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Partnership donates seven Promethean boards to District 7

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The district 7 school board pictured with John Fassero, Jr. and Brandi Bunn of The Partnership.

The district 7 school board pictured with John Fassero, Jr. and Brandi Bunn of The Partnership.

The district 7 school board was pleasantly surprised Monday evening, July 27, when John Fassero, Jr., president of The Partnership for Educational Excellence, informed them of The Partnership’s commitment to purchase seven Promethean boards for classrooms in the middle and high school.

Fassero explained the purchase was made possible after The Partnership matched a generous grant from the Employees Community Fund of Boeing St. Louis. “The members of ECF have been our partners for half the life of our education foundation,” he said. “The employees of Boeing have supported our classroom mini-grant program to help put academic resources into the hands of district 7 students.”

The Promethean boards are large, wall-mounted interactive computer screens that allow entire classrooms simultaneous access to myriad web-based teaching resources. Every classroom in the new Ben-Gil Elementary school is equipped with the Promethean boards and now every core classroom in the middle and high school will have one as well.

We are committed to equipping every appropriate classroom with a Promethean board in the middle and high school so the students have the same tools they were taught with in elementary

Superintendent Joe Tieman was beyond ecstatic Monday evening as he expressed how humbled and overwhelmed he was of The Partnership’s contribution. “Over and over again, we thank you,” Tieman said. “We greatly appreciate the funds being brought into our school district.”

Tieman continued by saying that he would have told anyone they are crazy if they told him that the district is on the brink of having a Promethean board in every classroom throughout three school buildings. “It’s amazing,” he added. “And I’m grateful that our technology department can install these in-house to save that expense.”

Fassero explained that funds from the ECF were previously devoted to classroom mini-grants, but the ECF has chosen to match The Partnership dollar for dollar the last two years in the latest technology project – equipping classrooms with Promethean boards.

“We know elementary classrooms have Promethean boards in every classroom and we believe students in this district should have the same learning style as they advance,” Fassero closed. “That’s why we are committed to equipping every appropriate classroom with a Promethean board in the middle and high school so the students have the same tools they were taught with in elementary.”

Athletic Field Improvements

Superintendent Tieman updated the board on the progress of the many improvements the district is currently working on. Despite heavy rainfall totals since the district’s last board meeting in June, Tieman said the projects are still progressing – just not at his desired pace.

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Tieman explained the underground irrigation system for the football field is completely installed, but will not be operational until a pump house is complete. He said the pump house is a block building with a concrete pad and he hopes that can be completed in the upcoming weeks with weather cooperating.

Tieman said the projects are still progressing – just not at his desired pace

No work on the softball or baseball field has been completed except lime and sand installed on the baseball field, but he said he hopes most of the softball field work can be completed before the weather gets cold. Tieman said he has continued to speak with tiling experts about the baseball field, but a decision hasn’t been made and he will continue updating the board on the progress.

He went on to inform the board that the high school basketball gym was outfitted with four new glass sideline backboards to replace the former old, white backboards. Tieman said the purchase was completely covered by the youth basketball program conducted by Kevin and Elaine Gray. “I know many people have put in countless hours with the youth basketball program and I thank everyone of them,” he added. “Kevin has been doing it for more than 10 years and we have four beautiful backboards because of it.”

Tieman closed by saying the padding on the new backboards is much brighter than the padding on the game backboards, so he is checking into how much replacement padding will be so the padding will match on all six of the backboards in the high school gymnasium.

Personnel, FOIA & Sales Tax

The school board unanimously approved to hire Kyle Kozer as seventh grade volleyball coach and Mark Goldasich as volunteer football coach.

Superintendent Tieman informed the board that the district had one Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request since last month’s meeting and it was requested by Scholz, Loos, Palmer, Siebers & Duesterhaus LLP. He explained the law firm who represents Kohl Wholesale, a foodservice distributor, requested records pertaining to the district’s food and non-food products bid.

Tieman said the district will honor the FOIA request and will respond in a timely manner.

He continued by saying he is going to talk to other Macoupin County superintendents to see if other school boards around the county are interested in pushing the county facilities sales tax initiative for the March 2016 ballot. Tieman reminded the board that if that initiative passes, district 7 is expected to receive $385,000 annually.

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Other Business

In other business, the school board unanimously approved the following:

  • 2015-2016 student handbooks
  • Milk bid by Prairie Farms and bread bid by Flowers Baking Company for the 2015-2016 school year
  • Closing the executive session minutes from March 2014 through February 2015
  • District wellness plan
  • Purchasing a treasurer’s bond from Commercial Lines Insurance with a $4,494 premium, which the district is required by law to purchase

Administrator Updates

Lori Emmons, the high school principal, explained that Jill Rosentreter, the middle school principal, and herself met with the district coaches on July 20 to review the coach’s handbook and to answer any questions they had. She continued by saying the high school is ready to go and announced that registration will take place August 3 through 6.

