Community News
CUSD 7 School Board hears guidance counselor’s report, votes to transfer former school site to City of Benld
Published
7 years agoon
By
Dave A

Kalli Erwin, Gillespie Middle School/High School counselor, told members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night that she is spending substantially more of her time dealing with social issue and less time on traditional guidance counselor activities.
Kalli Erwin, Gillespie Middle School/High School counselor, told members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night that she is spending substantially more of her time dealing with social issue and less time on traditional guidance counselor activities. Though no official action is on the horizon, the evolving nature of the counselor’s job may lead the board to someday consider hiring a full-time social worker to deal with issues ranging from the effects of dysfunctional families on student performance and well-being to students who are suicidal.
The board also voted unanimously to transfer about 10 acres of property, the former site of Benld Elementary School, to the City of Benld for development as a public park.
Erwin told the board that although her training and responsibilities are keyed primarily to career and college counseling, she is finding herself devoting more and more time to dealing with social and emotional issues that affect students’ academic performance.
I’m having a hard time being there for all the social and emotional situations, plus the academic and career responsibilities.
“I’m having a hard time being there for all the social and emotional situations, plus the academic and career responsibilities,” she said. “Where I’m getting stuck is being responsible for all these things (career and college issues), not dropping the ball and still being there for students who have needs that really impact their academic performance. I was trained in college for solution-based counseling. I am not a therapist.”
A small pamphlet distributed to school board members provided statistics to back up Erwin’s assertion. For the current school year, there have been 14 calls to the Department of Children and Family Services regarding Gillespie Middle School and High School Students, she said. Erwin said she made seven of those calls. Other school staff made two of the referrals and Kevin McNicholas, a social worker employed by the state-funded Screening, Assessment and Support Services (SASS) agency made the other five. While McNicholas is a valuable resource, Erwin said, CUSD 7 shares his services with three other school districts.
“Some days, he sees 40 students in one day,” she said. “I don’t see how he can even do that.”
“Would your job be improved if we had a full-time or part-time social worker?” Supt. Joe Tieman asked.
“Oh, yes, significantly,” Erwin replied.
As of Jan. 10, Student Services Secretary Tina Gibson has sent out 159 letters to parents of students who are failing one or more courses. Those letters are meant to generate a meeting between parents and teachers to address issues underlying the student’s poor performance.
“There’s almost always something social or emotional going on,” Erwin said. “It’s rare that I see someone where there’s not something going on—either a divorce or some other situation or a student who is suicidal.”
So far this year, Erwin said she has dealt with 12 middle school or high school students who are considering suicide to the point of actually making plans to kill themselves. One student was researching the effectiveness of jumping off a cliff and another was looking into the efficacy of jumping off a bridge.
These aren’t just students who say they want to kill themselves. These are students who are actually making plans.
“These aren’t just students who say they want to kill themselves. These are students who are actually making plans,” Erwin said. “We have a lot of students who say they want to kill themselves but it’s something they say out of frustration. It’s a common thing. It hurt my ears the first time I heard it but that’s the way they talk. These are not those students. These are students who are actually making plans. It’s a scary thing but the fact they feel comfortable coming to me to talk about it is huge.”
Seven students have been hospitalized this academic year for mental health issues. The counseling office has worked with Children’s Home and Aid to find safe places for four students to live this school year.
Children’s Home and Aid, Erwin said, has become a useful resource for situations where DCFS declines to intervene. The agency’s staff includes both counselors and social workers.
“DCFS won’t investigate unless someone sees a mark on a student (indicating child abuse),” Erwin said. In one instance, DCFS refused to intervene when a student reported that there was no food in the home where he was living. In another case, Erwin was able to get DCFS to investigate a case where a student reported that the father was abusing drugs in the home only because there was a previous file on the family.
Such situations necessarily erode the amount of time Erwin can devote to her primary responsibility of providing career and college counseling services.
“If we have a suicidal student, they trump everything. Someone has to be with them all the time.” she said. “Everything else comes to a halt. The student’s safety takes precedence.”
DCFS referrals, she said, can consume a half-day or more per incident.
Board member Weye Schmidt asked Erwin if she would have time to do that she’s not able to do now if the board considered hiring a social worker.
Erwin said she would be able to work more intensely with students regarding career and college prospects. For example, she said she could be more aggressive about working with groups of students to develop “interest inventories” using computers, which in turn could be used to guide their plans for a career or college.
“If my days weren’t so consumed with social and emotional issues, I would do more career things and more college things,” she said.
On a more positive note, Erwin reported growing attendance for programs such as the district’s Financial Aid Night to introduce parents and students to financial options for college, senior conferences and senior meetings.
