Community News
Local school board explores working cash bonds
CUSD #7 school board members (L-R): Peyton Bernot, Don Dobrino, Jenni Alepra and secretary Kathy McDaniels. (Archived Photo)
Facing the prospect of delayed state aid payments due to the continuing budget stalemate in Springfield, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night listened to an extensive presentation about the possibility of issuing working cash bonds, though Superintendent Joe Tieman emphasized there are no immediate plans to seek a bond issue.
“This is for information only. I’m not asking for any action from the board,” Tieman said. “Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I think everyone knows the situation with the state and it is my responsibility to look at every possible revenue stream that we can tap into if we need to. About 65 percent of our budget comes from state sources so it is critically important to for us to look at this.”
Kevin R. Wills, vice president at First Midstate, Inc., the company that has handled previous bond sales for the district, told board members the school district could issue a maximum of $2.4 million in working cash bonds without exceeding the district’s state-imposed debt ceiling or affecting the district’s bonding capacity. Issuing the bonds would require a three-step process starting with a resolution approved by the board and a public notice initiating a 30-day public review process. During the 30-day review period, citizens could petition the board for a public referendum. That petition would require signatures representing 10 percent of voters who voted in the previous school board election. With or without a petition, the board would conduct a public hearing at the end of 30 days before officially voting to sell the bonds.
The authority to issue working cash bonds, once enacted by the board, would remain valid for a period of three years. In other words, the board could secure the authority to issue the bonds without voting immediately to issue them, choosing to issue them later when it is determined the working cash funds are needed. Moreover, Wills said, while the resolution would authorize bonds in amounts “up to” $2.4 million, the board could vote to issue a lesser amount.
[pullquote]The resolution would authorize bonds in amounts “up to” $2.4 million, the board could vote to issue a lesser amount.[/pullquote]”The working cash fund is a legal form of borrowing for school districts in Illinois,” Wills said, noting that working cash usually is used to resolve cash flow issues when expenditures must be made before tax funds are made available to the district. Because of the stalemate that has left the State of Illinois without a budget since July 1, there are concerns the state will not be able to make tax payments to local school districts in a timely manner even if a budget is approved in the near future. “Most of the school districts consider working cash fund bonds at this time are considering them for cash flow issues.”
Referring to a detailed 12-page report, Wills said the maximum amount the board can levy for debt service is $420,512.
“That’s a major limiting factor we have to work with moving forward,” Wills said. Regardless of the amount of working cash bonds ultimately issued, the repayment schedule would have to be structured so that the repayment schedule (combined with the district’s current debt repayment obligations) does not exceed the ceiling. Answering a question from board member Dave Griffel, Wills admitted it would be unlikely the district could issue working cash bonds in any substantive amount without increasing the tax levy.
“It would be a challenge to issue bonds without a tax increase,” he said. “No matter how it’s structured you’re probably going to see some kind of increase, if not at the beginning (of the repayment period), then in the later years. There’s a philosophical issue to consider in balancing the impact on the tax rate vs. taking a long time to pay it off.”
As an example, he said the district could take as long as 20 years to pay off the bond issue. “But what if the money gets spent in four years?” he said. “Then you’re paying on for the next 16 years.”
In theory, he suggested, it might be more prudent to consider a shorter pay-back period even though the impact on tax rates could be greater than if the bond issue was spread out over a longer period.
The district’s current tax extension of about $800,000 could grow to $1.2 million for “several years” if the district issued the maximum amount of working cash bonds, Griffel noted. “That’s pretty substantial.”
Also answering a question from Griffel, Wills said the process for obtaining revenue from a working cash bond issue would be about two months, provided no petitions are submitted to require a referendum election. In that event, the next election during which the referendum question could be presented to voters is the upcoming March 15 primary. To ensure the question appears on that ballot, Wills said, the board would need to adopt a Resolution of Intent to issue working cash bonds at least 122 days prior to the election, meaning the resolution would have to be voted upon by Nov. 14.
“If the board wants to do this without a referendum, that date is meaningless?” Tieman asked.
“Yes,” Wills responded.
