Community News
School board denies two Union grievance hearings
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Board decides not to extend this year’s school calendar
Gillespie High School’s FFA was recognized as February’s District Focus.
GILLESPIE – After a lengthy executive session on Monday, February 24, the school board denied both grievance hearings brought before the school board by the union.
The first grievance pertained to hiring practices and was denied 6-1 with objection from Weye Schmidt. Board member Peyton Bernot prefaced his vote by saying, “In relationship to the information we have received, there is no merit to the grievance filed based on this contract.”
The second grievance pertaining to working practices was also denied by a 7-0 vote. Superintendent Tieman said he would send the union and the grievant a letter for both grievances. Board member Dave Griffel encouraged Superintendent Tieman and the union president to keep all discussions on the table to ensure there is a healthy relationship.
Certified personnel union president, Michelle Smith, said the union would not go into arbitration after hearing both denials on Monday. “It ends there until the next contract negotiation,” Smith said.
Board decides not to extend School Calendar
Board president Mark Hayes said the board directed Superintendent Joe Tieman to question nearby school districts and come back to the board with the feasibility status of extending the 2013-2014 school calendar due to the number of emergency days used. “We have already used our 5 emergency days and used 5 additional days,” Board president Mark Hayes said. “And, it’s only February. We are very concerned about our children’s education.”
Tieman checked into the matter and advised the board they could legally have school on 3 school holidays or add school days to the end of the regular calendar. To do either of those options, Tieman said the board would have to consult with the union to negotiate their contract and they would also have to have a public hearing.
More importantly, negotiating the union contract could bring up other issues as well since it would be a negotiation period for the district and the union.
Tieman said he checked with nine nearby districts and seven of the districts don’t plan to change their calendar. Of the nine districts, the two who plan to change the calendar are Northwestern and North Mac. Both of those districts plan to make up one day at the end of their calendar.
Given the facts, Tieman said it was the board’s discretion whether to extend the calendar or not, but he advised to leave this year’s calendar and change the emergency days built into the calendar for the future. “I advise having 10 emergency days in the calendar rather than the required 5 days which we have now,” Tieman stated. The board agreed with Tieman, saying the 10 days will definitely be added into the calendar for FSY 2014-2015.
At the end of the discussion, Tieman issued a disclaimer. “Just because we decided not to extend the calendar this month, we may have to revisit this issue in March or April if we miss more school days,” Tieman added. “We will hope the union works with us if that happens.”
The board ultimately agreed and was satisfied with the decision, but said they would revisit the issue if more school days are missed in the future.
Personnel Action
The board extended administrator contracts for Ben-Gil Elementary Principal Angela Turcol and Secondary School Administrator Lori Emmons for 1 year until the school year of 2016-2017 with an appropriate raise according to the salary schedule. In addition, the board rehired Assistant Secondary School Administrator Jill Rosentreter for the 2014-2015 school year.
Under non-certificated matters, the board appointed Tara Allen as volunteer girls’ soccer coach and appointed Austin Semplowski as volunteer track coach. The board accepted the resignation of Darrin Peterson as assistant high school baseball coach and posted the position as vacant. The board also posted for a paraprofessional position.
The board went on to hire Bennie Maddox as a full route bus driver and hired Tania Brooks and Jessica Trader as substitute bus drivers.
Gillespie & Staunton districts to share transportation
Superintendent Tieman informed the board that Gary Niehaus, the transportation director for CUSD #7, and the transportation director for Staunton CUSD #6 has agreed to share transportation for FFA events and scholar bowl events. “Essentially, we pick up Staunton if the event is south and Staunton will pick up us if the event is north,” Tieman explained.
Superintendent Joe Tieman explains the repercussions entailed with changing the district calendar.
He went on to add that the agreement is legal pertaining to insurance terms. “It is just a small example of how districts are trying to save money as transportation funds are decreased,” he closed. Tieman went on to add transportation sharing will be more popular when districts try to align their event schedules with each other.