“I’m really proud of our attendance figures,” she said. According to the information she provided to the board, attendance at this year’s senior meeting jumped from 17 last year to 122 this year. She said that was primarily a result of better communication.
Using a survey form, the office asked parents last year what could be done improve the program. Erwin said the results of the survey indicated the school needed to do a better job of informing parents when such public meetings were scheduled.
“I flood them with communication now,” she said, using avenues such a Facebook and emails in addition to more traditional media.
I don’t see how these two could possibly do more than what they are already doing.
“I don’t see how these two could possibly do more than what they are already doing,” High School Principal Shane Owsley. “I know she sometimes feels that she ‘cheats’ the career and college kids because of the crisis work she has to do.”
BENLD PROPERTY TRANSFER
On a motion by board member Jenni Alepra, seconded by Schmidt, the board voted to convey via a special warranty deed about 10 acres of property on the south side of Benld to the City of Benld for development as a public park. The property is the location of the former Benld Elementary School that was condemned and later razed as a result of a mine subsidence event that began in March 2009. The $7.5 million facility was only seven years old, and has since been replaced with new Ben-Gil Elementary School located on property adjacent to the Gillespie High School/Middle School campus in Gillespie.
Board member Peyton Bernot, who also serves as a Benld alderman, voted “present” on the issue.
“I’m happy the board is inclined to do this,” Supt. Tieman said prior to the vote. “The city has indicated through an ordinance that it intends to develop that property as a park. I think this is the right thing to do. The City of Benld is looking to improve the property for the benefit of its citizens.”
The resolution declares that the school board has determined it to be “in the best interest of the City of Benld, wherein a substantial portion of the school district is located, to construct a city park on the site of the old Benld Elementary School.” It also declares that the transaction “will eliminate any legal exposure from a conveyance of the property which has previously been subject to substantial coal mine subsidence,” which essentially means the school district is offering no warranty regarding the condition of the property.
The Benld Council voted 4-1 on Dec. 19, 2017, to pursue acquisition of the property for development as a park. Ald. Jim Tilashalski voted against the measure. Bernot did not attend the December meeting.
Typically, surplus properties are offered for sale to the highest bidder. A provision in the Illinois State Statutes, however, authorizes taxing bodies to transfer surplus property to another taxing body without offering the property for sale.
SALES TAX COMMITMENT
The board voted unanimously to adopt a resolution committing 20 percent of projected Macoupin County School Facilities Sale Tax revenue to debt service on general obligation bonds issued for construction of the Ben-Gil Elementary School, and reducing the bond and interest levy for 2017 property taxes collected in 2018 by an equal amount. The action validates a resolution adopted by the board in November last year committing 20 percent of the sale tax revenue received by the district to reducing the district bonded indebtedness for the new elementary school.
Supt. Tieman told the board that he is comfortable projecting annual revenue from the sales tax issue at $360,000, meaning that district will commit $72,000 of the total revenue debt service. In addition, the resolution obligates the district to reduce its bond and interest property tax levy by an equal amount.
“Once this resolution is passed,” Tieman told the board before the vote, “I’ll turn right around and take it to Mr. (Pete) Duncan (Macoupin County Clerk) and say, ‘We want to levy $72,000 less’.”
The board approved a $3.1 million property tax levy in last month, including a $914,988 levy for debt service. As a result of Monday night’s action, the levy for debt service will be reduced to $842,988 and the total levy will drop to $3,070,670.
PERSONNEL
Board members were in executive session to discuss the Benld Elementary School property transfer to the city of Benld and personnel issues, including the board’s annual evaluation of the district superintendent’s job performance. Upon entering into open session, the board voted unanimously, on a motion by Bernot, seconded by Bill Carter, to extend Supt. Tieman’s contract by one year. The superintendent serves under a five-year contract which can be extended by one year on an annual basis, meaning that Tieman’s contract now extends through 2023.
In other personnel action, the board:
- Accepted the resignation of paraprofessional Stefanie Frizzo and posted the vacated position.
- Hired Michelle Smith as head middle school softball coach for the 2018 season.
- Accepted the resignation of Devon Schoen as high school soccer coach and posted the position as vacant.
- Accepted the resignation of high school volleyball coach Tara Allen and posted the position as vacant.
- Accepted “with regrets” the resignation of full-route bus driver John Ulery.
- Hired Jonette Bellovich a substitute bus driver, pending verification of certification.
- Rehired fall sports coaches for the 2018-19 school year as follows: Jake Bilbruck, head high school football coach; Casey Shelties, Jack Burns and Jarrod Herron, assistant high school football coaches; Don Dobrino, Randy Redmon and Matt Brown, volunteer assistant high school football coaches; Celia Jubelt, head high school volleyball coach; Matt Caveny, assistant high school soccer coach; Jeremy Smith, middle school head baseball coach; Tim Wargo, assistant middle school baseball coach; Matt Brawner, eighth grade girls basketball coach; and Nikki Brawner, seventh grade girls basketball coach.