Rosentreter said that improvements have been made to the middle school master schedule and student schedules are currently being created. She added that preparations for student orientation and open house are underway, which is scheduled for August 12 beginning at 6 p.m.

Elementary principal Angela Turcol informed the board that the Wonders reading series has arrived and teachers have begun reviewing and working on the curriculum for the upcoming school year. She said a training day is set for August 14. The elementary school’s stop and drop/open house is scheduled for August 12 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

July Bills

The school unanimously approved payment of the July bills:

Transportation Fund: $8,507.71
Education Fund: $65,020.32
Building Fund: $38,729.07

Grand Total: $112,257.10

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Gillespie teen wins drive safe Chicago video contest

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Wins $2,000 Prize and Video She Created will Air on 160 TV Stations Nationwide

CHICAGO – Emily Bergen, 16, a student at Gillespie High School in Gillespie, has won the annual Drive Safe Chicago public service announcement contest.  Antonio Knott, 15, of Merrillville High School in Merrillville IN, placed second in the voting, and Noelani Elizalde, 17, also from Merrillville High School, was third. 

Sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation in partnership with the Chicago Auto Show, teens from Illinois and surrounding states were invited to submit ideas for a 30-second PSA about sharing the road with other passenger vehicles, trucks, motorcycles and pedestrians.

Three finalists were selected and each worked with an Emmy Award-winning producer to transform their PSA submissions into 30-second TV public service announcements.  The public was then able to vote for their favorite online.  More than 1,400 online votes were cast.

The winner received $2,000 and will be featured on nationally-syndicated Teen Kids News, reaching more than 160 TV stations across the country. The first runner-up got $1,000 and the second runner-up won $500.  All three finalists’ teachers received $100 gift cards.

Bergen’s winning PSA shows a young driver starting her car and pressing a “share the road” button.  As she drives, an AI voice warns her of a bicyclist, a pedestrian and children in a school zone. The voice then reminds her, “Cars don’t come with devices like me, which is why you need to know how to share the road.”

“The carnage on our roads can be reduced if drivers remain aware of others who share the road,” said Michelle Anderson of The National Road Safety Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes safe driving. “We think the creative ideas about sharing the road from our Drive Safe Chicago winner and runners-up convey that message effectively.”

“Although today’s new cars are safer than ever, with technological advances that are proven to help avoid crashes,” said Chicago Auto Show Chairwoman Kelly Webb Roberts, “drivers must still be aware of others they are sharing the road with, whether it’s a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle or pedestrians.”

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The National Road Safety Foundation says driver error accounts for 94 percent of all fatal crashes, with speeding and driver distraction among the leading factors.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 40,990 people died on U.S. roads and highways in 2023, with hundreds of thousands of injuries and an estimated annual cost of more than $340 billion.

View Bergen’s winning video below:

Bergen’s video is also featured center on the National Road Safety Foundation’s website with the runners-up videos to the right and to the left: https://m.shortstack.page/NLxMqT

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L&C announces fall 2024 honors lists

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Lewis and Clark Community College

Students earning a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher out of a possible 4.0 are named to the President’s List. Those students earning a grade point average between 3.25 and 3.74 are recognized each semester on the Dean’s List.

Further requirements are listed in the college’s online catalog at http://catalog.lc.edu. All questions should be directed to the Enrollment Center at (618) 468-2222. Below is an excerpt containing students residing in Macoupin County.

President’s List

BENLD – Ryleigh L. Phillips; Zander E. Rieffer; Emily R. Schoen; Tristen B. Wargo;

BRIGHTON – Brandon M. Adams; Ike D. Austin; Lainie L. Behrends; Reagan Beilsmith; Ian C. Brantley; Tina M. Brass; Lane Cox; Madison P. Fenstermaker; Hunter D. Gillis; Hailey Gula; Alexis R. Harrop; Gavin Humm; Thomas D. Kunz; Nicholas O. McGee; Audrey A. Perkins; Ava J. Pulley; Alyssa J. Schuchman; Addison Strohbeck; Sydney A. Valdes; Abby Van Doren; Piper L. Voorhees; Madelyn E. Zarges;

BUNKER HILL – Alex Betts; Grant J. Burch; Kayleigh K. Butler; Abigayle L. Collins; Denise Deias; Braden T. Fulton; Dillon M. Guess; Maya R. Henfling; Hannah J. Herrmann; Madalynn Hilyard; Madelyn Landreth; William Manar; Kaylee L. Richert; Andrew Sanner; Abby N. Spraggs; Noah A. Thyer;

