CUSD 7 News
CUSD 7 board approves $20 million budget
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night approved a $20 million budget for the current fiscal year as Supt. Shane Owsley cautioned that next year’s budget is likely to be leaner due to the loss of COVID-related emergency funding from the federal government.
The board also approved a $108,000 HVAC project, reviewed current enrollment numbers, and enacted a new board policy regarding tuition waivers for children of employees who live outside the district.
Approval of the budget followed a 20-minute public hearing during which Supt. Owsley explained expected revenue and anticipated expenditures for the fiscal year that began July 1.
The newly approved budget projects revenue at $20,699,586, compared with about $18.5 million budgeted last year. The lion’s share revenue—$10,580,420— is expected to come from the state government in the form of Evidence-Based Funding and grants. Local sources, including real estate taxes and the Macoupin County School Facilities sales tax, is expected to comprise $4,691,802, while $3,772,526 is expected to come from federal sources.
It is the federal funding that school officials are eyeing for the next fiscal year. An estimated $2.6 million of this year’s federal funding is expected to come from Elementary and Secondary School Recovery funds—the so-called ESSR money appropriated by the federal government to help schools recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. That funding source will not be available next fiscal year, meaning the amount of federal funds the district receives may be two-thirds less than this year.
“This year is a much rosier picture than next year is likely to be,” Owsley said. “ESSR money will be gone and our federal funding will be drastically reduced.” Some of the ESSR money, he said, was used to pay salaries and benefits for specific district employees; those obligations will have to be shouldered by the school district, using funds from other sources a year from now. Owsley predicted the district may have to draw down on surplus money that has accumulated in various funds over the last three years, in part as a result of the injection of federal COVID recovery funds.
Owsley said he also has concerns about state aid payments next fiscal year, which may not be as lush as the district has come to expect. CUSD 7 currently is listed as a Tier I school, meaning the state considers it most in need of additional funding to reach optimum per student spending for instruction. The district is on the cusp, however of being elevated to Tier II, which could limit the amount of additional funding the school receives next fiscal year.
“We won’t get less,” Owsley said of Evidence Based Funding, “but we would go up by as much as we did this year.”
Enrollment, which also factors into the state aid formula, is down from pre-COVID levels, Owsley noted. “That’s not just a Gillespie thing,” Owsley said, “it is a Macoupin County thing; all of the school districts are down.”
Board member Weye Schmidt noted that accounting for the loss of ESSR money and the one-time influx of money from a recent bond sale, the new budget is “about break even.”
“That’s right,” Owsley agreed.
The budget projects expenditures at a total of $19,532,378, which would result in a surplus of $1,167,188. Coupled with existing fund balances, the district would end the fiscal year with $12,796,604 in reserve.
The Education Fund accounts for more than half the budget on both the revenue and expenditure sides. The budget anticipates $13,884,603 in revenue for education. More than half that amount—$9,494,836—is expected to come in the form of state aid. Federal funding, including ESSR money, is projected at $2,261,321, while local sources will contribute $2,088,446.
Expenditures from the Education Fund is projected at $13,771,878, which includes $100,000 for contingencies.
Revenue for the Building, Operations and Maintenance Fund is projected at $2,104,758, including $1.4 million in ESSR funding that will disappear next year. Expenditures are projected at $2,033,790, including $100,000 for contingencies. The fund should end the year $70,968 in the black, or up to $170,968 if the contingency money is not used.
A total of $2,054,818 in revenue is expected for Capital Projects, but that figure is skewed by the injection of $1.6 million resulting from an alternate revenue bond issue approved by the board earlier this year. The expected $780,000 in expenditures is based upon preliminary estimates for improvements to the high school baseball and softball fields. In addition, $25,000 will be transferred to Debt Service to shore up a deficiency in that fund.
The Transportation Fund is expected to take in revenue in the amount of $924,329, including $71,915 in ESSR money that is being used currently to cover the cost of salary and benefits for the Transportation Director. Expenditures of $861,359 are anticipated, including $187,272 for debit service on the purchase of three new buses, plus $674,087 for salaries and supplies.
Revenue for the Debt Service Fund is projected at $867,475, with expenditures of $1,171,847—making it one of two funds expected to end the year in the red. Expenditures also exceed revenue in the Tort Fund, which expects to take in $282,206 and spend $453,750.
Revenue for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund and Social Security is projected at $522,786, with anticipated expenditures of $459,754. Revenue for Working Cash is anticipated to be $98,591, with no expenditures.
