Community News
Gillespie Council accepts attorney resignation, approves bee-keeping project at water plant
Members of the Gillespie City Council on Monday night accepted the resignation of long-serving City Attorney Kevin Polo, approved an environmentally friendly bee-keeping project at the city’s water treatment facility site, and approved a $190,000 payment to Haier Plumbing and Heating and Curry and Associates as the city’s aggressive water infrastructure replacement project winds down.
Mayor John Hicks read Polo’s letter of resignation in which Polo said it had been “an honor and privilege” to serve as city attorney for 20 years. Polo, who was sidelined with health issues last summer, said he is “unable to continue to serve as city attorney.”
Hicks said Dan O’Brien, Carlinville, who was appointed interim city attorney last August, would continue to serve in the city attorney’s role.
BEE-KEEPING PROJECT
The council unanimously approved the expenditure of up to $1,000 to plant “pollinator plants” below solar power panels installed last year to supplement power usage at the water treatment plant, and initiate a small bee-keeping operation on the site.
Ald. Dave Tucker, chair of the Water Committee, said the pollinator plants will reduce the need for mowing at the site to no more than once a year. Local bee-keeping enthusiast Larry Loveless will manage two hives of honey bees on the site. The program will be environmentally friendly, Tucker said, not only because it will reduce the need for continuous mowing but also because it will provide habitat for honey bees and other pollinating insects.
Tucker said the hives will cost about $300 each. In addition, the city will spend $400 to buy a pound of bees for each of the hives. Each pound of bees will include a queen bee to ensure the viability of each hive. In time, the hives will grow to 60 pounds of bees occupying each of the hives and will produce up 65 pounds of honey. Under the agreement with Loveless, the honey production will be split between him and the city, with the city’s share going to charitable food programs in the city.
On a motion by Tucker, the council also approved the expenditure of $4,000 to repair and replace a concrete floor in an area of the treatment plant where ammonia is used. Because of the presence of caustic chemicals, Tucker said the work involves a special type of concrete with specialized treatment for hazardous chemicals. SS Complete Concrete, Gillespie, was the sole vendor to submit a bid.
“For safety and for water quality, I’ll make the motion” to accept the bid, Tucker said.
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE NEARS COMPLETION
Council members approved a pay resolution authorizing payments totaling $190,404.55 to Haier Plumbing and Heating, Okawville, and Curry and Associates Engineers, Jerseyville. The payments will be among the last to made from USDA grant and loan funds the city obtained to finance a city-wide water infrastructure replacement project.
City Treasurer Dan Fisher said the payments approved Monday will pay down the city’s obligation to Curry and Associates to about $35,000. The payments also resolve change orders authorized before and during the construction process. As part of concluding the project, Fisher said the city is buying surplus pipe ordered by Haier Plumbing and Heating “at cost.” Fisher suggested that measure is significant because the price of pipe has increased significantly since the project began.
Fisher said the company’s original bid for the work was $9,716,120. That figure was reduced to $9,373,422 as a result of change orders authorized prior to construction.
Even though the city is buying surplus materials and resolving all change orders, Fisher said the final construction cost is expected to come in at $8,897,402.
He said there are a few minor projects to be completed as part of the project, including tracking down and installing a new water main to resolve a leak near Gillespie High School, but the final construction cost is still expected to come in about $476,000 below the bid.
RENTAL CABIN AT GILLESPIE LAKE
After more than a year of trying to get the project off the ground, Ald. Frank Barrett finally won authorization to install a rental cabin at Gillespie Lake. Council members voted 6-1 to authorize the expenditure of $8,000 for the project. The project calls for the purchase of a pre-built portable building to be retro-fitted as a cabin capable of sleeping up to four people. Barrett said the cabin will be available for rent at $40 per night during the week, or $50 on weekends and holidays.
Barrett said he expects to acquire a repossessed building for $5,400 to $5,800 and use the remainder of the authorized expenditures for wiring, air conditioning and other amenities.
