Community News
School board amends budget, names new architect of record
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to amend the 2022-23 budget, adjusting the budget for the Transportation Fund upward from $707,798 to $867,309 to account for additional expenses incurred as a result of leasing three new buses for the next five years.
The original budget was adopted in September last year, three months after the board voted to lease the new buses, but Superintendent Shane Owsley said he failed to include the lease and associated costs in the budget proposal he presented to the board. As a result, the district overspent the Transportation budget, which covers the fiscal year ending June 30.
“If you overspend, even by a penny, you have to amend the budget,” Owsley said during a mandated budget hearing prior to the board meeting.
The cost associated with the bus leases accounts for the lion’s share of the adjustment. The board approved adding $82,852 in principal costs and $159 for interest. Both items were omitted from the original budget. Other Transportation components also were increased, however, due in part to the acquisition of the new buses as well as market changes. The budget for gasoline and diesel, for example, was boosted from $65,000 to $90,000.
Bus aide salaries were upped from $10,000 to $30,000, and aide benefits increased from $23,744 to $34,244. A contractual services line item was doubled from $2,500 to $5,000 to pay for using a computer program that assists with mapping the most efficient bus routes. The budget for Travel increased from $1,500 to $2,500, and the Supplies budget increased from $40,000 to $57,500.
With the end of the fiscal year only a week away, the administration has a much clearer idea of what the district will actually spend. Still, Owsley emphasized the budget is a “plan” for the year and it is nearly impossible to draft a perfect budget because of uncertainties surrounding state aid payments. The district has $639,061 in state dollars that have been allocated but not yet processed by the State Comptroller. If those payments are delayed until after June 30, they will be counted as revenue for the next fiscal year’s budget.
The amended budget was approved later in the meeting on a motion by Weye Schmidt, seconded by Dennis Tiburzi. A new budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, is expected to be adopted this fall.
Owsley also presented data on the percentage of budgeted amounts spent from each of the district’s major funds at the end of the fiscal year.
“With the additional funds, it looks like we will end up exactly where we thought we would,” Owsley said.
Interestingly, expenditures from the Building Fund will end the year at less than 40 percent of the $2.4 million originally budgeted. At the time the original budget was approved, Owsley said, the administration believed the high school air conditioning project would be completed during the current fiscal year. Since the project won’t see completion until July, the expenditure will roll over to the 2023-24 budget.
ARCHITECT OF RECORD
Board members voted unanimously to accept Supt. Shane Owsley’s recommendation to name Architechnics, Quincy, as the architect of record for CUSD 7. The 100-year-old firm replaces Graham & Hyde Architects, Springfield, which had been the district’s architect for more than a decade, shepherding the construction of the Ben-Gil Elementary School, a new Middle School science lab, and other projects.
Architechnics has extensive experience is designing and building public education facilities, including at least three recently completed elementary schools, a football stadium for Quincy College and other structures. Owsley said four companies responded to the district’s Request for Qualifications for a new architect. In addition to Architechnics, firms from Chicago, Springfield and Collinsville submitted proposals.
Owsley said the Chicago firm was not only the most remotely located firm, but also the most expensive. Architectnics was slightly more expensive than closer firms in Collinsville and Springfield, but Owsley said he recommended Architechnics because the firm has engineers on staff.
“All the others have to outsource all the engineering,” he said.
Schmidt questioned the practicality of engaging a firm as far away as Architechnics. Board members also questioned the logistics of continuing to use Omnia Partners for some projects, such as replacing the high school air conditioning system. Omnia Partners is a nationwide consortium for buying goods at a discounted price. The district is purchasing the air conditioning system with installation at a flat price that was determined before the project began. Owsley said the contractor already has had to “eat” $50,000 to $75,000 in cost overruns resulting from construction issues that were unforeseen before the project began. If the district had gone through an architect for the project, the contractor would have been able to submit change order requests to increase the amount of the contract.
Since the architect of record will be retained on a project-by-project basis, Owsley said the district can continue to use the Omnia process for projects where it is appropriate, while engaging Architechnics. Additionally, Owsley said the board can decide to change the Architect of Record at any time if board members become dissatisfied with the firm.
