Community News
Hyde explains to School Board 35% of school has been paid
District saved $88,000 in 2012 from Technology Department
Tom Hyde hands Dave Griffel a copy of the change order from B&B Electric.
During a regular scheduled board meeting on July 23, Tom Hyde explained that about 35% of the school is paid out. The board has paid nearly $6.3 million of the $23.4 million of actual contracts. “This is an important number for us,” Hyde explained. “When we hit 50%, we will get the rest of the money that is being held in a rear by the Capital Development Board.”
Hyde then gave an update on the change order log. The last item that was added was from Contregra for the underground relocation of the electrical which is $16,270. Hyde presented this to the board for review. He then presented a proposal letter from B&B Electric which details the various items of savings which total $47,190. “It also, if you are in agreement, is a change order agreement.”
Mark Hayes questioned Hyde about the change order cost figure to date. “On the first page you have $86,649, on the next page the amount is $98,105, and then the third sheet I just got tonight is even less than both of those at $81,835.” Hyde responded that the amounts listed on the contractors’ payment schedule are just approved change orders. “One item that has been approved, but not written as a change order is $11,886 credit for scoreboards. If you add that to the $85,000 or $86,000 you get the other number, then if you deduct..” “Ok, I got it,” Hayes interrupted, “I am sure you were expecting that question.”
Griffel questioned whether Hyde got a cost figure on the gym windows yet. At this point, he has not. The windows will about 15 feet long. “It will be a good chunk of metal,” Hyde closed.
Hyde then requested action on the change order log for the last item: $16,270 for conduit of the electrical relocation underground. “We were originally talking above ground power polls on the east side of the building. Ameren came in and visited with me and wanted to make sure the board knew what that would look like as there would be no changing this once the polls went in because the district would never be able to afford the removal the polls,” Skeans explained. “These are huge polls with a lot of wires.”
Skeans then said that Ameren offered to put the wiring at a diagonal from the gate at the practice field to the control room at the new school. “The only thing we have to do is pay for the conduit that the wiring goes in,” Skeans added. After board members viewed a drawing Skeans passed around, majority were in favor of the underground change order. “We could still add lights to the practice field or baseball field later if we ever have money.”
“I would whole-heartedly recommend this be voted and approved! If you have any questions, I will answer them,” Skeans told the board. “Weye Schmidt authorized me to indicate, by proxy, that he was in favor of this.” Schmidt was absent from the meeting. “Of course I cannot vote, but I can tell you his opinion by proxy,” Skeans went on to say.
Joe Tieman explains that the passenger van would save the district money by eliminating a driver.
Bernot went on to say that the existing line will still stay there while there will still be polls down the road with lights. Griffel explained to the board that he had a few single phase polls removed and relocated on his property and it was $3,000 to $7,000 per poll to move it 15 feet. “That is single phase, we are putting in three phase,” Griffel closed. Hayes compared the size of the polls to the ones that line the Staunton Road heading toward Benld. “Bigger polls will require bigger guide wires too,” Hayes added.
Jenni Alepra said the only way she would vote ‘yes’ if she had a promise that the polls were there now would come down later. “At a later date, the existing polls there now will eventually be gone as long as we can fund the project,” Skeans said. “As long as I know the polls will eventually be gone, I will vote in favor of this. But, I will not vote to approve this to move the wiring underground and then still keep the polls above ground that are there now,” Alepra explained. Griffel made the motion to approve the change order with a second from Bill Carter. With the exception of Weye Schmidt, everyone but Peyton Bernot voted in favor of the action.
Superintendent Skeans then highlighted a list of savings brought by the technology department. “We have been able to save $88,000 which is a significant amount of money,” Skeans opened. He went on to allude to the 5 year plan where the board planned to increase their technology. With two people on staff for technology, the district has paid both of their salaries with the savings plus more. The district saved $16,000 by eliminating unnecessary data wiring in the middle school and high school, $6,000 in data network equipment by the unnecessary wiring as stated previously, $1,000 by switching vendors for the alert system, $20,000 by installing the Promethean Boards in house, $25,000 on the wireless system by doing all equipment purchasing and installation in house, and finally, the district brought in $20,000 in E-Rate Federal funding.
Assistant Superintendent Joe Tieman then brought several things before the board for their attention. Tieman started off with the school district had changed their telecommunications system. The firm used in the past was Alert-Now, but the district changed over to School Messenger. According to Tieman, it is about a $1,000 savings to the school district as he credited Mark Carpani for that.