CARLINVILLE – Jack E. Beard; Matthew J. Eldred; Jack Goby; Stephanie K. Harding; Gabriel R. Henson; Alexsis A. Kalaher; Weston E. Kuykendall; Lillian McCurley; Emerald Ondrey; Joanna M. Roemer; Jessica N. Strubbe; Karleina J. Tipps; Samuel L. Wilson;

GILLESPIE – Lauren E. Bertagnolli; Ean L. Davis; Lanie G. Doty; Kennedy G. Helmkamp;

MEDORA – Aubrey M. Reno; Anneliese M. Shatley; Haleigh Sinclair;

SHIPMAN – Alyssa L. Beck; Gracie B. Darr; Addison A. Jeffers; Tyson Kahl; Josiah A. Schuette; Bailee A. Sorgea;

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SOUTH ROXANA – Lyndsey M. Johansen; Caden O. Lara; Savanah M. Stogsdill;

STAUNTON – Julie A. Aloisi; Samantha R. Anderson; Zane P. Anderson; Shane Baker; Lilly M. Bandy; Grace Bekeske; Gianna Bianco; Carson G. Buffington; Kiersten L. Carlson; Karla J. Castillo; Izabella Claussen; Lillian Dothager; Olivia M. Favre; Eli J. Henke; Alexis A. Hester; Samantha D. Hoffman; Harold I. Irvin, III; Dylan Jarden; Korryn O. Keehner; Nicholas L. Raphael; Alexis P. Schaaf; Brady Seelbach; Carli L. Skinner; Cole Sternickle; Tyler J. Thompson; Lilly Trettenero; Lillyan S. Troeckler;

Dean’s List

BENLD – Ridge A. Braundmeier; Kaitlynn E. Conner; Elizabeth M. King; Alyssa S. McCollum; Marria D. Middleton; Alyssa F. Schuette;

BRIGHTON – Garrett R. Beuttel; Troy J. Brooks; Emily Y. Cambron; Jacob G. Carpenter; Lucy Childress; Olivia Cody; Logan T. Crane; Tristyn N. Ditterline; Kaylin G. Gerard; Cooper J. Hagen; Ashlyn K. Hall; Evan Hanold; Samuel J. Harshbarger; Amelia R. Hines-Pattan; Ella J. Kadell; Daylin M. King; Kayla A. Lemarr; Tucker Mayhew; Elizabeth L. Milford; Stacey M. Mynatt; Blythe E. Roloff; Jordan R. Short; Shiann Vinson; Grace A. Wylde;

BUNKER HILL – Cole T. Burch; Hanna N. Heeren; Madelynne K. Heflin; Taylor Miklavic; Katelyn J. Miller; Abigail G. Scott;

CARLINVILLE – Boedy E. Baker; Emily A. Barbre; Zachary Chapman; Ella R. Clevenger; Alana N. Dixon; Alison J. Dixon; Nathan Dyer; Addison Eldred; Saralynn I. Joiner; Henry S. Kalaher; William G. Meyer; Chloe A. Payne; Amy L. Pocklington; Jack Rives; Lanna P. Vanderpoel; Ella C. Wise; Braley M. Wiser;

GILLESPIE – Reese E. Bussmann; Regan E. Bussmann; Addie M. Hayes; Karter Mix; Adrianne B. Niemeyer; Grace J. Vandoren; Shannon L. Wright;

MOUNT OLIVE – Libbie M. Nowell;

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PIASA – Anna C. Fink;

SHIPMAN – Kaden G. Cottingham; Rocky Darr; Kathryn M. Mueller; Sayuri Owada; Rocky J. Rose;

STAUNTON – Rylee K. Baugh; David S. Dann; Belle M. Darte; Jacob A. Dillon; Vivienne Dothager; Sean T. Fleming; Kennedy L. Legendre; Zander MacHota; Savannah M. Missey; Nicholas Monahan; Nicole M. Narup; Kelley Perrine; Christopher S. Pritchett; Alivia Royer; Katie N. Schalk; Lakesi Settles; Priya E. Siegfried; Justin A. Smith; Kylie A. Tomso; Whitney Weller;

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Gillespie to host blood drive on Feb. 17

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Gillespie Community will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, February 17 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.

To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 710-1336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. You may also call ImpactLife to schedule at 800-747-5401. Appointments are requested.

Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate.  For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 747 5401. Donors who last gave blood on or before 12/23/24 are eligible to give at this drive.

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