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.

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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.

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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.

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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 Benld City Council has accepted the resignation of veteran City Treasurer Cindy Crites, effective Dec. 5. The action came during the council’s regular monthly meeting Monday night.

In her resignation letter, Crites said she resigned only because she is moving to a residence outside the city. The resignation comes in the middle of Crites’ third term. Mayor Jim Kelly said persons in completing Crites’ unexpired term may contact City Hall for consideration. The Mayor will appoint Crites’ successor, subject to the approval of the full council.

The position will come up for election during the next Consolidated Election in the spring of 2027.

“Serving the people of Benld for two full four-year terms, and into my third term, has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Crites said in her letter of resignation. “I have always taken this responsibility to heart and I hope may work has reflected my commitment to transparency, accountability and strive to our community.”

Crites noted she has been a resident of the city for 38 years.

“Leaving this position is bittersweet,” she wrote. “I will ensure all records are in proper order, and will do everything I can to make the transition as smooth as possible.”

DEPUTY CLERK WAGE INCREASE

On a motion by Ald. Jerry Saracco, the council voted unanimously to increase Deputy City Clerk Geir Perkins’ wages by two percent. Perkins was hire for the position last January.

CHRISTMAS BONSUS

Council members unanimously approved Christmas bonuses for city employees in the same amount as last year. The city’s three full-time employees will receive a bonus of $125, while four part-time employees will receive $75.

LAGOON VEGETATION CONTROL

The council unanimously approved paying a bill for $2,695.62 from Water Treat Technology, Centralia, for spraying the city’s sewage lagoon to control vegetation. Mayor Kelly said the company sprayed the shallows around the lagoon to control vegetation, along with fence lines around the lagoon.

UPCOMING LEVY

Ald. Saracco, Finance Committee Chair, reminded aldermen that he council will vote on the city’s annual tax levy during the next meeting on Dec. 15. Taxing bodies in Macoupin County are subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law which constrains the amount by which tax levies can be increased. PTELL limits increases in the levy to no more than five percent or Consumer Price Index (whichever is less) of the previous year’s extension. The current CPI, essentially the rate of inflation, stands at 2.9 percent.

NUISANCE PROPERTIES

City Attorney Rick Verticchio briefly reported on the status of several cases pending against nuisance properties, and agreed to pursue a nuisance action against a property in the 400 block of Kentucky Street.

Ald. John Balzraine asked Verticchio what could be done to address the issue of landlords letting new tenants move in without having a home inspection as required by ordinance.

“The first thing would be to get their attention,” Verticchio said, asking aldermen to advise him when landlords accept new tenants without having the required inspection. He said he would issue ordinance citations against the offenders, requiring them to pay a fine and have the residence inspected. “I just need to know when and where.”

City Clerk Terri Koyne also commented about the number of rental properties that have water services in the name of the landlord. City ordinance requires water service to be in the name of the tenant. 

Rather than cite and fine offenders immediately, Ald. Dustin Fletcher recommended using next month’s water bills to issue an advisory reminding residents that water services must be in the tenant’s name, and giving them until Jan. 5 to correct the billing issues.

After 14 months of negotiations, the Macoupin County Board approved a new contract Thursday night with the Association of Federal, State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) affecting about 20 clerical works who have been working without a contract since the previous contract expired in September 2024. The meeting was moved from regular Tuesday night to Thursday because of the Veterans Day holiday.

On motion by board member Todd Armour, who participated in the meeting by phone, the 14 members present voted unanimously to approve the contract, pending ratification by the union members. 

County officials declined to discuss details of the contract, pending the union’s acceptance of the document. When the information becomes available, this story will be updated. The newly approved contract is retroactive to last September when the previous contract expired.

The lack of a contract had been the subject of several public protests in recent months in front of the Macoupin County Courthouse and Macoupin County Jail, where monthly board and committee members are held.

The action followed a 25-minute executive session during which board members discussed the proposed AFSCME contract, along with personnel issues at the Macoupin County Animal Control

Following the closed-door session, the board acted unanimously to hire former Animal Control Office Buzie Bertagnolli to work 25 hours a week at $40 per hour until a replacement for outgoing Animal Control Officer Emily Gerl. Gerl submitted her resignation effective immediately, on Tuesday, exactly one week after the Public Safety Committee voted to recommend Bertagnolli as a consultant for a six week period to help train Gerl on the Animal Control budget, properly administering the personnel at the department, how to properly handle the bills and payroll paperwork and to also help write a procedure manual for the Animal Control Department. That action followed a 13-minute executive after Gerl reported to the committee that she was having a budget issue due to her underbudgeting how many hours her part-time people could work and working them significantly more hours.  