Tieman went on to say that it will offer the same “great” services Alert-Now did, but with more options. Tieman or Skeans can now record the message from their cell phone to be sent out in case there was no phone service at the school. Tieman alluded to that problem a few years ago when a tornado was heading toward the school. At that time, the district did not have service and had to go to City Hall and use their phone.
For students and staff, it will not change at all. Skeans or Tieman will still record the message while it could be automated as well. “We don’t like to do that,” Tieman explained, “But the option is there if we don’t have a moment to record something.”
The second thing Tieman brought before the board was bids on a passenger van. “We are looking at a 7 passenger van or a 14 passenger activity bus for our smaller groups of students traveling to events,” Tieman highlighted. “Or, it can be used for staff going to professional development conferences.” This would be a cost to the district instead of paying mileage or paying a staff member to drive. Since neither vehicle requires a special license, the staff member going can drive and that can save money from using a hired driver.
With the help of Gary Neihaus, Tieman presented options for the board to consider. The first quote was from Wright Automotive for a 7 passenger van with the cost of $21,215 on a 2012 Dodge Grand Caravan. Neihaus contacted Midwest Transit Equipment about an activity bus. Their quote was $39,976 for a 2011 and $35,492 for a 2010 model. In additional, Thomas Built Buses quote for a brand new GMS activity bus was $45,000. “We have talked about this in our 5 year plan, but this is just information for you to think about.”
Board members liked the idea of having the bus and saving from paying a driver or mileage. Jenni Alepra questioned Skeans why the board could not get any local bids. Skeans responded and explained that Wright Automotive is the closest dealership with a state contract which is used state wide by schools. All the entities have the option to use that bid. “That way we don’t have to bargain or negotiate any prices,” Skeans explained. “We would have dual air as well.” Griffel asked Tieman to gather some instances of who would use it and why. Tieman said he will have it together for the August meeting.
Lastly, Tieman said the State is eliminating one of the four driver education state payments. “Driver education payments from the state level dropped approximately from $24 million to $14 million,” Tieman added. As a district, Tieman said CUSD #7 has lost about 25% of their funding. At this point, the district has received two of the four payments for the amount of $6,255.65. Their third payment, which is the March 2012 payment, was promised to be received by December 1, 2012. “Funding is in shortfall, we are not receiving payments,” Tieman closed. The board said the fee for drivers’ education will likely increase next year after being raised 50% this year.
In new business, the board hired Mike Koniak as a volunteer assistant basketball coach for high school and accepted the resignation of Todd Libbra from the high school boys’ and girls’ soccer team. The board then posted an open position for one classroom paraprofessional and recalled the following paraprofessionals for the FSY 2012-2013 year: Amy Baker, Catherine Barylske, Trinity Bray-Jett, Theresa Carter, Sharon Heyen, Misty Parker, Ella May Roemer, Tim Wargo, Kathy Wheeler, and Nikki Zenner.
The board then changed the August board meeting to Tuesday, August 14 and approved all the student fees for registration. High school registration fees and registration dates will be posted next week. The milk bid was awarded to Prairie Farms and the bread bid was awarded to IBC Sales Inc. of Peoria. Finally, the board approved the IESA in season participation policy.
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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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One of the greatest annual events in American sports is the Saturday is the Kentucky Derby, which will be run for the 152nd time this Saturday. One past champion was bred in Macoupin County.
This week marks 137 years since the victory of Spokane, who captured the 1889 Kentucky Derby during the infancy of the event. The horse was bred at “The Meadows,” the farm of Gen. Richard Rowett one mile north of Carlinville.
Rowett horses, and their jockey colors of orange jacket and blue cap, were on tracks throughout the west and south. But Spokane was the greatest production of The Meadows, a nationally recognized breeding ground for thoroughbreds.
In 1885, a prized dark brown horse named Hyder Ali was standing at The Meadows when Rowett bred him to one of his top mares, Interpose. This pairing had produced favorable offspring in the past, including Grey Cloud, a fine racer owned by Noah Armstrong of the Doncaster Ranch near Twin Bridges in the Montana Territory.
Armstrong’s famous stable included such horses as Lord Raglan, the third-place finisher in the 1883 Kentucky Derby. When Rowett offered Interpose for sale late in 1885, Armstrong, familiar with the high quality of Rowett stock, purchased the pregnant mare and her suckling filly, Madelin, for the price of $1,000 and shipped the brood to Montana.
