Community News
School board eyes school funding for GMS softball program
The Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education is expected to vote next month on whether or not to transition the Gillespie Middle School softball program from a parent-funded to a school-funded activity next year following an extensive discussion of the issue during the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday night. The discussion comprised nearly half of the board’s relatively brief 40-minute open session.
Softball Coach Michelle Smith, who also is a part of the parent’s group raising funds for the program, asked the board to consider budgeting about $10,000 to fund the program. The board authorized middle school softball as a parent-funded sport in 2017. Since that time, the team has compiled records of 18-2 in 2018, 20-3 in 2019 and 18-2 in 2021 (there was no season in 2020 due to COVID-19).
“Performance-wise it has been a successful program,” Smith said. According to Smith, the program helps players also succeed academically. “They become leaders in the classroom as well as on the field. It helps them come in stronger and ready to participate as freshmen. We want to keep building on that success, both athletically and academically.”
Smith said past practice has been for the board to transition parent-funded programs to school-funded programs after four successful years. She cited boys baseball and girls basketball as programs that became school-funded after four years of demonstrated success.
While budgeting $10,000 per season, actual expenses for the program totaled $7,395 for the first year and $8,446 the second year. In 2022, when the season was suspended, the parents spent $375 for yard signs to support the team. Expenses so far for the 2021 season total $6,865 though the group is waiting to finalize the cost for transportation. The lion’s share of the expense, Smith said, is for transportation, with lesser amounts for game officials and coaches. Expenses for uniforms are minimal because the girls wear team-provided t-shirts with their own pants.
Smith said the parents’ group is projecting $10,675 for the 2022 season.
Smith said the program has sponsored a tournament in late July at Welfare Park with parents staffing the concession stand and selling t-shirts. Those tournaments typically raise about $3,000, which defrays about a third of the program’s expenses.
“We’d like to keep doing the tournament,” Smith said. “It’s our baby and we get to see a lot of teams from our area. It brings people into our community and they spend money here.” The parents group has agreed to continue hosting and staffing the event, she said.
Smith said the season calls for 19 games with half of those being away games. As coach, she said she limits participation to 18 players because that is the maximum number of players she can take to playoff games at the end of the season. “I’d hate to get to play-offs and have to tell some players they can’t go,” she said.
Board member Dennis Tiburzi, however, strongly urged her to take on more than 18 players not only to create more opportunity but also to mitigate against the possibility of players being side-lined by injuries or other factors.
Answering questions from the board, Smith said a majority of players go on to play softball at the high school level. Last year, she said, nine out of 15 players went on to play high school softball, with the other six opting to participate in other sports.
Smith asked the board to make a decision next month or at the July meeting at the latest. The season starts the last week of July, which is before the school year begins. “They go into the school year already feeling like family,” she said.
Currently, middle school softball players pay a $100 fee which covers uniform costs, Smith said. The district’s standard athletic fee is $30. If the board chooses to make the sport school-funded, she asked that a decision also be made regarding the participating fee so parents and players can be informed in advance.
The issue is expected to be an agenda item for the board’s June meeting.
BUS BIDS
In other action, the board authorized Supt. Shane Owsley to seek bids for leasing/purchasing new or used buses. Owsley emphasized that collecting bids does not obligate the board to accept a bid and actually make a purchase. He characterized the move as more of an information-gathering project at this time.
Owsley presented an inventory of buses currently owned by the district, citing a need to keep closer track of the age of vehicles the district owns.
“It’s much easier to budget if we know the age of our vehicles,” he said. The district currently owns several buses that are 20 years old with odometer readings ranging from 170,000 to 190,000 miles. “It’s getting to the point that the bandaids we put on them won’t hold.”
Owsley said his goal is to develop a fleet with no buses more than five years old. State law allows the district to claim depreciation on buses over a period of five years, he said, which basically allows the district to recover 80 percent of the cost over that period of time.
“My end goal, once we get rid of our 20-year-old buses, we never keep a bus longer than five years,” he said. “When the depreciation comes off, we trade that vehicle while it still has some value. We have buses now that have only junk value.”
