Community News
School board focuses on annual ‘school report card’ data
Superintendent Joe Tieman said Gillespie CUSD 7 fares very well on school report cards when compared with schools in the region with similar enrollments.
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night set the time and date for a Truth in Taxation hearing regarding this year’s property tax levy and took routine actions on personnel, but the meeting was dominated by an hour-long, wide-ranging discussion of this year’s school report card recently released by the Illinois State Board of Education.
[pullquote]When compared with schools in the region with similar enrollments, Tieman said CUSD 7 fares very well.[/pullquote]
The annual report, which tracks student performance on state-mandated academic tests and reports on other data, generally shows that district students performed above the state average in English and language arts but lagged behind in math. For English and language arts, 42 percent of CUSD 7 students met or exceeded state standards, compared with a statewide average of 38 percent. In math, 25 percent of students met or exceeded state standards—seven points behind the statewide average of 32 percent.
The deficit in math proficiency was especially pronounced at the Middle School level where the percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards dropped from 27 the previous year to 20 percent this year. The statewide average was 32 percent which is still short of the state’s “goal” of having at least 42 percent of students meeting or exceeding state expectations.
Gillespie Middle School Principal Jill Rosentreter said this is the second year GMS was identified as underperforming in math proficiency. While recognizing the deficiency, Rosentreter noted the data is somewhat skewed by the state’s assessment of math proficiency among GMS students with disabilities, with individualized education plans and who are homeless. Scoring for each of those groups was zero.
“When you multiply anything by zero, you get zero,” Rosentreter said, adding that the scores for those groups disproportionately affect the total proficiency score because they comprise 25 percent of the formula.
Persons who want to review details of the school report card can access the document, as well as report cards for other school districts, can visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website.
Supt. Joe Tieman said the document is useful in that it helps administrators identify strengths and weaknesses, and make adjustments to curriculum and teaching strategies accordingly. “There are always some areas where we need to improve,” he said, and those concerns are discussed and addressed during meetings of staff leadership teams and administrator meetings.
“One of the things I like to do is see how we compare with some of the surrounding districts,” Tieman said. For that analysis, he said he included other school districts in Macoupin County, school districts within the South Central athletic conference, and districts within Educational Service Region 40—a total of 19 school districts, including CUSD 7. When compared with schools in the region with similar enrollments, Tieman said CUSD 7 fares very well.
Tieman told the board that 42 percent of elementary and middle school students who took the Illinois Assessment for Readiness standardized test met or exceeded state standards, compared with 38 percent statewide. “That puts us sixth out of the 19 school districts in our area,” he said.
In mathematics, 20 percent of local middle school students met or exceeded state standards—well below the state average of 32 percent. But that number was still good enough to rank Gillespie Middle School tenth out of 19 area districts, according to Tieman.
A total of 37 percent of Gillespie High School students who took the SAT assessment exam met or exceeded expectations for English and language arts. That compares with a statewide average of 31 percent and puts the school eighth out of 19 among area school districts. In math, 35 percent of local high school students met or exceeded standards, which tied with another school for third place in the region. The high school ranked seventh in the area in science with 49 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards—just shy of the statewide average of 51 percent.
[pullquote]For English and language arts, 42 percent of CUSD 7 students met or exceeded state standards, compared with a statewide average of 38 percent. In math, 25 percent of students met or exceeded state standards—seven points behind the statewide average of 32 percent.[/pullquote]
The one area where CUSD 7 ranked first among the 19 school districts Tieman analyzed was in the percentage of students who come from low-income families. The poverty rate for CUSD 7 was 77 percent, compared with a statewide average of 49 percent.
“Lets put that all in perspective,” Tieman said. “Given all the negatives that come with poverty, what our kids, our classroom teachers, our administrators and our community at large have been able to do is really pretty impressive. When you consider what we’re asking our teachers to do—we’re asking them to teach, we’re asking them to be social workers, we’re asking them to be psychologists, sometimes we’re asking them to be parents, we’re asking them to teach at multiple levels—when you consider all that, these numbers just jump off the chart.”
Tieman acknowledged that having 42 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards means that a majority of students are not meeting the standards.
“That’s not acceptable,” he said. “We want those students to move forward and see that number improve.”
Other data from the report card documents that the district’s total enrollment is stable at about 1,200 students. The district’s graduation rate is 11 percent above the state average and the average class size is a few students smaller than the statewide average. The per-student direct instructional cost is slightly more than $5,300, compared with a statewide average of more than $8,000; and per student operational costs hover around $9,000 compared with nearly $14,000 statewide.
“We’re actually getting a pretty good bang for our buck,” Tieman said.
Board member Weye Schmidt disputed the state’s determination of the district’s poverty rate, noting the report card identifies 98 percent of BenGil Elementary School students as low income. The low-income rate for both Gillespie High School and Middle School is 59 percent. Schmidt said it made no sense to see a 98 percent rate of poverty at the elementary level and only 59 percent at the middle school level.
“A lot of people in the community will view that number negatively,” he said. “It needs to be explained that the elementary number skews it.”
Tieman researched the issue while the discussion continued and later reported that the State Board of Education’s formula for determining poverty rates relies largely on the number of students eligible to participate in free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs. At BenGil Elementary school, all students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch under the auspices of a grant-funded program to provide meals regardless of income levels. That means a number of students who are not low income were included in the poverty rate determination.
