Community News
School board approves Elementary reading series
Angela Turcol makes a reading series recommendation.
The District 7 school board unanimously approved a new elementary reading series during the board’s May meeting for grades kindergarten through fourth grade after discussing Principal Angela Turcol’s recommendation.
The Wonders reading series, which is the same series elementary teachers recommended in February’s meeting, will expand on the school’s “Daily 5” reading structure. Turcol explained the Wonders series was the teacher’s final recommendation after months of meetings with representatives, consultants and Dr. Rice.
“This reading series will improve on what we are already doing,” Turcol told the board. “I’m going forward with the best recommendation I can make. You have to understand a new reading series won’t fix all of our problems, but we are making strides in the right direction and this series will help.”
The elementary school currently builds their own reading series, but board members explained they would feel more comfortable with a reading series that contains textbook materials, lecture materials and supplemental materials teachers can use on their Promethean boards. Fifth grade teachers opted to not implement the series in their grade level citing their happiness for their current series.
Board member Dave Griffel questioned if fifth grade would test the series if the board would choose to cover all elementary grade levels with the new series, but Principal Turcol disapproved saying it’s not the teacher’s recommendation and she feels the new series will be well implemented with fifth grade’s current reading units.
“We aren’t failing our students. Reading is a lot more than numbers on a page,” Turcol closed after board members concentrated on state reading test scores.
District rejects pair of FOIA requests
Superintendent Tieman reported the district rejected a pair of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests since the April meeting. Tieman said the first FOIA request was from SmartProcure dated April 17, 2015 requesting for purchase orders in a certain format, but District 7 did not have the purchase orders in the requested format so the district denied the request based on limited scope.
The second request was from Missouri Public Records dated April 22, 2015, requested for records pertaining to bullying records. Tieman explained the district’s bullying record contains confidential student information and student names, so the request was denied to ensure the privacy of students remains confidential.
Both requests were denied after consulting with consul.
Building and Grounds committee explains district plan
Building and grounds Chairman Dave Griffel reported back to the entire school board after the committee met earlier this month on May 12. Griffel, Peyton Bernot and Bill Carter lead the committee, but Carter was absent from the meeting and Superintendent Joe Tieman and maintenance director Rob Graham were present for the meeting.
Griffel explained the committee discussed many maintenance projects including middle school/high school door security, high school roof, middle school/high school HVAC, middle school playground asphalt and high school parking lot pavement.
The committee agreed to prioritize athletic field improvements with the 1) softball field in the number one position. In order, the softball field needs concrete pads, dugouts, foul poles, backstop extended and bleachers. After softball, 2) the football field follows with installation of irrigation system leading the list. The football field also needs the field dressed, aeration and seeded, as well as dirt added to the playing field and practice field following the 2015 season.
Joe Tieman responds to Kasarda’s statement.
Lastly, 3) the baseball field is last on the list with a smaller project list than the other facilities. The committee explained the baseball fields needed sand/dirt added to the infield, the outfield and infield needs a field dress and the outfield and infields needs tiling.
Personnel
The board recommended to employ Stuart Ringer as middle school/high school business teacher. After unanimously approval, the board hired Ringer as a first year, non-tenure instructor.
The board approved early graduation requests for Erika Mabus, Connor McGrady and Keesha Sherman pending all graduation requirements are met at the end of the first semester in the 2015-2016 school year.
Lastly, the board approved to expel an “identified” middle school student for one year effective May 19. Expulsion will be mandated if the student does not attend safe schools during the year they are expelled from District 7.
Public Recognition
George Kasarda, a district parent, addressed the board with a handful of issues, mainly dealing with the softball athletic program. He said the softball team experienced problems with the transportation department and had issues getting to the games. “I’ve talked to the superintendent about this,” Kasarda said. “The times we can’t get to the games, the less time they get to play ball, the less time they get to excel in their sport and basically receive recognition from a potential scholarship opportunity to continue their education.”
He continued by saying the Department of Education says equipment is not supposed to be loaded on the buses that are transporting athletes to events. “If you pack kids and equipment on the buses, you are actually in violation of the Illinois Department of Education busing restrictions,” Kasarda added. “I don’t want the school getting sued which is my tax money.”
Kasarda ended on the uncompleted softball field. “My concern is the softball field ending in a Title 9 violation,” he closed. “We are playing in a public park where I watched a board from the bleacher actually break underneath a father from another team. There’s a disparity between baseball and softball and I understand we are trying to get this field up and running, but I don’t want tax dollars paying for a lawsuit if someone would push forward with a lawsuit.”
He ended by saying his concerns focus around safety of the kids in the district, education of the kids and the tax dollars that support both the safety and education.
Before moving to the next item on the agenda, Superintendent Tieman responded to Kasarda’s statement and opened by asking head softball coach Michelle Smith if the district has been unable to transport the softball team to any regularly scheduled game in her 11 years of coaching. Smith responded with “no” and then Tieman continued by saying he will never make “fly by the seat of his pants decisions” to transport kids anywhere.
Tieman also said the transportation fund continues to run in the red and transporting kids to sporting events is not his primary focus. “Getting kids to school is my number one concern,” Tieman added. “Transporting kids to sporting events will not be funded from the transportation budget.”
In closing, Tieman reminded Kasarda that the district might have been in Title 9 violation when the softball program had a brand new field in Benld and the baseball field was in the same condition it is in currently. “I’m not sure if we were in Title 9 violation there, but what happens when we finish the softball field behind the elementary school,” he questioned. “There will be disparity between baseball and softball again.”