Update on Current Capital Projects
BenGil Elementary School – Previously, the board approved a $69,663 sound system for the elementary gym, but directed the gym to be inspected by an acoustic engineer before the installation took place. Tieman reported back to the board with the findings from the engineer. “The system is fantastic for athletic events, but if you want a system for musicals and theatres – we recommend an add-on,” Tieman read from the St. Louis company. The add-on is $28,000 and the board approved the add-on after investing in the stage, curtains, and sound system already.
High School – Maintenance director Rob Graham reported the technology and art studio, which was previously damaged by the tornado last May, was damaged again last Thursday with the high winds. The wind damaged a 30-foot section of the wall and has already been cleaned up. Tieman said he has already taken the issue to the insurance company and is hoping to claim it in the current insurance claim.
Sports Complex Concession Stand – Crews are finishing up the concession stand on the north side of the Schmidt Sports Complex after the concession stand was completely destroyed by the May tornado. Graham said most of the work is taking place inside the building currently. “Crews are puling electrical wire, plumbers are finishing their work, and we are waiting on cabinets and the rolling doors,” Graham explained. He also added the exterior is nearly complete and everything should be done by the track season.
Baseball Field – After the outfield centerfield fence was blown to the ground by the May tornado, crews will begin digging the holes for the new fence this week. A crew will also be installing a new scoreboard at the baseball field after the tornado damaged the current one. The last addition to the baseball field will be a new batting cage after the previous cage was damaged. According to Tieman, the new cage has been ordered.
Storage Building Roof – Rob Graham also reported the storage building, which rests west of the staff parking lot and on the north side of Broadway Street, will be receiving a new roof in the upcoming weeks. Tieman said the district stores many things inside the building and the damage to the roof sustained by the tornado has caused many leaks.
District Focus: Future Farmers of America
In part of the district’s monthly focus, Superintendent Tieman chose FFA to be the spotlight for February. Tieman said he chose FFA because he enjoys telling other administrators about the group over the course of his 12-year tenure with CUSD #7. “We aren’t a big high school, but I believe our FFA is the best in the state,” Tieman said. “This program is as good as it is because of Mr. Spencer.”
Mr. Spencer, director of FFA, says he is very proud of the organization and enjoys having many girls involved in the group. “The girls really keep the boys in line and majority of my officers are girls this year,” Spencer added.
Shelby Heyen is the chapter president this year for FFA and explained the members take a lot of pride in what they do. Heyen showed the school board the awards FFA has won this year – first place in the quiz bowl, fire place in horticulture and state ribbon, first place in dairy foods, and Abigail Harszy’s first place state plaque in 2012 in environmental sciences and national resource management.
Board member Dave Griffel said he had his two sons go through FFA with Mr. Spencer and said the group is one of the signature programs at GHS. “My kids exceled in many areas because of what FFA taught them,” Griffel closed.
Administrator Updates
Elementary principal Angela Turcol advised the school board both the middle school and elementary school would be ISAT testing next week, March 4 through 7. The testing will have an Olympic theme encouraging the students to “Go for the Gold”. Turcol also reported Kindergarten preview will be on April 2 from 4 to 6:00 p.m. with Kindergarten registration taking place on April 8 and 9.
Lori Emmons, secondary school administrator, congratulated the eighth graders who earned 7th place in the annual Olympiad. Emmons also congratulated Austin Lytle for being named to the Scholar Bowl South Central Conference All Tournament Team.
Finally, Emmons announced the inductees for National Honor Society this year – Kelly Clark, Samantha Elizondo, Jacob Kirkwood, Nichole Miller, Mirena Pebley, and Jordan Rosentreter.
LCCC Early Start Program
Tieman updated the board on the number of students enrolled in college credit classes through Lewis and Clark. He said there are currently 11 students taking full college credit classes in the evenings and he hopes to see that number rise as word continues to get out about the program.
District 7 receives Energy Efficient Grant
The district has received a $136,500 matching energy efficient grant. The board plans to replace 13 HVAC units in the summer of 2014. The new units will be for the high school, middle school, and potentially the vocational building. After the new units, Tieman said the entire campus will have updated systems.
New Business
The board approved the life-safety amendment and FSY 14 round 2 of the maintenance grant application, which is a $50,000 matching grant. The tentative plan is to use the matching grant from the State of Illinois to restore the site where the modular buildings used to be.