An hour later, also on Nov. 4, Gerl reported to the Finance Committee that she was “way over budget” because excessive hours put in by part-time workers, and ask the committee to recommend approving additional funds. The committee declined due to the Public Safety’s recommendation to hire Bertagnolli “to try and show Gerl how to run the department for efficiency,” according to committee meeting minutes.

Also during the Finance Committee meeting, Gerl questioned the starting salary for Animal Control Officers. She was offered the job at a salary of $34,000—the same wage paid to her predecessor. The union, however, indicated the starting salary was set at $28,101. Committee member Armour told Gerl the union was correct and that her salary would be reduced upon approval of the new AFSCME contract.

Committee members told the full board that applications for the Animal Control Officer’s position would be accepted through Dec. 5 with the expectation of hiring a candidate before the start of the New Year.

In a related matter, the board approved a resolution to transfer $2,527.38 received as a donation from the Pet Population Control Fund to the General Fund where it could be used to help defray the budget overruns in the appropriation for Temporary Animal Control personnel.

HVAC FINANCING

The board unanimously approved a resolution transferring $1,250,000 from the General Fund to the COVID Grant fund, which is being used to pay for a $4.1 million HVAC upgrade in the County Courthouse. According to a report provided to the board Thursday night, the county has spend $2,127,605 toward the project to date, and expects to spend another $2,020,019 before the project is completed. The $1,250,000 transfer should “cover the rest of the project,” County Clerk Pete Duncan told the board.

Work has been completed on the ground floor of the courthouse and workers are moving on to the main floor which houses the Treasurer’s office, County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, Assessor’s office, a courtroom and one courtroom. County Clerk Duncan said his office is moving temporarily to the Voting Center across the street. During that time recently hired Grant Manager Joseph Chirwa will be allowed to work from home, Economic Development Chair Holly Klausing reported.

On the recommendation of the Economic Development Committee, the board voted to approve a measure directing Chirwa to focus only on applications for grants benefitting the county. Klausing said Chirwa has received requests from municipalities for held in writing grant applications.

“When he’s comfortable with (focusing on grants for county government), we can look at opening it up to local communities,” Klausing said. In the meantime, Chirwa plans to produce a fact sheet with resources for local communities to consult when writing grant applications for themselves.

Klausing said Chirwa has submitted grant applications that could net the county about $750,000 in revenue if the grants are approved. The grant applications include a grant application to the National Archives for assistance in digitizing county records, a law enforcement grant, and the second round of Energy Transition grant money.

The Energy Transition grant falls under a program to help compensate communities affected by recent coal mine closures. Klausing said the grant money can be used for economic development projects in the county.

A public hearing is set for 5 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3, to collect input from the public regarding potential grant fund expenditures. Klausing said the hearing will be held at the Voting Center to accommodate more people.

For the first round of Energy Transition grants, the county received about $800,000. For the second round, the county will receive less than $200,000. Klausing said the federal appropriation for the program has not been reduced but the number of applicants has increased, meaning a smaller piece of the pie for each successful applicant.

The board also approved a “chain of command” for signing grant applications in the event Chirwa is unavailable. In Chirwa’s absence, Board Chair Larry Schmidt, County Clerk Duncan or Committee Chair Klausing is now authorized to sign grant applications.

TAX LEVY HEARING

Finance Committee Chair John Payne reminded board members that a public hearing on next year’s property tax levy will be held at the beginning of the board’s regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 6 p.m. in the board’s meeting room. Duncan told the committee during its Nov. 4 meeting that the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (tax caps) precludes the county from increasing the levy by more than 2.9 percent, which limits the potential increase in the levy to $169,529.

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OTHER ACTION

In other action, the board:

• Approved the appointment of Kasse Newberry, Marsha Dorr, Elliott Challandes, Leann Bowman and Shelba Palmer to the Pulliam Cemetery Board for six-year terms ending Dec. 31, 2032.

• Approved the appointment of Jason Waters to the Northwestern Fire Protection District board for a three-year term ending May 1,2028.

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