New Business
Superintendent Tieman reported that Gillespie High School received bronze status from US News and World Report for the fourth consecutive year. Gillespie was one school out of 177 high schools that received bronze status out of 677 eligible schools in Illinois. “This is shared by the entire staff,” Tieman added.
The board unanimously approved the student growth component of the teacher evaluation plan after Tieman explained the component is an added item for administration to evaluate teachers’ performance. The board also approved membership in the Illinois Elementary School Association and approved the meeting report from the building and grounds committee.
Administrator Updates
High school principal Lori Emmons reported that Andrew Copeland was selected as United Community Bank’s student of the month for May and Nichole Miller was awarded student of the year. Emmons also said the graduation ceremony was well attended and both choir and band sounded great in their spring concerts.
Jill Rosentreter, middle school principal, said four middle school track athletes competed at the state level with Chance Reiniesch placing third in pole vault. Rosentreter said middle school finalized Star testing in May and the data will be reading for the June meeting.
Elementary principal Angela Turcol reported the elementary grades finished PARCC testing and each test ended with a student survey. She said the school year wrapped up on May 27 with play day and report card sent home. Lastly, she congratulated Jacob Bilbruck for receiving “Teacher of the Year” recognition from Madison Communications.
May Bills
The school board unanimously approved to pay the May bills:
Building Fund: $24,316.23
Transportation Fund: $2,961.17
Education Fund: $53,083.94
Grand total: $80,631.34
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In a decisive finish that underscored his rising dominance in Illinois Class 1A cross country, senior Chaz Oberkfell of Gillespie High School claimed the state title with a time of 14:31.10 at the IHSA State Cross Country Championships held at Detweiller Park on Saturday, November 8.
Finishing just behind Oberkfell, sophomore Evan Knobloch of Toulon (Stark County) crossed the line in 14:46.25, placing second. Rounding out the top five were senior Blake McLeese of Tuscola (14:46.45), senior Luca Bryja of Elgin (Harvest Christian Academy) with 14:48.38, and senior Elijah Teefey of Pleasant Plains at 14:49.02.
This victory marks Oberkfell’s second IHSA Class 1A state championship. He also won the state crown as a junior in 2024 with a time of 14:31.87. In his sophomore year, he finished 21st with a 15:21.43 season-best time.
Looking ahead, Oberkfell is set to compete in the New Balance NXR Midwest Regional Championships on Sunday, November 16, at the LaVerne Gibson Course in Indiana. The meet serves as a critical stepping stone toward the national championships, and Oberkfell will look to carry his state momentum into the regional stage.
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The community is invited to participate in a family-friendly, drive-thru charity event aimed at keeping local students warm this winter. The “Warm Up Our Kids” drive-thru takes place on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Karmak Campus, located at 1 Karmak Plaza, Carlinville, IL and is sponsored by Karmak and Carlinville Area Hospital and Clinics.
Additional drop-off boxes will be available at the following locations to maximize participation and convenience:
- Sullivans in Carlinville, Gillespie, and Litchfield
- Pharmacy Plus in Girard
- Sav-Mor Pharmacy in Virden
- CAH&C Clinic sites in Gillespie, Girard, Carlinville, and Virden
- Briar Rose in Litchfield
- Brave Hazel in Carlinville
- Oh-So Cute Boutique in Virden
Drive through the event route and drop off much-needed supplies listed below. All donations will directly benefit students in the participating school districts, helping ensure every child has the warmth and essentials they need to face the winter season. Community support help bridge gaps and bring tangible, immediate relief to families in need.
Join us in spreading warmth and goodwill this December. The Ben Gil Post and community partners look forward to seeing you at the Karmak Campus drive-thru.
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A Macoupin County jury found Jeffrey D. Brown, 50, of Sawyerville guilty of aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with the shooting death of Rodney Messerly, 42, also of Sawyerville, authorities said.
The verdict was delivered a little before 6 p.m. on November 4, 2025, after a days-long trial led by Macoupin County State’s Attorney Jordan J. Garrison. Brown now faces a mandatory prison sentence ranging from six to 30 years with the sentence to be served at 85 percent. The sentencing will take place on January 12, 2025.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, the incident unfolded on September 17, 2024, when Brown called 911 claiming Messerly had entered his home. Responding deputies found Messerly deceased on the front stoop outside the residence. Brown testified that Messerly had forced his way into the home, and he fired in self-defense inside the residence.
Surveillance video played to the jury depicted portions of the confrontation: Messerly speaking with Brown at the door outside the residence before Messerly pushes inside—off-camera for a stretch—followed by four gunshots fired from within the home. Messerly is seen falling back onto the front steps.
A video interview of Brown with Lt. Ryan Dixon of the Macoupin County Sheriff’s Department revealed Brown stated he took three steps back inside the residence before firing the initial shots. Forensic pathologist Dr. Nathanial Patterson testified that the first four shots would have been fatal. Approximately seven seconds pass before Brown fires a final shot from inside the residence, striking Messerly in the chest as he yells an expletive.
Garrison offered condolences to Messerly’s family, calling the incident a “horrible situation” and noting that the healing process is just beginning for those affected. He described Messerly as having been experiencing delusions at the time of the incident and emphasized that the last shot was not in self-defense, characterizing it as an act of vengeance.
Brown faces additional charges in unrelated matters: Armed Violence (Class X felony) and Production of Cannabis Plants (Class 4) in 2024CF228, and Resisting Arrest Causing Injury to an Officer in 2024CF252.
Public sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2025. Prosecutors cautioned readers that charges are not proof of guilt and that Brown is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law.