The board also voted to keep the executive session minutes from September 2011 to March 2012 closed and voted to destroy the executive session tapes from September 2011 through July 2012.
Lastly, the board approved the Sangamon Area Purchasing Cooperative (SAPCO) agreement for FSY 2015.
February Bills:
Transportation Fund: $13,107.44
Education Fund: $45,600.82
Building Fund: $28,469.96
Site & Construction: $3,842.50
Grand Total: $91,020.72
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Gillespie will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, May 11 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.
To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 7101336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 to schedule.
Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available
through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate.
For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 7475401. Donors who last gave blood on or before March 16, 2026, are eligible to give at this drive.
Blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure may be accepted as eligible donors.
ImpactLife is a nonprofit community organization providing blood products and services to more than 100 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as researchers and resource sharing partners across the country.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Wednesday night approved a package of four capital improvement projects totaling more than $160,000 in value. Work will start on the projects after the end of the current school year and is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026-27 academic year in August.
The board met on Wednesday night after Monday’s inclement weather forced the district to reschedule the board’s regular monthly meeting.
The board approved entering into a contract with Fisher Tracks, Boone, Iowa, to resurface the district’s all-weather track at a cost of $105,209. Supt. Shane Owsley told the board the district will use about $50,000 from an all-weather track activity fund, with the remainder to be paid with proceeds from an alternate revenue bond issue approved last year for capital improvements.
Great Western Abatement, Jerseyville, was retained to remove flooring containing asbestos from the choir room floor and middle school gymnasium school at a cost of $40,700. Great Western’s bid was the lowest of seven bids, ranging up to $65,000, submitted for the work. Additionally, the district is paying $8,900 to Reliable Environmental Services, Springfield, for engineering and design work associated with the asbestos removal.
All-purpose rubberized flooring material will be installed on the middle school gym floor by Dynamic Sports Construction, Leander, Texas, at a cost of $51,424.
For the first time in a number of years, the high school gymnasium floor will be sanded and refinished with new artwork. Blast Technologies, St. Louis, was hired to sand the 4,200-square-foot floor at a cost of $5,250. Designs Unlimited, Pinckneyville, will paint game lines and logos on the floor before sealing it with a clear stain at a cost not to exceed $18,738.
The board also accepted a bid of $33,890 from DeLaurent Construction, Wilsonville, to resurface the 118,700-square-foot parking lot at Benld Elementary School.
Though no action was taken, Board President Mark Hayes reported that the Building and Grounds Committee had directed Owsley to investigate the cost of replacing the CUSD 7 administrative building.
“This building is very much in need of replacement,” Hayes said. “It’s beyond its time.” During Monday’s torrential rainfall, Hayes said water came in through windows and water seeped in under the sill plate, bringing displaced nightcrawlers into the building. Staff members ran fans after the storm in an effort to dry out the interior.
According to Hayes, the school has been in contact with the local Baptist Church to investigate the possibility of acquiring the former Trinity Baptist Church for use as an administrative building. Church officials, however, have not yet made a decision about the fate of the former sanctuary after Gillespie’s two Baptist churches merged.
Owsley said the current administrative building comprises about 6,000 square feet. Current estimates are $400 per square foot for new construction which would translate into about $2.5 million to replace the administrative facility. The district might be able to shave some dollars off that estimate by reducing the size of the building.
“There’s a lot of unusable space in this building,” Owsley said, suggesting a more efficient floorpan could reduce cost. He also mentioned the possibility of a basement to provide storage space for outdated documents.
In addition to construction costs, Owsley noted, the district would be responsible for tearing down the existing building.
“I have no idea what’s in this building,” Owsley said, raising abatement concerns. “I’m guessing disposal of this building is going to be expensive.”
Hayes said Kevin Wills, the district’s bond issue advisor, will attend the June board meeting to discuss the possibility of refinancing some existing bonds to free up enough revenue to build a new administrative building. The administration currently is housed in a “temporary” structure that has served as the administration building for several decades.