Casting the sole dissenting vote was Ald. Dona Rauzi who questioned the project during Barrett’s previous attempts to win approval for the project. Rauzi questioned the wisdom of spending $8,000 on the cabin project instead of investing in efforts to find renters for some 124 vacant residential and picnicking lots at the lake.
Barrett said it would take about two years of rental fees for the cabin to pay for itself. He said it should require only minimal maintenance on the part of currently employed lake workers. Similar cabins are available to rent at Lake Lou Yeager, Litchfield, and at Carlinville Lake, he pointed out. He characterized the cabin as another revenue stream for the lake operation.
“If we had done this three years ago, we could have done it for $5,400,” he said. Because of the council’s reticence to approve the project earlier, he said, the cost has grown to $8,000. He pledged he could complete the project for $8,000 in total.
“That’s the total package,” he said.
Barrett’s motion to approve the project was seconded by Ald. Wendy Rolando.
AMBULANCE SERVICE DISPATCHING AGREEMENT
Mayor Hicks appointed City Treasurer Fisher, Police Chief Jared DePoppe and Ald. Rauzi to approach representatives of the Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service to hammer out a final contractual agreement for the city police department to provide ambulance dispatching services. Until recently, the Ambulance Service made an annual “donation” to the city purportedly to help defray the cost of dispatching. City officials, however, say the amount the Ambulance Service was paying to the city falls far short of the actual cost of providing dispatching services.
Recent reports from DePoppe to the Council indicate that ambulance calls comprise the bulk of police dispatcher calls.
Last year, the city proposed an agreement for the Ambulance Service to pay $15,000 for dispatching services. The Ambulance Service instead made a donation of $10,000 and agreed to pursue other avenues for dispatching services.
Monday night, Ald. Rauzi said the issue has languished for a year while the Ambulance Service presumably looked into other entities to provide dispatching services. Rauzi said the Ambulance Service approached the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office and other entities but the city’s offer of $15,000 remained the least expensive option available to them.
“It’s been a year ago this month since we went into negotiations with the Ambulance Service,” Rauzi said. “Right now, we are just working under a verbal agreement.”
Ald. Rolando emphasized the urgency for reaching an agreement.
“We should go to them now and ask for a contract so we don’t end up doing this (for $10,000) for another year,” she said.
LAKE KAHO WATER RATE
On the advice of City Attorney O’Brien, the council deferred action on hiking the water rate for the Village of Lake KaHo by five percent. Lake KaHo and the Village of Dorchester were the only two of the city’s satellite water customers to decline a 40-year contract to buy water from the city for their own water systems at a guaranteed discounted rate. Lake KaHo reportedly now has a tandem water system, buying the lion’s share of its water from the City of Litchfield and buying minimal volume from the City of Gillespie.
Last February, the city raised the Lake KaHo rate by five percent and indicated the rate would be increased annually by five percent.
The issue is the subject of current litigation with O’Brien representing the city. He said a hearing on the matter is scheduled later this month.
“Since we have a hearing coming up, I think it would be helpful not to pass this tonight,” he said.
TIF DISTRICT EXPANSION
Fisher reported that city officials are meeting with the city’s TIF District Consultant about the possibility of expanding the city’s current district or creating a new district on the city’s northwest side. Tax Increment Financing districts capture funding by collecting property taxes in excess of current tax revenue on properties within the district that accrue due to changes in tax rates and equalized assessed evaluations.
Fisher said the new district will focus on property around the city’s water treatment plant and the Gillespie High School/Middle School campus. The emphasis will be on using TIF funds to develop “extremely efficient, single family” homes on lots currently owned by the city or school districts.
NEW ZONING MAP
Peace Corps Fellow Ethan Fogg reported to the council that he has completed preliminary work on a new Zoning Map for the city—the first update to the map since 1965. The new digitized document will be easier to update on an ongoing basis than the former analog map, he said.
“It’s basically done,” Fogg said. “It just needs to be reviewed by the Council and the Zoning Board.”
