Community News
School Board creates positions for two new social workers
Kalli Erwin updates the school board on the mentoring program aimed at freshman students.
With little public discussion, members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education voted unanimously Monday night to post vacancies for two new social worker positions to be hired for the 2018-19 school year. The action, along with other personnel decisions, followed an unusually long 90-minute executive session.
After the meeting, Supt. Joe Tieman told the BenGil Post that the board created the two new positions in response to recommendations from all three building principals. A single social worker position was eliminated about four years ago, he said, as a cost-cutting measure. Last month, Gillespie Middle School/High School Counselor Kalli Erwin told the board that although she was trained to in college and solution-based counseling, she was spending more and more of her time dealing with social and emotional issues affecting students’ academic performance. Responding to a question from Tieman, Erwin told the board her job would be “significantly” improved if the district hired a trained social worker.
Tieman told the BenGil Post Monday night that social and emotional counseling duties have fallen in recent years to building principals and the counselors office. Some students requiring social worker services were referred to Kevin McNicholas, a social worker employed by the state-funded Screening Assessment and Support Services (SASS) agency, who also provides services to students in three other area school districts.
In other personnel action, the board:
- Posted a vacant position for a high school science teacher for the coming school year.
- Posted a vacant position for a high school custodian for the coming school year.
- Accepted the resignation of Kenna West as Gillespie High School cheerleading coach and posted the position as vacant for the 2018-19 school year.
- Voted with one dissension to appoint Casey Fellin as a volunteer high school girls soccer coach for next year pending certification and completion of a background check. Board members Mark Hayes, Don Dobrino, Weye Schmidt and Bill Carter voted in favor of the appointment. Dennis Tiburzi voted “no.” Peyton Bernot and Jenni Alepra were absent.
- Voted to appoint Kelcie Reinhardt as a volunteer middle school girls softball coach for the coming year, pending certification and a background check.
- Voted to appoint Jim Matesa as a volunteer assistant middle school girls softball coach, pending certification and a background check.
- Voted to hire John Weimers as a substitute bus driver, pending certification and completion of a background check.
A measure to hire an assistant high school volleyball coach was tabled, as was an agenda item to approve principal contracts and salaries for the 2018-19 school year. Supt. Tieman said the contracts and salaries issue for building principals was tabled only because two board members were absent. “We had two board members who weren’t here, so it wasn’t even considered (in executive session),” Tieman said.
Also during the board’s regular February meeting, board members approved an agreement with Graphic Edge, Jacksonville, to participate in an agreement to purchase Under Armour athletic gear in exchange for “promotional dollars” that will allow the district to offer athletic uniforms at a discount and/or expand the district’s uniform program to programs such as the school band or academic team. The board also voted to advertise for bids to resurface the all-weather track at the high school athletic complex, accepted a bid to supply fuel for the year and discussed the possible purchase of two new school buses to be voted on at the board’s March meeting.
MENTORING PROGRAM
Board member Schmidt and Supt. Tieman urged High School/Middle School Counselor Erwin and high school teacher Ashlee Gibbs to continue with a fledgling mentoring program aimed at freshman students even though preliminary statistics indicate the program may not be achieving its goals.
“I think you need to do it for more than one year to see if it does make a difference,” Schmidt said after hearing a report from Erwin. “I think you need to stick it out and not throw something away on the basis of one class.”
“What I would say is: ‘What would these numbers be without mentoring’?” Tieman said, suggesting that one semester may not be enough time to make a judgment about the program’s effectiveness. “Some of these kids maybe don’t have much support at home and for at least that 30 minutes every week, someone is paying attention to them. Someone paying attention may not translate into better grades or attendance, but I would say it has an impact on their life.”
Erwin told the board she and Gibbs began talking last year about the “need for some kind of support system for high school freshmen.” Eventually they took the idea to Middle School Principal Jill Rosentreter who green-lighted a pilot mentoring program for this year.
“Ashlee (Gibbs) had a number of students she thought would make good mentors,” Erwin said. Those 25 students, mostly sophomores and a few juniors, were paired with 25 incoming freshmen, many of whom had been identified as having problems with grades, attendance, discipline or other issues. Not all of the “mentees” are problem students, Erwin pointed out. Some were enrolled “as more of a safety net to ensure they continue to find success in school.”