MINE SUBSIDENCE STUDY
After several minutes of discussion, the board took no action in relation to entering into a contract with Marino Engineering and Associates to assess the district’s risk for incurring damage from a mine subsidence event. Owsley said existing maps show that portions of Gillespie Middle School are undermined. While the high school is not undermined, a major subsidence would likely damage the high school as well as the middle school. In recent months, more than one residential home on Elm Street near the school property has experienced damage from mine subsidence.
Marino’s $94,000 Phase I proposal would “determine the likelihood of something happening to one of our buildings,” Owsley said. The problem is that too much information could negatively impact the district’s ability to purchase subsidence insurance. “Information is great until it’s not.”
The district currently pays about $300,000 for mine subsidence insurance on the middle school, high school and vocational arts building. The school carries no subsidence insurance on BenGil Elementary because mine shafts under the building were grouted before the school was built.
“If we find out there’s not a major concern,” Owsley noted, it could reduce the district’s subsidence insurance costs.
On the other hand, if the study reveals a high risk of experiencing mine subsidence, the insurer could drop the district at the end of the current policy’s term. With only two companies in the country offering subsidence insurance, the district could end up with no insurance at all to cover damage from mine subsidence.
The only way to avoid that scenario would be to implement whatever options Marino might recommend to reduce risk. Those recommendations would likely include grouting (backfilling) mine shafts under the middle school. Grouting for the elementary school cost $4 million. To grout under the middle school would likely run as much as $6 million or more.
The only way the study would make sense, Owsley suggested, would be if the district was “comfortable making the corrections the study is going to make.”
Moreover, $94,000 would cover only a preliminary assessment.
“To get a full understanding of what’s going on underground, we’d be looking at a half million dollars,” said Owsley.
The issue was allowed to die when no board member moved to consider the contract.
COMMUNITY SOLAR PARTICIPATION
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to enter into a contract with Summit Ridge Solar to participate in a community solar project. Under terms of the 15-year contract, the district will realize a 13 percent savings on electrical power bills. The contract is automatically renewable for five years unless the district chooses to withdraw.
“Illinois provides a number of incentives for using solar,” Owsley said. “However, not everyone likes the look of having solar panels on their property. This will get us the benefits without putting up solar panels on our property.”
Summit Ridge’s proposal was the most lucrative of the proposals the district received. Other companies offered shorter terms with savings of five percent.
After 20 years, it’s likely the savings would drop to five percent. Owsley said he was told the district was better off going with the longer contract to get 13 percent in savings for as long as possible.
The school district was able to secure such favorable rates, according to Owsley is because there is an issue with solar fields storing the power they generate. “Our main usage time is during their maximum production time.”
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, the board recognized sophomore Matrix Wright, whose art was the only entry from the United States included in the 2026 TOLI International Student Art Exhibition. The exhibition is a project of The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies in New York. The exhibit includes student art relating to themes associated with the Holocaust.
Wright’s work, entitled “An Immortal Continuum,” attempts to portray “the constant entrapment a Holocaust survivor might feel.”
Exhibition organizers received more than 250 entries from around the globe.
BUDGET PROCESS
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Board President Hayes, board members voted unanimously to begin work on developing a district budget for fiscal 2027. Board members also approved a routine measure to permit expenditure of fiscal 2027 funds after July 1, pending approval of a new budget.
The school district’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 but new budgets typically are approved two to four months after the start of the fiscal year.
The current fiscal year’s $19 million budget was approved in September last year.
PERSONNEL
Following a one-hour executive session to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to approve the request of long-time middle school English and language arts teacher Kim Henderson, effective at the end of the 2028-29 school year.
Board members also voted unanimously to hire Andrew Crook as a first-year, non-tenured high school English teacher for the 2026-27 school year, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check. A graduate of Gillespie High School, Crook earned his teaching certificate at Illinois College, Jacksonville and for the past two years, he taught English at North Mac High School.
In separate actions, the board made multiple assignments to staff the district’s summer school program. Those hired include: Jessica Kelly as a middle school teacher, Ashlee Gibbs as a high school math teacher, and Jennifer Brown and Rob Macias as high school drivers’ education instructors. Each of the positions are contingent upon adequate student enrollment to offer the classes. In addition to academic staff, the board hired Andy Hirstein as a summer school food service worker.