Based on the newly approved budget, the district will end the fiscal year total fund balances of $12,796,604. With a beginning balance of $5,946,929, the Education Fund is expected to end the year with $6,019,672 in reserve. Other funds are expected to end the year with balances as follows: Building, Operations and Maintenance, $753,319; Debt Service, $350,923; Transportation, $422,868; IMRF/SS, $422,226; Capital Projects, $1,838,139; Working Cash, $2,765,597; and Tort, $223,860.
Owsley reiterated that the budget is a spending plan that is subject to change as conditions change throughout the year. The approved budget, for example, does not include money from a State Safety Grant that has not been awarded. Owsley said he intends to apply for as many grants as possible as they become available throughout the year. Accordingly, he said, the board will likely be called upon to approve an amended budget next June as the fiscal year winds down.
WEIGHT ROOM HVAC PROJECT
On Owsley’s recommendation, the board approved a project to install rooftop air conditioning units to serve the high school weight room at an estimated cost of $107,935. The estimated cost includes replacing two air conditioning units that were vandalized while on the ground awaiting installation.
Owsley said the plan was to take units taken off the high school roof as part of an HVAC upgrade and put them into service for the weight room. While the units were on the ground, however, someone stripped them of copper.
Insurance will cover $12,000 of the $22,000 replacement costs.
TEACHER VACANCY GRANT
The board approved a memorandum of understanding regarding a state Teacher Vacancy Grant, which will allow the board to use state grant money to reimburse teachers who acquire additional certification to teach courses for which there is a “high need.”
Owsley said two teachers who acquired special education certification are eligible for reimbursement at this time.
“Our contract already provides for $3,200,” Owsley said. “This would be above and beyond that.”
The state has earmarked up to $100,000 to reimburse the district for eligible costs under terms of the grant.
Under terms of the program, teachers who receive the reimbursement must remain in the district a minimum of three years. If they leave before three years, the recipients are required to pay back a pro-rated portion of what they received.
TUITION WAIVERS
Board members voted unanimously to adopt as board policy provisions set out in Public Act 103-0111 which allows school districts to waive tuition for the children of certificated and non-certificated employees who reside outside the district. Public Act 103-0111 allows school districts to waive tuition upon a formal vote of the board. By adopting provisions of the act as board policy, the tuition waiver becomes automatic without requiring the board to consider waivers on a case-by-case basis.
Additionally, by adopting the provision as board policy precludes amending the district’s contract with the teachers union, meaning the perk could be revoked by a board vote in the future without violating the contract.
SIXTH DAY ENROLLMENT NUMBERS
Supt. Owsley shared with the board enrollment totals from the sixth day of classes for the 2023-24 school year, which show total enrollment grew by four students from last year but remains far below pre-COVID numbers.
Enrollment at BenGil Elementary School is 520 for this year, compared with 523 last year and a nine-year average of 598. Gillespie Middle School’s current enrollment is 265, compared with 245 last year and a nine-year average of 283. Gillespie High School has 333 students this year, compared with 346 last year and a nine-year average of 362.
“I don’t think this is a surprise,” Owsley said. “When you look at when enrollment started to drop, it was during COVID.”
For the 2018-19 school year, before the COVID pandemic, the district’s total enrollment was at 1312.
The number of students enrolled has an impact on the amount of state aid a district receives.
“We’re going to do everything we can to get more students enrolled here,” Owsley said.
PERSONNEL
Following a 45-minute executive session, the board voted unanimously to appoint Jarrod Herron as the Gillespie Middle School Scholar Bowl sponsor and hire Nikki Hunter as a substitute bus driver, pending a routine background check.
As part of a District Focus segment, GMS Principal Patrick McGinty introduced the board to Brad Taulbee, newly hired band instructor for the district. Board member Bill Carter encouraged Taulbee to contact the board with “whatever you need to our band going and growing.”
In addition to traditional marching band instruction, Taulbee said he expects to introduce programs for jazz and rock.
“I think kids will respond very well because it’s much closer to their culture,” he said.
A second new teacher, Ken Bates, was not available to attend. Bates is teaching business at both the middle school and high school levels.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Voted unanimously to apply for a $50,000 state matching grant for facility maintenance. Last year, the district used ESSR funds to match the grant award.
- Accepted a bid of $814 from Michael and Jane Roth to purchase a real estate lot previously declared as surplus property.