The Doncaster Ranch was known for its spectacular, three-story round barn that featured an indoor track. While in Spokane in the Washington Territory on business, Armstrong received word of the birth of Interpose’s colt. In honor of the city, he named the colt Spokane.
Spokane showed great promise as a two-year-old, winning two of five starts in 1888, and Armstrong entered him in the 1889 Kentucky Derby. Although a premier race, the Derby had not achieved the monumental status it enjoys today.
The race was run on May 9, 1889–a Thursday–in front of a crowd of 25,000, a fraction of the throngs that fill Churchill Downs today.
Home state favorite Proctor Knott was the overwhelming favorite at 1-to-2, while the relatively unknown Spokane was listed at 10-to-1 odds. That was enough for Frank James, brother of outlaw Jessie and a regular at countless tracks.
James, flush with a windfall of $2,400 from an earlier race that day, asked a bookmaker of the odds on Spokane. The reply was “Ten-to-one and the sky’s the limit.” James threw down $5,000 on Spokane, causing the bookmaker to reply, “As far as I’m concerned, that’s the sky!”
Under jockey Thomas Kiley, Spokane edged Proctor Knott by a head, setting a record at 2:34 ½ over the mile-and-a-half layout (it was changed to a mile and a quarter in 1896). He remains the only Kentucky Derby winner ever born in Montana.
Proving the win was no fluke, Spokane again beat Proctor Knott five days later at the Clark Stakes in Louisville. On June 22, Spokane won another key race of the era, the American Derby at Washington Park in Chicago, to become the first horse to win both races in the same season.
Back in Illinois, Rowett did not live to see the triumph of Spokane, as he died on July 13, 1887. His death was covered on page one of the New York Times the following day.
In addition to breeding, Rowett is also remembered as the first to introduce the true-bred beagle hound to this country from his native England. Prior to that, he was a Civil War officer and state politician.
The only horse actually born in Illinois to win the Kentucky Derby was the 1970 champion, Dust Commander.
Tom Emery of Carlinville, who wrote the award-winning biography Richard Rowett: Thoroughbreds, Beagles, and the Civil War, may be reached at 217-710-8392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com.
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A former Carlinville High School football standout has signed as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots.
Kyle Dixon, a record-setting receiver at Culver-Stockton, an NAIA program in Canton, Missouri, inked the deal with New England after being passed over in the NFL Draft April 23-25.
Dixon was seen as an outside shot at being selected in the draft. He reportedly had visited at least one team, including Indianapolis, and was the subject of Internet speculation from various writers on his potential.
At Culver-Stockton, Dixon named to the American Football Coaches Association – NAIA All-American team. He was also a Heart of America Athletic Conference first team pick for the second straight year.
The 6-4, 216-pound Dixon was fourth in the NAIA with 83 receptions and third with 1,282 receiving yards in 2025.
New England advanced to last February’s Super Bowl, losing to Seattle.
It was the tenth Super Bowl appearance in the last 25 seasons for the Patriots, one of the NFL’s marquee teams over the last quarter-century.
New England won six Super Bowl titles in that span. The Patriots also played in the Super Bowl after the 1985 and 1996 seasons.
Though most undrafted free agents have an outside chance of sticking on NFL rosters, some future superstars began that way. Notable UDFAs include NFL Hall of Famers Kurt Warner, Warren Moon, Antonio Gates, Adam Vinatieri, and John Randle.
In 2025, eight NFL teams had at least three starters who had been UDFAs coming out of college.
The Patriots are known for their development of UDFAs. The franchise has had sixty starting players who were undrafted free agents from 2011-25, more than any other team in the NFL.
At Carlinville High School from 2015-18, Dixon finished in the top 20 in Illinois High School Association history in single-season receiving yards and touchdowns, career touchdowns, receptions, and receiving yards, and career interceptions on defense.
An all-state selection as a defensive back, Dixon was an all-South Central Conference pick as a receiver. He was also a two-time all-SCC pick in baseball.
Prior to Culver-Stockton, Dixon played baseball at SIU-Carbondale, SIU-Edwardsville, and Georgia Gwinnett College.
Dixon will try to become just the third Carlinville product to play in the NFL.
The others were Leland “Tiny” Lewis, who appeared in 14 games over the 1930-31 seasons with Portsmouth (now the Detroit Lions) and a now-defunct Cleveland franchise, and Mike Seyfrit, who played in 13 games for now-defunct franchises in Toledo and Hammond in 1923-24.
(Tom Emery may be reached at ilcivilwar@yahoo.com or 217-710-8392).
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