“I guess we can try them and see how they do,” Schmidt commented.
“I think we should go with what Shane (Owsley) and Brian (Paige) recommend,” said Board President Mark Hayes. “We’re only here for a limited amount of time and they work with the architect all the time.”
PERSONNEL
Following a 70-minute executive session, the board voted unanimously to hire Jaiden Braundmeier as a district special education teacher for the 2023-24 academic year, and rehired coaches for spring sports as follows:
- Middle school boys track: Chase Peterson.
- Middle school girls track: Jacob West.
- High school girls softball: Michelle Smith, head coach; Jim Matesa, assistant coach; and Joe Kelly, volunteer assistant coach.
- High school boys baseball: Jeremy Smith, head coach; Tim Wargo, assistant coach; and Adam Tallman, Dan Smith, and Tate Wargo, volunteer assistant coaches.
- High school boys track: Mike Bertagnolli, head coach; Donnie Allen, assistant coach; and Jay Weber, volunteer assistant coach.
- High school girls track: Alex Ottersburg, assistant coach; and Jack Burns, assistant volunteer assistant coach. (Head coach position is vacant.)
- High school girls soccer: Robin Niemeyer, head coach; Paige Niemeyer, assistant coach; and Casey Fellin, volunteer assistant coach.
- Bass Fishing: Jake Kellebrew, head coach; and JQ Halteman, Ryan Bussmann, Larry Schweppe, Dennis Kellebrew, Glen Kellebrew, Mark Enslow and Nick Schoen, volunteer assistant coaches.
- High school yearbook sponsor: Mary Schuette.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Eric Bogle as high school business teacher and freshman mens basketball coach, and to post the coaching position as vacant.
With one dissenting vote, the board voted to hire Thomas Richards as a district custodian, pending a routine background check. Tiburzi cast the single “no” vote.
Jennifer Brown was unanimously appointed as the high school prom sponsor for next year.
Board members also voted unanimously to post vacancies for two one-on-one personal aide positions, and a special education bus driver.
Though no action was taken in open session, the board reportedly also discussed setting prices for the sale of several district-owned properties on the south side of Gillespie. At a later date, the board is expected to determine which, if any, of the properties it wants to declare as surplus and offer for sale.
CURRICULUM
After a substantial discussion, the board voted unanimously to purchase the Into Math curriculum for Gillespie Middle School at a cost of $22,657. The purchase price covers the cost of textbooks and materials, teaching materials and online access to the program for five years. The cost is being covered with federal emergency COVID relief funds.
Owsley said adopting the curriculum is a step toward ensuring elementary, middle school and high school math students have complementary curricula. The Into Math curriculum was piloted last year in the elementary school. BenGil Elementary teacher Jennifer Parker, who attended the meeting as a union representative, said elementary teachers had some fairly minor concerns about the program. The state’s standardized achievement test, for example, asked students to convert measures to metric before the Into Math curriculum covered that topic. Additionally, Parker said some teachers reported occasional problems with accessing online resources.
Student math scores at the elementary level have not improved significantly in the last year, according to Parker. That may be due, however to the amount of time devoted to the subject. Elementary students currently get 50 hours of instruction in math, compared with 90 hours for English and language arts.
Owsley said it is not unusual for teachers to express concerns about a new curriculum before they’ve had a chance to acclimate to the material. The gaps between the materials and the standardized test also are not unusual, he said.
“No matter what curriculum we have, it is not going to fill all the gaps,” Owsley noted. “You’re going to have to use supplemental materials” to bridge the gap between the curriculum and the state’s standardized test.
In another curriculum matter, the board approved a $24,200 contract with One Room to provide a remote Spanish language class to two sections for two grade levels for the 2023-24 school years. The contract can be canceled after one semester if the district is successful in hiring a Spanish teacher.
Owsley said the district had only one applicant for the teaching position, but the candidate opted to take another job closer to the person’s home.