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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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Class of 2026 (Seniors)
High honor roll: Emily Bergen, Deshaunta Cooper Jackson, Marshall Garwood, Katherine Gerdes, Carson Hailstone, Jule Hansmann, Jersey Helvey, Lillianna Jones, Ava Parish, Kori Petersen, Ava Rakers, Sean Roach, Lucas Rosenthal, Luke Schuckenbrock, Brody Shaw, Carter Sies, Nevaeh Thomas, Hailey Young
Honor roll: Anthony Amoroso, Jacob Baglin, Ceanna Bearden, Mark Caselton, Edin Compton, Carson Cooper, Addison Cox, Jackson Crook, Brookelyn Crotchett, Brayden Enslow, Hank Fletcher, Collin Griffith, Madyson Grogg, Luna Gross, Hunter Hegel, Elin Herold, Roadie Jackson, Kayden Koelker, Kyle Kottman, Cedrick Krieder, Dawson Lancaster, Sophia Lewis, Aiden Manley, Jessalyn McElyea, Mylee Mckee, Dawson Morgan, Douglas Neverdowski, David Norville, Chaz Oberkfell, Tyler Palmer, Lukas Parish, Zachary Phillips, Makayla Price, Joseph Reid, Paxton Reid, Desiree Rife, Ava Segarra, Brock Sherman, Sadie Sholtis, Nathan Spencer, Carman Toprani, Brooklyn VanHuss, Kaia Vickery, Whelen Walker, Claire Wallace
Class of 2027 (Juniors)
High honor roll: Jack Bulla, Olivia Crumley, Emily Helvey, Cole Katich, Olivia Kelly, Tember Miller, Cheyenne Sarti
Honor roll: Zowe Badolato, Jaxon Ballinger, Logan Belcher, Clayton Bethard, Sloane Brawner, Wrigley Bruhn, Mitchell Clark, Keenin Compton, Lillian Conner, Riley Cox, Briley Flournoy, Margaret Heyen, Marli Johnson, Lucca Kapp, Zaden King, Isaac Kravanya, Michael Marcacci, Braxten Noll, Adam Peterson, Matthew Plovich, William Ranger Fleshman, Wesley Reiman, Cash Reynolds, Karlee Rhodes, Landon Ridenhour, Kolten Robbins Lasica, Alex Schoen, Laci Schuckenbrock, Emilia Segarra, Carter Segrest, Jasmine Smith, Cali Stagner, Emerson Striegel, Payten Taylor, Caleb Thompson, Amari Vickery, Aedan Watson, Macie Williams, Maxwell Young
Class of 2028 (Sophomores)
High honor roll: Cali Barkley, Scarlet Bruhn
Honor roll: Bryce Alpi, Gracelynn Balestri, Dallas Barker, Alexis Brown, Logan Buhs, Aleeyah Busch, Jasper Calcari, Ava Carr, Annabelle Daniels, Tegan Davis, Tess Dixon, Lyla Drewel, Madison Durston, Kylie Edge, Lainey Edwards, Floritza Garcia Santiago, Katie Hamann, Keegan Hartpence, Kullen Hartpence, Hadyn Hegel, Olivia Hitos Colino, Nolan Hostettler, Levi Hughes, Henry Knetzer, Sophie Knetzer, Cory Knotts, Paige Marcum, Noah Marks, Kyndall McElyea, Weston Melchert, Alexis Nalley, Preston Noe, Stephen Otten, Elijah Pabon, Urijah Pabon, Brianna Phillips, Benjamin Pruitt, Braden Reich, Caitlynn Rhodes, Nolan Ruyle, Alyssa Saathoff, Kendall Schweppe, Helaina Scott, Destini Smith, Gillian Smith, Aliana Snow, Xzavier Spencer, Rafe Stangle, Richetti Stewart, Bryce Stoecker, Addisyn Tallman, Madisyn Thomas, Ayden Vernish, Luke Walker, Matrix Wright, Carter Young
Class of 2029 (Freshmen)
High honor roll: Collins Hagan, Marlee Hebenstreit, Paige Swank
Honor roll: Alesana Adams, Ella Brawner, Audrina Burkel, Bryson Cox, Chyla Crainick, Rayne Crites, Joshua Crumley, Thodrick Dirks, Mariella Garrison, Rylee Geisler, Landyn Hagler, Owen Hammann, Kai Hampson, Regan Harbaugh, Isabella Harbour, Gavin Horner, Alexander Jacobs, Alex Johnson, Giana Kapp, Addeline Laflin, Izzabella Manus, Frank Montoro, Storm Moreland, Amaelie Patterson, Dominique Payne Jr., Benjamin Peterson, Lila Polach, Avianna Ranger Fleshman, Marxon Rolando, Dominic Savant, Jackson Schardan, Jacob Schuette, Kristina Schuette, Lyla Shaw, Holden Sies, Kelleigh Simmons, Hanley Stoecker, Addyson Strang, Graham Striegel, Jacob Walker, Payton Welch, Bryleigh Whaley, Cole Williamson, Sydney Wilson, Michael Yeager
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Community News
School board accepts annual financial report, chooses property/liability insurance policy
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted unanimously to accept the district’s annual financial report, chose an insurance carrier for property and liability, and authorized the Superintendent to apply for an administrative expenditures waiver.