Church allows school to use new parking lot
In other action, the board voted to authorize Tieman to negotiate with the Gillespie United Methodist Church’s Board of Trustees to draft an agreement allowing parents and visitors to use the church parking lot in exchange for the school district providing snow removal services for the lot during the winter months. Board member Griffel, who is a member of the church, abstained from the vote. Tieman noted that parents already are using the parking lot, located directly east of the elementary school, when they bring their children to school. It also apparently is being used when the school has special events and the school lot is not large enough to accommodate visitors.
Tieman also recommended extending a sidewalk from the school property line to the church parking lot so parents bringing children to school are not required to walk in the street.
Once the agreement is finalized, Tieman will present it to the board for final approval.
Personnel and student matters
In the area of personnel, the board voted to accept the resignation of Mark Hayes as head boys’ soccer coach and to post the position as vacant. Hayes, who serves as the board president, abstained from the vote.
Guidance Counselor Kalli Baker reported to the board regarding the school’s participation in a couple of high school Explorers programs that allow students to visit professional settings to explore potential career choices. Baker reported that 19 students are participating in a six-session Explorers program at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, and nine are participating in an Engineering Explorers program that included a visit to the construction site for a new bridge over the Illinois River at Meredosia.
“One of the things we’ve talked about is trying to get students outside the walls of our school,” Tieman commented. Apart from providing students with information about careers they may want to pursue as adults, the programs also give the students a sense of independence and confidence, according to Tieman. “Programs like these are examples of putting students outside of their normal school environment. I urge the staff to continue to seek new opportunities for programs like this and I urge the board to support these programs.”
Board hears report on CEO program
The board also heard a brief report about the school district’s possible participation in a county-wide Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) program. The two-credit course, based on a prototype that started in Effingham, is designed to teach students how to start, fund and operate a new business. Ultimately, only 20 students will be chosen from among the county’s nine school districts to participate.
“We’re very excited about this,” Tieman said. “I will be asking the board at a later date for approval for us to participate.”
Jenni Alepra, a board member who is employed as branch manager at United Community Bank, said UCB is involved as a financial contributor for the program and that the Gillespie School District has been chosen as one of four home bases in the county for the program. Students will be required to submit a formal application for consideration to participate.
Grade point averages will not be a consideration in the application process, Alepra said. “Some of the best entrepreneurial minds are not among your 4.0 students,” she said. “They’re students who think outside the box.”
The board will be asked to take formal action on the CEO program after the State Board of Education approves the course description for inclusion in the curriculum for Macoupin County schools.
Superintendent’s Report
Tieman reported that neither he nor any of the board members will attend an upcoming convention of Illinois School Boards. Only three of the seven board members were going to be able to attend because of prior commitments, he said. As a result, it was decided to “save the money” and forego attendance this year with an eye toward taking the full board to the convention in 2016.
Tieman also reported that Building Trades program received a donation of $1,180 for the purchase of a new power saw from Margaret Friel, a Springfield woman who saw an article about the program appearing in the State Journal-Register.
Tieman said the school now expects results from tests given last year by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) in the next two months. PARCC officials now say results from high school exams should arrive in November, followed by middle school scores in December.
“It is a crime for our staff not to have the data (from the PARCC exams) before now to guide curriculum decisions,” Tieman commented.
Tieman reported to the board that he had responded to a Freedom of Information Act request from the Better Government Association seeking documents related to the collective bargaining agreement, administrator contracts, budget, legal settlements and payroll. Tieman directed the BGA to the district’s website where some of the information requested is posted and provided copies of the documents that do not appear on the website.
Board members also voted unanimously to pay the district’s September bills in the following amounts: Education Fund, $31,357.89; Building and Operations Fund, $38,607.98; Transportation, $4,323.45, for a total of $74,289.32.
Tieman also reported to the board that work is nearing completion on the dugouts for the school’s softball field, a sidewalk has been poured and bleachers have been ordered. The field should be completed and ready for use, he said, in time for this spring’s softball season. He also reported that a new heating/air conditioning control system is being installed at the high school and should result in greater comfort levels and efficiency. He said the system is expected to pay for itself in energy savings in about five years.
NEXT MEETING: The District #7 school board will meet again on November 23, 2015, at 7 p.m.
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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.