ISBE FINANCIAL PROFILE
Supt. Tieman reported that the latest Illinois State Board of Education financial profile for the school district lists the district as a “review” district, which is the same designation issued for the district last year. While the designation is the same, Tieman noted, the district’s financial situation improved 3.25 percent from the previous year.
“That’s based on one factor,” Tieman said. “We reduced our expenditures by $2.2 million.”
Three years ago, the ISBE listed the district as “warning,” a more dire designation.
Tieman commended the Board of Education, building principals, certificated and non-certificated staff for carrying out measures to cut spending over the past two years. “They pinch every penny,” he said.
Tieman said the school district’s financial future should be somewhat brighter if the state follows through on its commitment to school funding reform.
“We don’t know how much it will be but I’m told by the experts that the money is coming,” he said. An internal School Improvement Committee will discuss the best uses for the additional funding, he said, and will make a formal presentation to the board at a later date.
He said the prospect of more equitable school funding from the state is a critical issue for CUSD 7 because state funding comprises 70 percent of the local district’s budget.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Supt. Tieman reported to the board that work is progressing on replacing the entire Ben-Gil Elementary School gymnasium floor which was damaged by water from a water main break last year. In December, he reported to the board that the damage seemed to be limited to a 15-by-30-foot section but when workers started taking up the damaged flooring they found moisture damage that extended to the half-court.
“At that point, it became more cost effective to replace the whole floor,” he said. The district’s insurance company declared the floor a total loss.
At this time, the floor has been replaced, sanded and painted. One coat of polyurethane has been applied and three coats are needed. Workers are waiting until after 3 p.m. to apply the polyurethane to reduce odor during times when students and staff are present.
The cost of the project will run about $125,000, Tieman said. Insurance will cover all but $5,000 of the cost. Tieman said he also opted to spend an additional $2,500 to install a better moisture barrier under the flooring.
The six- to seven-week project is expected to be finished by Feb. 5.
Tieman also reported that district architect Tom Hyde is expected to meet with Middle School Principal Jill Rosentreter and middle school science teachers next week to get their input and start work on more detailed plans for the proposed new middle school science lab.
He also reported that specifications are being prepared to take bids on resurfacing the all-weather track at the high school sports complex. The cost of that project is expected to run $55,000 to $75,000.
“I can’t recommend highly enough that we take care of that now,” Tieman said. He said other school districts that have delayed resurfacing projects found that it inflated their costs by 10 to 15 percent when they did choose to undertake the project. Resurfacing in recommended every six to seven years. The track was last resurfaced eight years ago.
AUDITOR CONTRACT
On a motion by Alepra, seconded by Bernot, the board approved entering into a contract with Loy, Miller & Talley, P.C., Alton, to conduct the district’s annual audit at a cost of $8,385. The firm has conducted the school district’s audit for the past two years.
“They’ve done a great job and they’ve been a great source of financial information for me,” Tieman said.
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Community News
Macoupin County house fire claims lives of three family members
Published
2 hours agoon
February 18, 2025By
BenGil Staff
A devastating house fire in Virden on Saturday, February 15 has left the community mourning the loss of a father and his two sons. The fire occurred in the 200 block of West Neal Street and was reported by a passerby around 9:20 in the morning.
Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon confirmed that Kyle James, 34, and his 13-year-old son, Hunter James, were pronounced dead at Springfield Memorial Hospital following the tragic incident on Saturday morning. The fire also claimed the life of 10-year-old Jacob James, who was pronounced dead at the scene by Macoupin County Coroner Anthony Kravanya shortly after 10 a.m. Saturday. All victims succumbed to smoke inhalation.
Jacob was a sixth grader at the Springfield Sangamon Area Special Education District (SASED), while Hunter was an eighth grader who attended school in Auburn. Both boys were part of the North Mac school district. Kyle was known in the community as a cook at Jo’s Place, a local restaurant in Virden.
Multiple fire departments from surrounding areas including Chatham, Auburn, and Girard, responded to the scene in an attempt to control the blaze. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, with the State Fire Marshal now leading the inquiry.
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Community News
Record turnout at Partnership for Educational Excellence trivia night, Grand raffle kicked off
Published
3 hours agoon
February 18, 2025By
BenGil Staff

BACK ROW: Nolan Hayes, Blake Hayes; Matt Irwin; Ashlen Hayes; Heather Hayes.