Following a lengthy executive session, the board also voted 4-1 to expel an elementary student for the remainder of the school year, one of the youngest students the board has ever cited for expulsion. Board member Peyton Bernot cast the sole negative vote. Board members Amanda Ross, Dennis Tiburzi, Kelli Vesper and Weye Schmidt all voted to approve the disciplinary action. Board member Bill Carter was absent. There are no alternative school programs for students below the sixth grade. The expelled student reportedly will have an opportunity to continue classwork via an online program and will be provided with access to school counseling services.
Ken Loy, an accountant with Loy-Miller-Talley Public Accountants, Alton, told board members that the annual audit resulted in a “clean, unmodified” opinion from the auditors, meaning there were no descrepancies in the district’s accounting procedures for the fiscal year that ended June 30. The audit, which is required by state law, contains three opinion letters, all of which were positive in regard to the district’s accounting and fiscal management.
One letter is a general report of the auditors’ findings, indicating the district’s financial records “present fairly, in all material aspects, the assets and liabilities arising from cash transactions of balances of each fund.” Further, the report affirms, “the revenues (the district) received and expenditures it paid for the year . . . (are) in accordance with provisions of the State Board of Education.”
A second letter describes the scope of the auditing process, while a third letter addresses the district’s handling of federal funds. Loy said the federal letter is required when a district receives more than $750,000 in federal funds. For the most recent fiscal year, the district received about $2.5 million from federal sources. While that revenue triggered the need for a separate opinion letter, Loy said the amount was down somewhat from the past few years when the district was receiving COVID recovery funds. As with the general letter, the federal report reflects “a good, clean audit report,” according to Loy.
“All of these opinion letters are good as they have been in the past,” Loy said.
Zeroing in on some details of the 75-page audit, Loy noted that all funds ended the fiscal year in the black, except for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund which spent about $33,000 more than it received in revenue. However, Loy said, that deficit was a planned deficit that drew down on surplus balances.
“All of your other funds were positive,” he noted.
The district’s total equalized assessment value, the basis for property tax extensions, increased to $112,324,042 from $103,564,334 a year earlier, which was up from $95,324,343. The property tax extension for 2024, payable in 2025, was $3,599,569. The board typically sets the levy for the upcoming tax year in December.
The per capita tuition charge, determined by dividing enrollment into the total cost of education, increased from $8,892 for fiscal 2024 to $13,248 for fiscal 2025—due, in part, to a dramatic decrease in enrollment. The report notes that enrollment dropped from 1,005 in 2024 to 871 in 2025. That decline in enrollment, according to Loy, resulted in about $2,000 of the increased tuition charge.
Loy said the enrollment erosion is not unusual in downstate school districts.
“Our rural communities are aging,” he said. “We don’t have the size of families we used to have.”
Loy noted that the district’s state financial profile score increased from 3.7 out of 4.0 for fiscal 2024 to 3.8 for the most recently concluded fiscal year. The score identifies the district as a “Recognition Status” district, the highest ranking for financial health and stability.
“Your score went up a little bit because your debt went down,” Loy said. “At the same time, your capacity to borrow went up.”
Of the four criteria the State Board of Education uses to determine the score, CUSD 7 fell short of a 4.0 score in only the area of debt to income ratio.
“If not for the substantial debt, you would have had a perfect score,” Loy noted.
Supt. Shane Owsley told the board that some of the debt that’s bringing down the district’s financial score is lingering debt associated with the loss of Benld Elementary School and the construction of the BenGil Elementary School. The district secured special state legislation allowing it to exceed its normal debt ceiling to deal with the mine subsidence crisis. While that debt does not count toward the district’s debt ceiling, it is included in the financial report.
“Overall, you had a good year financially,” Loy said. With a $1.8 million increase in cash and investment balances “you are on solid footing and keeping up with inflation.”
INSURANCE POLICY
After several minutes of discussion, the board opted to switch from Wright Specialty to the Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust to provide property and liability insurance coverage at a cost of $235,061—about 26 percent less than what the district paid in premiums last year to Wright Specialty.
Richard Sedlak, an insurance broker with Schmale Insurance Agency, Belleville presented two options for the board to consider and discussed some of the advantages of one over the other. Wright Specialty proposed a policy similar to what the district currently has, except that the deductible for wind and hail damage was increased from one percent to two percent.