BUDGET
In a series of related actions, the board voted to place an amended fiscal 2022 school budget on file for public review with an eye toward adopting the amendments next month, directed Owsley to begin work on developing a tentative budget for fiscal 2023, and authorized 2023 expenditures from July 1 until the time a new budget is adopted.
Owsley said the amended budget for the current fiscal year reflects the unanticipated receipt of federal funds related to COVID-19 relief as well as the expenditure of those funds. He plans to provide a detailed presentation regarding the amendments before the board adopts the revised budget on June 27.
The current fiscal year ends June 30. The fiscal 2023 budget will cover revenue and expenditures anticipated from July 1 this year through June 30, 2023. The tentative 2023 budget is expected to be filed for public review in July with final adoption anticipated in August—a full two months after the start of the new fiscal year. The motion to authorize expenditures in the interim is a routine formality that allows the district to meet operation costs between the start of the fiscal year and the final budget adoption.
PERSONNEL
Board members voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Jake Bilbruck as Gillespie Middle School social science teacher and post the position as vacant. Bilbruck, named Madison Communications Teacher of the Year in 2015, is a Gillespie High School graduate. He resigned as head high school football coach in January after coaching the Miners for three years.
In other personnel action, the board appointed Jack Burns as a volunteer assistant high school cross-country coach and appointed Jill Strole as a volunteer assistant middle school/high school cross-country coach. The board also voted unanimously to hire Casey Sholtis as the high school golf coach.
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Burns, the board voted to reappoint the following fall/winter coaches for the 2022-23 school year: Jeremy Smith, middle school head boys baseball coach; Tim Wargo, assistant middle school boys baseball coach, Michelle Smith, middle school girls softball coach; Jim Matesa, assistant middle school girls softball coach; Chase Peterson, eighth grade boys basketball coach; Korben Clark, seventh grade boys basketball coach; Celia Jubelt, eighth grade girls volleyball coach; Elizabeth Thackery, seventh grade girls volleyball coach; Kyle Lamore, middle school scholar bowl; Darian Gill, middle school cheer coach; Celia Jubelt, high school girls volleyball coach; Shelsie Timmermeier, high school assistant girls volleyball coach; Nate Henrichs, high school assistant football coach; Kevin Gray, high school assistant golf coach; Jacob Killebrew, high school assistant golf coach; Andrea Williamson, high school dance coach; Casey Sholtis, high school boys basketball coach; Eric Bogle, freshman boys basketball coach; Kevin Gray, high school girls basketball coach; Nikki Brawner, high school girls basketball coach; and Jarrod Herron, high school scholar bowl.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board.
- Approved renewing membership in Sourcewell, a purchasing cooperative through which the school purchases cleaning supplies and other commodities at discounted prices.
- Approved the district Student Handbook for 2022-23, which reflects minor updates from the 2021-22 edition.
- Approved the student fee schedule. Fees are essentially the same as for 2021-22 except for a 10-cent increase in lunch/breakfast fees and the addition of a $480 replacement fee for lost or non-reparable laptop computers.
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Carlinville – The Macoupin County Agriculture Education (MCAE) Foundation is offering 6 – $1,000 scholarships for the upcoming 2025-26 school year to students wishing to pursue agriculture majors.
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FELONIES
Domincqua N. Contreras, 31 of Bunker Hill, is charged with aggravated battery in a public place in connection with a January 8 incident.
Dillion D. Grether, 25 of South Roxana, is charged with possession of methamphetamines’ (<5 grams) in connection with an October 15 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Cory J. Dodson, 36 of Carlinville, is charged with theft/unauthorized control (<$500) in connection with a December 6 incident.
Megan J. Morgan, 33 of Carlinville, is charged with theft/unauthorized control (<$500) in connection with a December 6 incident.
Robert D. Sanson, 34 of Belleville, is charged with criminal trespass to a building in connection with a December 2 incident.
