman, Ald. Dave Link, Ald. Frank Barrett and Ald. Bob Fritz all voted in favor of the measure. Ald. Bill Hayes was absent.
In a related matter, the council tabled further discussion of repairs to Plum Street.
Without taking formal action, the council agreed to have Ald. Fritz survey the city for missing street signs. Ald. Rolando said she had several phone calls regarding missing signs on Broadway and Frey. Mayor Pettit said street signs also frequently go missing from several other streets, including Baker and High. He said street signs are relatively inexpensive and the city should have money to pay for them. He recommended finding which signs are missing and placing an order for all of them.
“If there are some that go missing all the time, go ahead and order extras,” he said.
CIVIC CENTER CHANGE ORDER
Council members voted unanimously in support of Ald. Fritz’s motion to approve a $7,272 change order for ongoing remodeling work at City Hall and the Civic Center. Fritz said contractors discovered that the original fiberglass ductwork installed when the building was constructed is deteriorating and releasing fiberglass fibers. Mayor Pettit assured the council the city has available Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds to cover the expense.
The council also voted Monday night to close out the TIF I fund and transfer remaining funds to TIF II.
SIDE-BY-SIDE
The council authorized the expenditure of up to $15,000 for a new Kawasaki 4×4 side-by-side for use at Gillespie Lake. The city previously used a UTV belonging to the former lake manager, who took his personnel equipment with him when he changed jobs.
The new machine will come from Action Powersports, Litchfield.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the council:
- Tabled action on a policy regarding workers who want to return to work early after a medical leave. Attorney Verticchio is expected to review the proposed policy to resolve possible liability issues.
- Accepted a bid of $925 to be paid from Motor Fuel Tax funds from Emmons Tree Service, Carlinville, to remove three trees from boulevards on Chestnut and Maple streets.
- Referred a proposed ordinance to govern burning back to committee for further work before being presented to the full council.
- Referred to committee the issue of whether or not to hold a city-wide clean-up day. Mayor Pettit said the city’s cost for the event could be up to $18,000 for dumpster rentals. Meanwhile, Ald. Rauzi again pointed out that adopting a single-provider city-wide trash hauling service would include two annual city-wide clean-ups at no cost to the city. Ald. Rolando said a city-wide program would reduce costs for local consumers and limit the number of trash hauling trucks on city alleyways.
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SPRINGFIELD — Lincoln Land Community College has announced its full-time and part-time President’s and Vice President’s lists for the spring 2025 semester. Part-time students are enrolled in six to 11 credit hours while full-time students are enrolled in 12 or more credit hours.
Students who earned a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) are noted with an asterisk and earned President’s list honors. Students who earned between a GPA of 3.5-3.99 earned Vice President’s list honors. The excerpt below features Macoupin County students.
FULL-TIME STUDENTS
Bunker Hill – Logan R. Helling
Carlinville – Reid P. Evans*, Brody M. Reif
Gillespie – Maris E. Brill, Austin L. Grace*
Girard – Max Allen*, Katie Angulo*, Mick B. Downs*, Josh Hagerman, Reed Lewis, Michael S. Prose*
Mount Olive – Jakobb E. Brown*, Georgia G. Kampwerth
Palmyra – Alexis R. Bowman*
Staunton – Paige N. Horstmeyer*, Michael J. Matesa*, Lauren R. Mathis, Brandon Mo
Virden – Zorah E. Austin*, Michaeh N. Barnhouse*, Maddie Carver, Jackson R. Pierce*, Morgan C. Snell*, Grant M. Strickler, Courtney N. Ulinski*
PART-TIME STUDENTS
Benld – Christopher Young*
Carlinville – Alex C. Nance*, Jerry D. Nance Jr.*
Gillespie – Jessica L. Tiek*
Girard – Lindsey J. Ferguson*, Jackson R. Henke*, Natalie Moriconi*
Mount Olive – Kara A. Harmon*, Justin D. O’Neill*, Hayden Wylder*
Virden – Candace L. Carlile*, Lillian M. Carlile*, Natalie M. Little*, Josie P. Patterson, Luciano Pierce*
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The 2:18 Missions Team, a dedicated local outreach group based in Gillespie, is excited to announce its upcoming cookout fundraiser to support its community initiatives. The event will take place on Saturday, June 21st, at Randy’s Market in Benld.
From approximately 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., community members are invited to enjoy delicious homemade food while supporting a worthy cause. The menu will feature pork chops, pork burgers, hot dogs, and refreshing water — perfect for a summer day of good food and fellowship.
“All proceeds from this event will go directly toward our mission efforts to serve and uplift our community,” said a spokesperson for 2:18 Missions Team. “We’re grateful for the support of our neighbors and look forward to seeing everyone there!”
Come out to Randy’s Market in Benld on June 21st to enjoy a tasty meal, support local endeavors, and connect with others in the community.
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