Mentees meet with mentors for 30 minutes once a week just before the end of the school day on Friday. During the meetings, mentors work with mentees on such things as developing good study habits to successfully transition from middle school to high school.
“It’s a pretty diverse group of students,” Erwin said. “When you’re running something like this, you want to make sure you have a variety of types of students—grade-wise, discipline-wise, male and female.”
After a semester of the program, Erwin said the program has not been statistically as successful as she and Gibbs had hoped. The objectives of the program include boosting attendance, reducing the number of failing grades and reducing the number of freshmen students held back to repeat their freshmen year. Compared with last year’s freshman class, the number of excused and unexcused absences for the first semester actually increased from 216 to 223. Among the mentees, the number of F’s on student transcripts fell from 44 last year to 28 this year, but the number of students failing one or more class increased from eight last year to 14 this year. For the entire freshman class, including mentees, the number of failing grades increased from 32 to 40 at the end of the first semester last year, and the number of students with failing grades increased from 18 to 22.
“What I’m finding is that we’re not increasing attendance, we’re not decreasing F’s.” Erwin said, “It’s not what we were expecting.”
[pullquote]While the program’s overall numbers have been disappointing so far, Erwin said there have been some successes individually. [/pullquote]
While the program’s overall numbers have been disappointing so far, Erwin said there have been some successes individually. One student who had 48 absences last year has reduced his number to 8.5 for the first semester this year. Another student with 18 absences for the year last year has had only four absences this year.
“While our overall numbers aren’t showing growth, there are individual students who are stepping up their game regarding attendance,” she said.
She said she and Rosentreter have been working with the county’s truant officer, but while the officer is doing what he can there is little he can do to enforce attendance laws if parents refuse to comply.
The problem of chronic absenteeism on the part of some mentees poses another problem for the program. Students chosen to serve as mentors typically are highly motivated, successful students to whom school attendance and good grades are unimportant.
“Is it fair to our mentors to have a mentee that doesn’t show up?” she asked. “We decided to do it anyway to see if it made a difference and obviously, it isn’t.”
In an effort to improve the program and its results, Erwin said she and Gibbs surveyed both mentors and mentees at the end of the first semester. An overwhelming majority said the mentoring program was serving its purpose “of supporting freshmen in finding success in school.” The students being mentored, however, also told Erwin and Gibbs they would like to see the program include more of a tutoring component to help them improve grades.
“They actually wanted to use their time with mentors for tutoring,” Erwin said. “I did not realize that before they told us. That’s why we are trying to include more tutoring—not just tutoring but some.”
Erwin and Gibbs also agreed that “the last 30 minutes on Friday before the weekend probably isn’t the best time” for the mentoring program. Next year, they hope to fit the program into a different time slot. They also plan to improve the program by adding guest speakers to talk to students about career options, enabling counselors and teachers to then work with students on selecting classes to help them prepare for their preferred career.
Students chosen to participate as mentors are highly motivated, successful students who sometimes become frustrated with students who are not as motivated as themselves or exhibit behavior problems such as low attendance.
“We see mentors getting a little frustrated because they are intrinsically motivated and it’s hard for them to wrap their heads around kids that just don’t care,” Erwin said. While the program administrators do what they can to mitigate against “mentor burnout,” Erwin said the mentors take the program “super-serious” and that she sees “some really beautiful relationships forming” between mentors and mentees.
UNDER ARMOUR AGREEMENT
On the recommendation of High School Principal Shane Owsley, the board approved an “all-school” agreement with Under Armour Sportswear via The Graphic Edge, Jacksonville, to purchase Under Armour athletic uniforms and gear at a discount and in exchange for “promotional dollars” that the school can use to purchase additional gear. Owsley said he has been involved in similar agreements at other schools and recommended the program as a way to realize cost savings on athletic uniforms.
Two other vendors submitted program proposals—First to the Finish and BSN Sports Rewards Program.