Christopher R. Lott, 47 of Carlinville, is charged with theft of labor/services/property and criminal trespass to land in connection with a January 7 incident.
Amiel K. Kimsey, 20 of Homewood, is charged with minor in possession of liquor in public and driving 15-20 mph above the limit in connection with a January 1 incident.
TRAFFIC
Dawn M. Malone, 57 of Collinsville, is charged with driving on a suspended license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, disregarding a stop sign, no turn signal lights, unsafe loading, operating a motor vehicle vehicle with suspended registration, and unregistered/expired registration in connection with a January 4 incident.
Cheri L. Bagwell, 47 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a suspended license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and transporting/carrying alcohol in connection with a January 1 incident.
Siera A. Lewis, 28 of Alton, is charged with driving on a suspended license, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration, and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a January 1 incident.
Stephen C. Springman, 37 of Shipman, is charged with driving on a revoked license in connection with a December 17 incident.
Shundrana M. Roy, 29 of Milwaukee, WI, is charged with driving on a suspended license and driving 21-25 mph above the limit in connection with a January 1 incident.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Trent Eichen and Summer Melton, both of Carlinville
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Gillespie voters will have an opportunity to vote on whether or not the City of Gillespie can impose a one percent retail sales tax for Public Safety purposes as a result of action taken by the city council Monday night. Council members voted unanimously to approve a resolution prepared by City Attorney Rick Verticchio to put the question on the April 1 consolidated election ballot. The question will be presented in conjunction with the election to choose the mayor, city clerk, city treasurer and three aldermen.
The council discussed the issue of seeking a Public Safety sales tax during the council’s regular meeting on Dec. 9 and during a continued meeting on Dec. 23, at which time there was speculation the city could implement the tax via resolution only without seeking voter approval. The resolution presented Monday night confirms that voters can weigh in at the ballot box on whether or not to impose the tax.
“This is just a resolution so we can have that question on the ballot,” Verticchio told the council.
During the December meetings, Treasurer Dan Fisher said the city agreed to seek the tax during collective bargaining negotiations with the police officers union. The expected $200,000 will help cover additional costs associated with local police joining the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund system for retirement benefits, as well as the cost of adding additional police officers to cover police protection services in satellite communities. Benld Ald. Jerry Saracco told the Benld Council last month that satellite communities also were being asked to consider seeking a Public Safety sales tax to help defray police protection costs, but there appeared to be no interest on the part of the Benld Council to follow Gillespie’s lead.
In addition to the tax question and city officials, the consolidated ballot also will include elections for three Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education members, as well as township officials.
POLICE STATION PROGRESS
On a motion by Ald. Dave Link, seconded by Ald. Dona Rauzi, the council unanimously voted to release $59,199.26 to contractor John Watson, Gillespie, to pay subcontractors for remodeling work at the new Gillespie Police Station at 124 N. Macoupin St., the former location of Gillespie Chiropractic directly across the street from City Hall.
Rauzi reported the city had paid Watson $9,000 to start the remodeling project. The additional money will be used to pay various vendors such as Glass Cutters, Carlinville, and Carpani Computers for installing computer networking and internet systems.
The council also approved a $1,998.85 change order request for the project to cover the cost of reopening exterior stairs that the previous owner had enclosed. The additional money will cover the cost of siding, framing, lighting and replacing stairs that were removed when the entry was enclosed.
In a related matter, the council formally declared as surplus property a desk that the previous owner left behind and to transfer the desk to Watson. Rauzi said the desk had little value and that no other city office had a use for it. She said the options for disposing of it were to either give it to Watson or store it at the Civic Center.
With the same action, the council declared as surplus unused roof trusses which will be offered for sale via sealed bids.
GRANT MANAGER BILL
On Fisher’s recommendation, the council agreed to pay Fuel Growth Group’s bill of $137,550 for billing and consulting services associated with grant management services related to $3 million in federal grants and $1 million in state grants awarded to the city for its downtown streetscape project. Fisher said the agency’s bill is based on an hourly rate totaling 7.5 percent of the $4 million in grant awards.