The Partnership for Educational Excellence raised nearly $4,500 at its “For the Love of Education” Trivia Night on Saturday, February 15 at the Gillespie Civic Center. The evening’s highlights included a record turnout of 25 tables, great participation in the latest Grand Raffle kickoff, and generous donations from winning teams and absentee “Out to Recess” businesses.
The evening is the Partnership’s one and only fund raiser to support programs for CUSD7 students: district-wide classroom grants and academic tuition scholarships for GHS grads. The current school year marks a three year $90,000 gift to CUSD7 for student computers. And an all-time record was set last year when 38% of the GHS Class of 2024 won college scholarships.
The winning Hayes family team scored a 94% “grade” and donated back their $150 prize. The third-place team of Semplowski family and friends, dedicated their $50 prize to the ongoing Travis Semplowski scholarship. Almost all team scores were in the 90% and 80% range.
“Early Bird” drawing of raffle tickets sold that night gave $100 each to Steve Joyce and to Tracy Wilhoit. Their Grand Raffle tickets also make them eligible for the final $5,000 prize to be drawn on Saturday, April 12, 2025. If not all tickets are sold, the prize will be a 50/50 split. Tickets are available from any Partnership director. Volunteer Cindy Brummett assisted with ticket sales. Ten attendees won gift cards purchased by The Partnership from local merchants.
In addition to 25 tables of players, several long-time business and professional sponsors bought “absentee” tables through The Partnership’s “Out to Recess” program: Gene Hebenstreit of Victory Lane Ford in Litchfield; Nick Kravanya DDS of Kravanya and Boente dental offices in Carlinville and Litchfield; Wally Ottersburg of Daley Bruckert Chevrolet in Staunton; Boente Shell Station in Gillespie; Kasten-Goodman Insurance Agency in Carlinville; and Rick Verticchio Law Offices in Carlinville and Gillespie.
The Partnership wishes to thank its all-volunteer board of directors. On hand that night were Vice President Donna Prevedell, Treasurer Rose Tebbe, Secretary Rosie Emmenderfer, Founder Nancy Grandone, Susan Stromsland, and Mary Kay Griffel. Other directors who contributed to the evening’s success but were unable to attend Ken Tebbe, Carole Scheller, Ann Marie Bauer Ross, Julie Zirkelbach, Katie Ronald, and President John Fassero.
Special kudos go to the third and fourth generation Partnership volunteers who did stellar work as runners, carrying answer sheets from players to graders Norah Seraphin (9th grade), Augie Seraphin (7th grade), Eve Seraphin (4th grade) – all grandchildren of Donna and Bob Prevedell; and Mackenzie Jo McFarland (4th grade), great granddaughter of Rose and Ralph Tebbe.
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CUSD 7 News
Miners girls basketball clinch SCC championship
Published
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February 16, 2025By
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In a nail-biting showdown that will be remembered for years to come, the Gillespie Miners girls basketball team captured the South Central Conference title with a hard-fought 55-52 victory over the Pana Panthers on Thursday night, February 13. This marks Gillespie’s first conference championship since their back-to-back titles in 2001-02, when they shared the honors with Southwestern both finishing with a 9-1 conference record.
The game held at Pana High School was anything but straightforward. After a tumultuous 13-minute delay due to injuries and a technical foul controversy, the Miners rallied their spirits to secure the win. Amari Vickery led the charge with a stellar performance, scoring 21 points, while Mia Brawner added 11, Maggie Heyen contributed 10, Delaney Taylor posted 5, Sadie Sholtis scored 4, and Lainey Edwards and Corrine Fellin each had 2 points.
From the opening tip, it was clear that Pana was not going to roll over easily. The Panthers held leads at the end of the first two quarters, 15-14 and 28-26, showcasing their tenacity. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, Pana had edged ahead 44-42, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
However, the game took a chaotic turn in the fourth quarter when a collision between Vickery and teammate Sloane Brawner resulted in both players going down with injuries. Sloane was not able to return the game but Vickery did. The Miners also lost both Delaney Taylor and Sadie Sholtis to fouls and Gillespie was assessed a technical foul under controversial circumstances which tied the game at 49. But Heyen carried the weight through the fourth quarter recording 6 of her 10 points in the final quarter of play.
Despite the setbacks, the Miners displayed remarkable teamwork resilience under the leadership of Nikki and Matt Brawner. With the SCC championship secured and the regular season concluded with a 22-8 overall record and 9-0 conference record, the Miners now shift their focus to the upcoming regional which is being hosted in Gillespie.
Gillespie hosts Alton Marquette on Monday, Feb. 17 for the regional semi-finals after Alton Marquette knocked East-Alton Wood River, 36-29, to face the Miners. The winner advances to the regional championship that will be played on Friday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. in Gillespie versus the winner of Staunton/Roxana.
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