‘NO SEMIS’ SIGNS
Mayor Hicks directed City Attorney O’Brien to draft an ordinance to ban semi traffic on Adam and Maple streets in the area of Casey’s General Store. Ald. Rauzi said she had been contacted by residents in the area complaining about semi traffic in their neighborhoods.
EXECUTIVE SESSION AND OTHER ACTION
No action followed an executive session to discuss litigation and to review executive session minutes. The state Open Meetings Act requires periodic review of executive session minutes to determine what, if any, of the minutes from closed-door sessions can be released to the public access.
The ordinance will be subject to formal approval next month. In the meantime, Hicks said he would have a letter sent to the managers of the Casey’s store to ask truck drivers making deliveries to the store to avoid using residential streets.
In other action, the council:
- Voted to raise bulk water rates from $7.50 per 1,000 gallons to $9.
- Authorized the Mayor to sign a grant application for a $99,000 Business Development Grant from the USDA. Fisher said the grant is highly competitive but that the City of Gillespie’s should have as good a chance as anyone to obtain the grant. The money is not for directly benefiting individual businesses but can be used for projects such as the Streetscape program to enhance the business climate.
- Approved a 5K run/walk to be conducted in conjunction with a coal history celebration on May 1 in the area around the Illinois Coal History Museum. That event will include food vendors and focus on unveiling a historical plaque identifying the former Lyric Theater (now the Cana Theater) as the birthplace of the Progressive Miners Union. Council members also agreed to seek bids to replace a side on the south side of the museum prior to the event.
- Voted to apply for a Route 66 Byway grant of up to $1,000.
- Authorized purchase of materials for volunteers being organized by Fogg to paint and clean up landscaping around the Welcome to Gillespie sign on Illinois Route 4 at the south edge of the city.
- Accepted high bids to sell a surplus 2010 Crown Victoria police car to James L. Perini, Benld, for $735.50, and a surplus 2011 Crown Victoria police car to Drue Bohlen, Benld, for $350.
- Authorized disbursement from the city’s TIF Fund to reimburse AJ Pete Co, a facade improvement grant recipient, half the cost of improvements to the facade of a building in the 300 block of South Macoupin Street.
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Ye Olde Christmas is the theme of the Macoupin County Historical Society’s annual Christmas Show, which will be held Friday through Sunday, December 5–7, at the John C. Anderson Home and Museum, 920 West Breckenridge in Carlinville.
“The Christmas Show is one of the most magical times to visit the Anderson Home,” said MCHS Board Member and House Manager Brandy England. “Some families make it an annual Christmas tradition to visit the Anderson Home when it is decorated for Christmas. It’s a great opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit and pick up some ideas for decorating your own home for the holidays.”
MCHS member Kendra Mize, of Bunker Hill, who has coordinated the decorating effort for more than two decades, has again marshalled a small army of volunteers to decorate all 13 rooms of the home. Each room features a themed Christmas tree, along with mantle pieces, centerpieces, tabletop decor, garlands and florals, and other special touches.
The home will be open for self-guided tours from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 5; from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 6; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 7.
“We’re very excited to offer for the first time candlelight tours from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday,” said Shawna Ashby, who serves as a co-manager with England. “Viewing the decorated home by candlelight promises to be a magical experience.”
The final candlelight tours on Friday and Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. Admission to the home is five dollars for adults and one dollar for children ages five to 12, with four-year-olds and younger admitted free of charge.
The Anderson Home Gift Shop will be open during tour hours, offering one-of-a-kind gift items and stocking stuffers. Santa Claus will be on hand in the downstairs parlor to greet children and listen to their Christmas wishes from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, December 6.
While the decorated home is the centerpiece of the Christmas Show, several other features on the Historical Society’s grounds will be open. The Red Barn will be open and serving hearty beef stew, chili, homemade pies, and warming holiday beverages such as wassail and hot chocolate on Friday and Saturday.
The General Store and Print Shop will be decorated and open to the public, with the Print Shop offering its popular handmade Christmas cards and other items produced in the shop; kids can print their own blank “Santa List” to keep track of their Christmas wishes.