Under terms of the five-year agreement, all varsity teams would be in Under Armour uniforms by the end of the third year. Under Armour apparel for athletic teams will be offered at up to a 40 percent discount. In exchange for entering into the agreement, The Graphic Edge will provide $20,000 in promotional credits per year in four installments, which can be used by the school district to purchase additional Under Armour apparel.
Owsley said the promotional credits could enable the school to buy uniforms for activities such as the academic team, which normally does not have a team uniform.
“We’re trying to essentially ‘brand’ our school” by providing uniforms that are consistent across all sports and activities. “That’s hard to do, particularly in areas with high poverty rates. These kinds of programs ensure that the student in scholar bowl will be treated the same as the star athlete.”
Responding to a question from a board member, Owsley said putting athletes participating in parent-sponsored sports “might be a good place to spend some of those promotional dollars.”
The agreement applies to uniform components that can be seen—shirts, pants or trunks and socks. Undergarments and shoes can be provided by a manufacturer other than Under Armour. Moreover, while The Graphic Edge prefers the school to buy Under Armour garments from them, the agreement is not exclusive. The school could buy some items from other vendors but would not get the discounted pricing the agreement offers.
Supt. Tieman said the school’s running sports athletic programs have enjoyed a long association with First to the Finish, owned by Gillespie High School graduate Mike Viano. “We made it clear to The Graphic Edge that we would not sign a contract if we could not honor our commitments with First to the Finish,” Tieman said.
The board voted unanimously to enter into the agreement with The Graphic Edge on a motion by Carter, seconded by Schmidt.
ALL-WEATHER TRACK SPECIFICATIONS
On a motion by Carter, seconded by Tiburzi, the board voted unanimously to seek bids for resurfacing the district’s all-weather track.
Tieman said the track is due for resurfacing, and the estimated cost is expected to run from $55,000 to $65,000. The All-Weather Track Committee is committed to paying for half the cost up to a maximum of $35,000, he said.
Delaying the project, Tieman said, could result in the board spending more money later to bring the track up to standards.
“I’d rather be pro-active,” he said. “It can be more expensive if you put it off, especially in lanes one and two.”
MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM DOORS
Tieman reported to the board that as a result of an “active shooter” drill held two days after the deadly school shooting in Florida, it was discovered that classroom doors in the Gillespie Middle School may not be adequate from a security standpoint.
“We need to look at the middle school classroom doors,” he said, adding that he plans to solicit pricing for replacing the doors to present at a board meeting in March or April. “I want to replace those doors in the summer if at all possible,” he said.
BUS PURCHASES
Tieman told the board he plans to bring proposals to the board next month for purchasing a bus equipped with wheelchair access and one or two regular route buses.
“This is something the we need to do every five years to maintain the fleet,” he said. The last buses purchased five years ago were financed with a five-year loan that has been retired. “I hope to come forward in March with a recommendation to buy a wheelchair bus and at least one regular route bus.”
FUEL BIDS
The board accepted a bid from M & M Service Co., Carlinville, to furnish gasoline and bio-diesel fuel to meet the district’s needs through June 30, 2019. Submitted in response to a bid request from a consortium of area schools, including Gillespie, Bunker Hill, Staunton and Mount Olive, M & M agreed to supply gasoline for 34.1 cents in excess of the bulk rate per gallon, and 35.6 cents in excess of the bulk rate per gallon for bio-diesel.
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE LAB
Supt. Tieman reported to the board that High School Principal Rosentreter and science teachers have met several times regarding recommendations for furniture and equipment for a proposed new Middle School science lab classroom space. Those recommendations have been given to architect Tom Hyde to begin working on design and specifications prior to advertising for construction bids.
BENGIL GYM FLOOR
Tieman also reported that repairs to the water-damaged floor at the Ben-Gil Elementary School have been completed.
“It’s a beautiful new floor,” he said, “but when the floor moves a little bit there is some glue that shows up between the boards.” He said he is asking the company to come back and repair the problem. In the meantime, he is withholding a percentage of the contract.
He said he has no doubts about the company correcting the issue.
“They’ve been a good company to work with,” he said.
SENIORITY LIST
The board approved a seniority list for certificated and non-certificated personnel. Board President Hayes said action on the lists was tabled from last month’s meeting to give affected staff members time to review the document
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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.