Verticchio said he plans to contact the vendor regarding its new contract due to concerns he has about some of the contract’s wording. He said the contract calls for an hourly rate up to $257,000 after the first installment of 50 percent is paid.
“I don’t have any great problem with the contract,” Verticchio said, adding that he wants to revise the contract so the city does not owe the balance if the billable hours do not reach $257,000. “In all probability, we will get to that amount, but I want to make sure that if we don’t reach $257,000, we won’t owe them the full amount.”
EXECUTIVE SESSION
No action followed a brief executive session requested by Ald. Frank Barrett, Lake Chairman, to discuss personnel. While the nature of the discussion was not specified, it is likely the closed-door session focussed on replacing Gary Thornhill, long-time Lake Manager who recently resigned to take another job.
In a related matter, Barrett told the council he is getting pricing from Carpani Computers for a new point-of-sale computer and printer for the Lake Store.
“When Gary left, we were using his computer and printer at the store,” Barrett said, explaining the need for new equipment.
COMMUNICATIONS TOWER
Council members briefly discussed the status of a new communications tower, construction of which is likely to start this year. The council previously entered into a franchise agreement to lease property for the tower, which will provide services for AT&T cell phone transmissions and other providers. Ald. Wendy Ottersburg said the company revised its plan to add 20 feet to the tower’s height to expand its range.
Water Plant Operator Dave Pickett said he is eager for the tower to be completed as it will allow the Water Department to implement a computer program enabling the Department to control water flow from the pumping station to the Water Plant without having to physically travel to the pumping station.
“It will be a huge savings for us,” Pickett said.
AUDIT ACCEPTANCE
Upon Fisher’s recommendation, the council voted unanimously to accept the city’s official audit. In a departure from past practice, no representative of the auditing firm appeared before the council to present the audit findings. Fisher said the audit showed the city to “be in the black” but did not mention whether or not the auditor made any other findings.
COUNCIL RADIOS
Mayor John Hicks reported that two-way radios previously issued to city council members are unaccounted for and asked aldermen who might still have a radio to return them to City Hall. He said the radios were issued to aid with communications in the event of an emergency.
“Somewhere along the line, some of them disappeared,” he said.
SNOW REMOVAL
Ald. Bob Fritz, answering criticisms voiced on social media, clarified that the city does not have responsibility for removing snow on sidewalks. He said people were upset because city workers did not remove snow on sidewalks in the area of CUSD 7 schools.
“Those are not our responsibility,” Ald. Rauzi noted.
Ald. Landon Pettit said that when he worked for the city, city workers were advised by the city’s insurance provider to leave sidewalks alone.
“The insurance company told us not to do that,” he said. “Once we clean them off, any liability for them is on us.”
CEJA MEETING
Fisher told the council he plans to meet with CEJA grant partners at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall to discuss CEJA expenditures and closing out the grant. The federal Climate and Equitable Jobs Act grant of $1.1 million was awarded last summer. The City of Gillespie retained $70,248.57 with the remainder allotted to various local units of government, including: Village of East Gillespie, $51,654.72; City of Benld, $58,721.50; Village of Eagarville, $50,684.28; City of Staunton, $80,929.61; Gillespie Public Library, $70,248.57; Benld Public Library, $58,721.50; Gillespie Township, $73,458.48; Cahokia Township, $69,004.42; Community Unit School District 7, $98,167.33; North Mac CUSD 34, $98,584.12; Gillespie-Benld Ambulance Service, $133,202.60; Village of Royal Lakes, $51,038.87; City of Bunker Hill, $60,102.51; Village of Mount Clare, $51,878.67; and Brushy Mound Township, $53,919.08.
The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act is a federal program to mitigate against economic conditions that result as the nation moves away from fossil fuels to embrace renewable, “green” energy sources. The local grant award is related to job losses resulting from the idling of Shay Mine No. 1, formerly Monterey Mine No., 1. Each entity was awarded $50,000 plus additional funds based on “job loss” and “revenue loss” factors.
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