“The General Store offers unique gift items, including some small antiques, for shoppers to peruse,” England noted.
Local blacksmiths will demonstrate their craft in the MCHS Blacksmith Shop located on the north side of the Historical Society Grounds, with wrought iron gift items, including stocking hooks and decorative pieces, available for purchase.
The Macoupin County Historical Society’s Christmas Show runs concurrently with the Carlinville Christmas Market and Downtown Christmas events, and a free trolley and shuttle buses include the Anderson Home as a regular stop during the festivals, enabling visitors to ride from the square or the Macoupin County Fairgrounds to the Historical Society grounds.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted to approve a property tax levy request totaling $3,920,295 for 2025 property taxes payable in 2026. Because of tax caps and other factors, however, the district expects to collect only an estimated $3,786,607 of the requested amount.
In addition to acting on the tax levy, the board also held a lengthy discussion regarding annual district “report cards” issued by the Illinois State Board of Education to assess school performance from last year, approved a high school band/choir performance trip to Chicago in March, and agreed to apply for a school maintenance grant of up to $50,000 in matching funds.
The new proposed levy exceeds last year’s tax extension of $3,599,569 by more than $320,726—an increase of about nine percent if the levy were to be approved at the county level. The more realistic anticipation of $3,786,607 exceeds last year’s extension by $187,038, or an increase of about three percent. A Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), approved by Macoupin County voters in 1995, restricts increases in the levy to five percent or the federal Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is less. This year’s CPI is estimated at 2.9 percent.
The approved levy seeks $1,650,000 for the Education Fund while expecting to realize $1,653,831; $450,229 for Operations & Maintenance, while anticipating $438,041; $200,000 for Transportation while expecting $180,434; $35,000 for Working Cash while expecting $42,602; $174,700 for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund while anticipating $117,788; $154,101 for Social Security while expecting $105, 248; $247,264 for Tort while anticipating $240,570; and $33,501 for Special Education while expecting $32,593. For Bond and Interest, which is not subject to PTELL, the district is levying $975,500 while anticipating the same amount.
Local property tax revenue accounts for about 20 percent of the district’s overall annual budget.
Because the levy request exceeds 105 percent of the previous year’s extension, a public hearing is required. That hearing is scheduled at the start of the board’s regular December meeting at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 15. In the meantime, the proposed levy is available for public inspection on the district’s website and in the district office.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, Owsley emphasized the levy request is essentially a wish list for what the district would like to raise through property taxes.
“The levy is the ‘Christmas list’ I talk about every year,” Owsley said. “If you don’t put it on the list, you’re not going to get it.”
Projecting what the district can legally seek under tax caps can be challenging because the district’s total equalized assessed valuation will not be confirmed until after Jan. 1 while state law requires the district to file its levy request before the end of December. For that reason, local school districts routinely file requests that exceed what they actually expect to receive in property tax revenue, and rely on the County Clerk to adjust the request to the maximum amount the district can receive.
“Because of tax caps, we have one shot to capture increases in the EAV and new construction,” Owsley said. “If we don’t do that, we lose it in perpetuity.”
To calculate the new levy, Owsley projected a 15.12 percent increase in the EAV—nearly double the previous year’s rate of increase. By overestimating the EAV growth, the district expects to capture the entire increase in assessed valuation when that number is finally determined.
“Even though we know the EAV will likely be around the historical average, we base our levy on a much higher amount so as not to lose revenue from new growth,” Owsley told the board. “We can do this without running the risk of overtaxing taxpayers because the district will receive no more than what we are entitled to by law.”
Owsley said relatively stable increases in EAV have resulted in a steadily declining tax rate. Since 2014 when the rate was $4.24 per $100 in EAV, the rate has fallen to $3.20 for 2024. In other words, the county can use a lower rate to generate the extension to which the district is entitled because the value of taxable property has increased.
“As long as the EAV goes up by more than the Consumer Price Index, our tax rates are going to go down,” Owsley noted.