One Room provides instruction via a streaming service. A faculty member supervises the classes on-site, while actual instruction is provided from a remote location.
E-LEARNING DAYS
Without taking formal action, the board concurred with Owsley’s plan to back away from using “e-learning days” in lieu of emergency days in the coming year.
“Every three years, if you’re going to use e-learning days, you have to have a public hearing and you have to get approval from the Regional Office of Education,” Owsley explained, offering his recommendation to return to using snow days for emergency school closures.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the district has used federal emergency funds to underwrite “e-learning in lieu of emergency days.” That funding, Owsley noted, is drying up, meaning the district will not be able to underwrite internet hot spots and other services to ensure all students have access to e-learning opportunities. Moreover, even if the district were to continue to use e-learning days, it would be limited to no more than five per academic year.
Schmidt pointed to a year when severe weather forced the school to be closed for more than five days. Those days in excess of five were declared “Act of God” days by the state and were never made up. He advocated building more emergency days into the calendar to allow for extreme weather.
Hearing no objection from the board, Owsley indicated he would work toward abandoning e-learning days and would investigate adding days to the calendar for extreme weather. In past years, if the number of snow days used exceeded five, those additional days were recouped by shortening the length of the annual spring break.
Owsley briefly reported that a project to replace the air conditioning system at the high school is proceeding and currently is ahead of schedule. The project originally was set for completion a few days before the start of the 2023-24 school year, but now is expected to be done by the end of July.
The Superintendent also reported the district recently received a Teacher Vacancy grant from the Illinois State Board of Education in the amount of $100,746. He said he will research further to determine how the money can be spent.
Owsley told the board a committee has selected recipients to be honored with the first Sports Hall of Fame awards. Recipients will participate in the Homecoming parade, be special guests at the Homecoming game, and be honored during a special reception. The nominees are: Keith Parker, Class of 1940; Sam Anderson, Class of 1952; Jim Hlafka, Class of 1952; Gordon Hartweger, Class of 1957; Jerry Grandone, Class of 1960; The 1964 Football Team; Bob Boston, Class of 1966; Rick Bertagnolli, Class of 1978; and Lisa (Ribes) Roberts, Class of 1996.
HEALTH INSURANCE
The board voted unanimously to renew a health insurance policy for employees with Blue Cross-Blue Shield despite a 4.86 percent increase in premium. Under the union contract, the district pays $605 per month for each employee, plus half of the remaining cost. With that formula, the district’s monthly cost per employee will increase from $658 to $673. Employees’ base cost will increase by $15 per month to $68.50.
Typically, Owsley told the board, the district receives only one bid when it seeks bids for health insurance. This year, however, Signa Insurance provided a bid with a slightly lower premium. Owsley said, however, that there were concerns that Signa could raise rates dramatically at the end of the contract year after offering a low bid initially.
Board member Kellie Vesper asked why the district opted for Blue Cross-Blue Shield when neither Springfield Clinic or Simon Cancer Clinic are among the company’s preferred providers.
“How many teachers are going to have to switch doctors?” she asked.
Other board members pointed out that Blue Cross-Blue Shield ended its relationship with Springfield Clinic last year, so teachers and staff have already changed doctors if needed.
TEACHER HANDBOOK
The board also was unanimous in approving a Teachers Handbook, despite questions from Schmidt about the enforcement of policies the book outlines. As a relatively new document, the handbook describes policies for cell phone use that are similar to those imposed on students. It also contains detailed protocols for signing out if a teacher has to leave before the end of the work day.
“What if they don’t do that?” Schmidt wanted to know. “Is this just something that’s written down or is it enforced?”
Owsley said the administration wanted board approval “to make sure the board supports” the policies whenever action is taken to enforce them.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Jerseyville Community Unit School District 100 for Jerseyville to bus a CUSD 7 student to the Illinois School for the Deaf in Jacksonville.
- Awarded a contract to provide milk for the district’s food programs to Prairie Farms Dairy, Carlinville, and awarded contracts to provide food and bread to Kohl’s Wholesale, Quincy.
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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.