“A two percent deductible for wind and hail on three buildings could be a lot of money,” Owsley advised the board.
Wright’s proposed premium was $318,852—an increase of about 12 percent over what the district paid to Wright last year.
Wright also fell short on mine subsidence coverage, setting a claim limit of $750,000, compared with ICRMT’s limit of $10 million. The Trust also offered replacement costs on roofs up to 20 years in age. Wright’s coverage for earthquake damage topped out at $15 million, compared with ICRMT’s $10 million limit.
“If your concern is with earthquakes, Wright has the better program,” Seldom said. “If you’re more concerned about mine subsidence, the Trust has a better program.”
Sedlak said ICRMT is a stable company that has been in business more than 30 years. “It’s a non-accessible trust,” he said, meaning that if the company experiences a large loss, it cannot come back and reassess policy holders.
Going with ICRMT, Sedlak said, would give the district up to $30 million in coverage on the high school/middle school.
“This will be the first time you’ll have coverage that equals the value of that building,” he said. By going with the Trust, he said, “You’ll be giving up a little earthquake coverage for a lot more subsidence coverage.”
Later in the meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve ICRMT’s proposal for the coming year. The proposal includes Workers Compensation coverage through Zenith Insurance Co., the district’s current Workers Compensation carrier.
BUS PURCHASE
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Amanda Ross, the board unanimously accepted Supt. Owsley’s recommendation to spend upward of $153,000 for a new bus from Central States Bus Sales to replace an older bus from the district’s fleet of buses. Owsley said he will pay for the vehicle from the Transportation Fund which was projected to end the year with a surplus of about $564,000. Financing the purchase, he said, would unnecessarily cost the district about six percent in interest.
“My goal is to make sure that none of our buses are more than five years old,” he said, “because that’s when depreciation ends.”
The fleet currently consists of 13 buses, seven of which are older than five years.
“We don’t need 13 buses,” Owsley said, reporting that Transportation Director Tim Besserman said he’d be comfortable with 10 buses. The district currently runs seven full bus routes.
Owsley said two buses already have been surplused, and he expects to surplus two more inoperable buses soon. The surplused vehicles are being scrapped, he said, “because scrap prices right now are more than what we can get for trade-in.”
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS WAIVER
Following a mandated public hearing, the board approved a resolution directing the Superintendent to apply to the State Board of Education for a waiver freeing the district from keeping increases in administrative costs at five percent or less. ISBE requires a waiver whenever administrative cost increases exceed five percent. Owsley said those costs for this fiscal year are likely to increase by eight percent.
The resolution applies solely to administrative costs that fall under the Superintendent’s office. Owsley said the increased costs are attributable to mandated increases in staff salaries and increasing costs for supplies.
As part of the process, the district was required to notify the Macoupin County Federation of Teachers Local 528, along with state legislators representing the district.
PERSONNEL
The board accepted the resignation of Jennifer Brown as the high school Student Council sponsor, effective at the end of the current school year, after several years of serving in that position.
“She’s been the Student Council sponsor for a lot of years,” Bernot noted. “She was the sponsor when I was in school.”
The measure to accept her resignation also directs the district to post the position as vacant.
Board members also voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Jake Kellebrew as the district’s Bass Fishing coach and to post the position as vacant.
The resignation of Jeremy Smith as high school head baseball coach was also accepted after 16 successful seasons with the team.
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto introduced new teachers Nick Davio, who teaches music and fifth-grade band, and speech instructor Karen Robertson.
“Students are very excited to be in his classes,” Sandretto said of Davio. “We’re very happy to have him.”
She said the district is “very lucky” have Robertson, whom she described as a “great addition to the elementary staff.”
High School Principal Jill Rosentreter noted newly hired paraprofessionals, Shari Scott and Foli Seferi, along with newly hired custodian Tom Turiglatto. Rosentreter described the paraprofessionals as “self starters.”
GRANTS
Owsley reported the district recently received a $20,000 grant from the Illinois Arts Council to buy equipment for the high school art classroom. He also reported a $15,000 donation from Dr. Ross Billiter, and the receipt of a $50,000 matching grant for facility improvements.
Owsley singled out the administrative staff for praise following the conclusion of Principals Appreciation Week.
“I’d take my team over any other team in the state,” he said. “I can’t thank them enough. They’re here everyday and they care about every student in the district.”
“We have not had a Superintendent who has brought the amount of grant money into our district as you have,” Board President Mark Hayes told Owsley.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board approved moving the regular monthly board meeting for December from Monday, Dec. 22, to Monday, Dec. 15, to preclude conflicting with the holidays and winter break.