The board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Foli Seferi as high school paraprofessional and as assisted football coach. Both resignations are effective immediately.
In other personnel action, the board appointed Cate Plovich as the BenGil Elementary School yearbook sponsor, and appointed Josh Ross as a volunteer assistant football coach, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
• Approved a mens highs school soccer coop with the Carlinville School District, with the provision Carlinville will dissolve the agreement if it pushes its program into a higher competitive classification.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Lewis and Clark Community College under which the college will recognize some high school courses as college level credits.
• Approved early graduation requests for an undisclosed number of students, provided all graduation requirements are met.
• Approved renewing the district’s membership in the Illinois Elementary Schools Association.
• Approved the final calendar for the 2025-26 school year pending no further emergency days. Barring the use of emergency days, Monday, May 18 will be the last day of student attendance, with graduation ceremonies set at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 17.
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One of the greatest annual events in American sports is the Saturday is the Kentucky Derby, which will be run for the 152nd time this Saturday. One past champion was bred in Macoupin County.
This week marks 137 years since the victory of Spokane, who captured the 1889 Kentucky Derby during the infancy of the event. The horse was bred at “The Meadows,” the farm of Gen. Richard Rowett one mile north of Carlinville.
Rowett horses, and their jockey colors of orange jacket and blue cap, were on tracks throughout the west and south. But Spokane was the greatest production of The Meadows, a nationally recognized breeding ground for thoroughbreds.
In 1885, a prized dark brown horse named Hyder Ali was standing at The Meadows when Rowett bred him to one of his top mares, Interpose. This pairing had produced favorable offspring in the past, including Grey Cloud, a fine racer owned by Noah Armstrong of the Doncaster Ranch near Twin Bridges in the Montana Territory.
Armstrong’s famous stable included such horses as Lord Raglan, the third-place finisher in the 1883 Kentucky Derby. When Rowett offered Interpose for sale late in 1885, Armstrong, familiar with the high quality of Rowett stock, purchased the pregnant mare and her suckling filly, Madelin, for the price of $1,000 and shipped the brood to Montana.
The Doncaster Ranch was known for its spectacular, three-story round barn that featured an indoor track. While in Spokane in the Washington Territory on business, Armstrong received word of the birth of Interpose’s colt. In honor of the city, he named the colt Spokane.
Spokane showed great promise as a two-year-old, winning two of five starts in 1888, and Armstrong entered him in the 1889 Kentucky Derby. Although a premier race, the Derby had not achieved the monumental status it enjoys today.
The race was run on May 9, 1889–a Thursday–in front of a crowd of 25,000, a fraction of the throngs that fill Churchill Downs today.
Home state favorite Proctor Knott was the overwhelming favorite at 1-to-2, while the relatively unknown Spokane was listed at 10-to-1 odds. That was enough for Frank James, brother of outlaw Jessie and a regular at countless tracks.
James, flush with a windfall of $2,400 from an earlier race that day, asked a bookmaker of the odds on Spokane. The reply was “Ten-to-one and the sky’s the limit.” James threw down $5,000 on Spokane, causing the bookmaker to reply, “As far as I’m concerned, that’s the sky!”
Under jockey Thomas Kiley, Spokane edged Proctor Knott by a head, setting a record at 2:34 ½ over the mile-and-a-half layout (it was changed to a mile and a quarter in 1896). He remains the only Kentucky Derby winner ever born in Montana.
Proving the win was no fluke, Spokane again beat Proctor Knott five days later at the Clark Stakes in Louisville. On June 22, Spokane won another key race of the era, the American Derby at Washington Park in Chicago, to become the first horse to win both races in the same season.
Back in Illinois, Rowett did not live to see the triumph of Spokane, as he died on July 13, 1887. His death was covered on page one of the New York Times the following day.
In addition to breeding, Rowett is also remembered as the first to introduce the true-bred beagle hound to this country from his native England. Prior to that, he was a Civil War officer and state politician.
The only horse actually born in Illinois to win the Kentucky Derby was the 1970 champion, Dust Commander.
Tom Emery of Carlinville, who wrote the award-winning biography Richard Rowett: Thoroughbreds, Beagles, and the Civil War, may be reached at 217-710-8392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com.
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