SCHOOL DISTRICT REPORT CARDS
The board spent several minutes discussing recently released school report cards issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. Interested persons can view local report cards by visiting https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/.
All three attendance centers received a “Commendable” designation, meaning there are no student groups that are underperforming academically, and the high school graduation rate exceeds 67 percent. Last year, BenGil Elementary School achieved an “Exemplary” designation—the top designation a school can achieve.
Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto said administrators knew the school would not earn an Exemplary rating, even though students are state average in English/language arts, math and science. The Report Card designations are based on growth rather than academic performance. With students already exceeding state standards last year, the opportunity for growth was limited.
Assistant Principal Tara Cooper agreed, noting BenGil Elementary’s student performance is in the upper half of schools statewide that are meeting academic standards. “So, while we are not ‘Exemplary,’ we’re very happy with where we are.”
Supt. Owsley told the board the State Board of Education is working on revamping the assessment system because of the growth vs. performance issue. “That’s why they’re redoing all of this because they are penalizing schools for meeting goals,” he said.
For Gillespie Middle School, the report card shows students meeting or exceeding state averages in math and science but significantly lagging in English/language arts.
“ELA is our most concerning area,” Principal Patrick McGinthy told the board, “along with absenteeism.” The report card shows a chronic absenteeism rate of 25 percent, but Owsley and other administrators said the rate is exacerbated by the State Board of Education including nearly all absences whether or not they are excused.
Rosentreter noted the State Board will allow a student to be absent five days for illness without a doctor’s excuse. On the sixth day, however, the absence is unexcused unless the parent or guardian provides a doctor’s slip. Many parents, however, are reluctant to pay for a doctor’s visit for a child that is suffering from a minor illness.
McGinthy said Middle School teachers are attempting to address the deficiency in English/language arts by increasing writing exercises and requiring students to write in conjunction with other curriculum areas.
Rosentreter noted that the assessment standards for high schools differ from the standards for elementary and middle schools in that the State Board emphasizes graduation rates. For Gillespie, the graduation rate is an impressive 86 percent, though chronic absenteeism checks in at 31 percent.
“Math is definitely our shining star,” Rosentreter said, noting the school scored 17.8 points compared with the state average of 18. The school performed less well in the areas of English/language arts and science, scoring 16 points on ELA compared with the state score of 18 and 17.2 points compared with the state average of 19.
The report cards are based on results for the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test for elementary and middle school students, and ACT scores for high school students.
Administrators said it’s difficult to motivate students to do well on state-mandated tests since the tests do not affect the student’s grade point average. To incentivize testing, Rosentreter said the high school is offering to let students skip final exams if they hit state standards on the mandated tests.
Owsley noted that the district report card documents the continuing decline in school enrollment—dropping from 1,325 seven years ago to 1,082 for the 2024-25 academic year.
“We don’t see that turning around anytime soon,” Owsley said. “It’s not just a Gillespie thing; it’s a trend for schools throughout Macoupin County.
BAND/CHOIR TRIP TO CHICAGO
Following a presentation by band/choir instructor Brad Taulbee, the board approved a high school band and choir performance tour to Chicago set for March 19-21. Taulbee said the tour company retained for the trip places emphasis on security and safety for traveling students. The company supplements hotel security with its own security personnel to monitor student rooms during the trip.
The tour includes workshop sessions at Vandercook College in downtown Chicago, and performances by the choir at the John Hancock Center and by the band at one of the city’s museums.
Taulbee said he is attempting to keep the cost affordable for participating students. Depending upon the number of students who ultimately go on the trip, he said he expects the cost to be about $739 per person. Additionally, he is lining up sponsors who can help with expenses for students who could not otherwise afford to participate.
“Security is my main concern,” said Board President Mark Hayes. “We just came back from there and seven people were shot in the area we were in.”
Taulbee said he expects to recruit seven to 10 chaperones and will ensure that the ratio of students to chaperones does not exceed 1:10.
SCHOOL MAINTENANCE GRANT
The board concurred with Supt. Owsley’s recommendation to again apply for a state School Maintenance grant of up to $50,000. The grant is a “matching” grant requiring the district to match grant funds dollar for dollar. The district has successfully applied for the grant for the past several years.
If the application is successful, Owsley said the funds will likely be used to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles in the choir room and elsewhere in the Middle School.
PERSONNEL
Following an executive session of about 40 minutes to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Tim Wargo as an assistant high school baseball coach and post the position as vacant, and voted to appoint Wargo as the head high school baseball coach for the coming season.
In separate actions, the board approved maternity leaves for Alexis Lupkey, district paraprofessional, and Gear-Up Coordinator Jordan Bartok. Lupkey’s leave is tentatively scheduled from Dec. 8 through March 18. Bartok’s leave is expected from Dec. 12 through Jan.6.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Christopher Whaley as a substitute bus driver, pending a routine background check and documentation of certification.
The board also voted unanimously to terminate Makayla Huff as a three-hour cook and post the position as vacant.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to rehire fall coaches as follows: Jordan Bartok as head high school girls volleyball coach with Shelsie Price, as an assistant coach; Cory Bonstead as head football coach with Nate Henrichs, Jarrod Herron, Korben Clark, Alex Jasper, J.O. Kelly, Billy Gill and Florian Seferi as assistant and volunteer assistant coaches; Jay Weber as head coach for the parent-funded high school cross-country program with Jack Burns as a volunteer assistant coach; Jake Kellebrew as head coach for the parent-funded high school golf program, with Michael Otten as a volunteer assistant coach; Tim Wargo as head middle school baseball coach with Trae Wargo as assistant coach; Michelle Smith as head middle school softball coach with Jim Matesa, Joe Kelly and Melissa Heigert as assistant coaches; and Liz Thackery as head coach for the parent-funded middle school cross-country program with Laura Peterson as a volunteer assistant coach.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, Supt. Owsley introduced newly hired School Resource Officer Jacob Linhart, and High School Principal provided a report with photos of a recent school-wide Veterans Day observance.
Linhart, who has served five years as a police officer on the Gillespie Police Department, replaces Wade Hendricks, who recently retired after serving three years as the CUSD 7 School Resource Officer.
Linhart said it is a “great privilege” to serve as a Resource Officer, protecting students and staff. “I’m honored that you guys are allowing me to do it,” he said.
High School Principal Rosentreter said the school served breakfast to about 200 veterans and their families Tuesday morning, Nov. 11. Later, the veterans were joined by nearly 700 high school and middle school students for a recognition ceremony in the high school gymnasium.
Since the event coincided with the 25th anniversary of CUSD 7’s Wall of Honor program, the annual event did double duty as an induction ceremony for five are individuals, all of whom happened to be U.S. Military veterans.
The inductees included the late Sergeant Major John Marion Malnar, Command Sergeant Major John “Jack” Burns, Colonel Mark Daley, Lieutenant Colonel William P. Falke and Captain Robert Leone. Rosentreter said Daley and Leone traveled with their families from Colorado and Texas, respectively, to attend the ceremonies.
Burns, a retired CUSD 7 teacher, later visited BenGil Elementary School to present a program and teach students how to properly fold an American flag.
Rosentreter recognized the City of Gillespie for a donation of $1,000 to help purchase food for the veterans.
Born in Benld and a resident of Sawyerville, “Big John” Malnar earned a Silver Star during the Korean Conflict and a Gold Star, awarded posthumously after he was killed in action in 1968 in Vietnam. A Marine training center at Camp Geiger in North Carolina is named in his honor.
Though not a Wall of Honor inductee, Jacob Miller, a 100-year-old World War II veteran and recipient of two Purple Hearts, was recognized with a standing ovation.
The annual Veterans Day breakfast and ceremony provides students with an opportunity to meet and recognize local veterans as potential role models for their own futures.
Owsley said the event is a major event on the district’s calendar which grew out of a simple flagpole ceremony initiated 25 years ago.
CEJA GRANT FUNDS
Board members briefly discussed plans for about $74,000 in anticipated Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) grant funds. The federal program is intended to compensate communities that have experienced revenue loss as a result of coal mine closures.
Owsley said the district committed about $86,000 in last year’s CEJA grant funds to the City of Gillespie to help pay for improvements to Plum Street, which is heavily used by district school buses. He has not transferred those funds, however, pending the start of the project.
Owsley said he was seeking the board’s input on how the money should be used.
“We could continue to partner with the city on Plum Street,” he said. “But there are plenty of project areas within the school.” The money could be used, for example, for continuing asbestos abatement. He identified other upcoming needs, including a new roof for the high school/middle school and an HVAC project.
President Hayes pointed out the school district paid for improvements to Kelly Street when BenGil Elementary was built and subsidized a project to reconfigure drainage on Broadway Street, in addition to the dollars committed for Plum Street.
“The school district is not in the business of building roads,” he said. “I think we’ve been more than generous with the city.”
Board member Peyton Bernot agreed the money should be committed for use by the school district.
TRIPLE I CONFERENCE
Several board members who attended a conference for board members and administrators Friday-Saturday, Nov. 21-23, in Chicago, commented briefly about their take-aways from conference sessions. Popularly known as the Triple I Conference, the convention is sponsored by the Illinois Association of School Boards, Illinois Association of School Administrators and the Illinois Association of School Business Officials.
Owsley said more than 700 Illinois school districts were represented, making the Triple I the largest gathering of education professionals in North America.
Bernot briefly reported on a session he attended regarding upcoming legislation and financial outlooks for school districts. He described the session as “much less optimistic” than sessions he’s attended in the past.
Owsley was among the convention presenters, discussing social-emotional learning. He commented that several districts attending reported efforts to involve students in school administrators. Some districts, he said, appointed a non-voting student representative to the school board to take part in discussions directly affecting students.
“When you think about it, we hear from faculty members and we hear from parents,” Hayes commented. “The people we don’t hear from are the most important part of what we do.”
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The Holiday Sparkle Committee of Gillespie is preparing for the 4th Annual Holiday Sparkle Lighted Parade and Community Tree Lighting, set for Sunday, November 30, at 6:00 p.m. in downtown Gillespie. This beloved community tradition invites residents and visitors to kick off the holiday season with lights, music, and festive cheer.
Food trucks will line the parade route starting at 4:00 p.m., offering a variety of tasty options for families to enjoy before and during the celebration. The event will culminate in the illuminated parade and the ceremonial lighting of the community tree, signaling the official start of the season’s celebrations.
A highlight of this year’s festivities will be a special performance by Gillespie area students in grades 3 through 5. The group will join together to sing Christmas carols, lending their voices to the town’s joyous welcome to the holidays.
Parade participants are invited to bring extra sparkle to the evening—whether by entering a parade float, walking in the parade, or simply attending to enjoy the atmosphere. Participation helps make the event truly magical for the entire community. The only requirement for the parade is all entries have to incorporate holiday lighting.
To join the parade lineup, interested participants can sign up at https://forms.gle/L7Q4tEkgjj8Lt5E47. The Holiday Sparkle Committee expresses gratitude for the ongoing support of residents, businesses, and volunteers who help bring this festive occasion to life each year.
The second part of the holiday festivities will take place on Saturday, December 13 when the Sparkle will sponsor the vendor fair and food trucks in downtown Gillespie including a visit from Santa. Vendors will be located in the Gillespie Civic Center, Zion Lutheran Church, and Emma G’s Upscale Boutique while local businesses and eateries will also be open. An egg nog jog benefitting Gillespie Cross Country will also be held on December 13 and interested participants can join here.
The Holiday Sparkle Committee invites everyone to mark their calendars and join in the celebration. For more information, please contact the committee by email at gillespieholidaysparkle@gmail.com or visit Gillespie Holiday Sparkle on Facebook.