“I’m surprised it’s not 100 percent because of that,” Tieman said, adding that next year, he hopes to expand the program to include middle school students. “It’s a good program. We actually make a little bit of money from it.”
Rosentreter assured the board she and the Gillespie Middle School math department are working toward improving student performance on the math portion of the standardized assessment test. When GMS was identified as an underperforming school last year, the school was able to apply for and receive grant funding to address the lackluster math scores.
[pullquote]“We’re basically changing the entire culture and improving instruction in our math department,” she said. “I’m very, very confident we’re going to start seeing improvement in these numbers this spring.”[/pullquote]
Even though GMS students performed at a level significantly lower than the statewide average in math, Rosentreter said the school ranked fourth among the 19 schools selected for comparison in Tieman’s model. GMS students also were in fourth place for English and language arts proficiency and second place for science.
“Math is where our major, major weakness is,” Rosentreter said. She said the school is working with the American Institute of Research to consult with teaching staff on improving math proficiency. Earlier in the meeting, the board unanimously approved a state-mandated school improvement plan and rubric for the middle school which focuses on improving math proficiency. Rosentreter said the school’s leadership team is meeting every four weeks to assess student performance and, if students are meeting established goals, they reset the goals at a higher level. The board tabled action on hiring a provider to consult with the middle school staff on implementing school improvement plans because Rosentreter said the contract is still being revised. The board is expected to act on the contract during its Dec. 16 meeting.
“What are we doing now?” Rosentreter asked rhetorically. “We have school-wide competitions and students are showing a lot of growth in basic math skills.” A school leadership team has been established and a third resource teacher has been hired. She said the American Research Institute also will have a role in helping the district choose a new math curriculum for both the BenGil Elementary School and Gillespie Middle School.
“We’re basically changing the entire culture and improving instruction in our math department,” she said. “I’m very, very confident we’re going to start seeing improvement in these numbers this spring.”
Responding to a board member question, Rosentreter acknowledged that the current math curriculum, which has been in place for the past five years, did not emphasize basic math facts. “That’s the reason this was overlooked for so long,” she said.
An impassioned Angela Sandretto, BenGil Elementary Principal, said the school report card does not provide insights into how much students have improved.
“We can’t expect kids to go from ‘did not meet’ to ‘meets or exceeds’ overnight,” Sandretto said. “There are students who ‘approach’ or ‘did not meet’ who work extremely hard on the test. They might still fall into those categories but they made huge strides. What we need to look at is growth. If they are not making progress, that’s a concern, but if they’re working hard and making gains, that is a success. Our job is to take kids from where they are and move them forward.”
[pullquote]What we need to look at is growth. If they are not making progress, that’s a concern, but if they’re working hard and making gains, that is a success. Our job is to take kids from where they are and move them forward, BenGil Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto said. [/pullquote]
Sandretto agreed that part of the issue is rooted in the current curriculum’s indifference toward basic math facts. Essentially, students were expected to learn multiplication tables and other facts on their own outside the classroom. Teachers discovered, however, that students were not learning those facts independently and that lack of knowledge hindered their ability to progress.
“We determined that if they’re not doing that, we need to bring it back into the school,” Sandretto said. She said she mandated that teachers set aside time for students to memorize math facts in the classroom. “We’ve made that change and I’m hoping that over time, they (Middle School leaders) are going to see the results of that. It’s a progression. It’s not going to happen in a short period of time.”
Sandretto said she also is working with Rosentreter to ensure that elementary students are exposed to material that prepares them for the middle school math regimen.
High school principal Shane Owsley said his goal in the high school is to be the top school not only in the county but also the South Central Conference and ROE 40.
Tieman added that math scores also have suffered because the curriculum was geared toward preparing students for the PARCC test that the state has since abandoned in favor of the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) standardized test.
“I think the moral of the story tonight is that everything on here (school report cards) is skewed,” school board member Jenni Alepra commented. “Rather than spend all this time on test scores every year, I would like to know how kids are improving.”
Tieman said the MAP assessment program the district adopted last year should provide the board with a clearer picture of student progress. He said a MAP report should be on the board’s February or March agenda.
He took issue with Sandretto’s focus on the school’s substandard math scores. The school’s score for English and language arts, he said, exceeded the state average by seven percentage points and the math score was just two points below the state average. “For this particular school in this particular year, that looks pretty good to me,” he said.
Sandretto said students living in dysfunctional family situations due to poverty also has an impact. Such trauma, she said, has been shown to affect student performance.
“We have so many of our kids who are living with trauma,” she said. “That’s why we need to celebrate a student who lives in trauma and ‘did not meet’ but still gained 20 points. That student worked really hard.”
High School Principal Shane Owsley said the school report card paints a fairly positive picture for the school’s performance but that he intends to continue to push for improvement. The high school was tied for first within the county for the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards in math.
“According to our math department, that has never happened before. They were pretty excited when they found that out,” Owsley said. “At the same time, though, our percentage was less than it was last year.”
The high school was No. 1 in the county for English and language arts last year but dropped to fourth place this year. A total of 32 percent of high school students met or exceeded state standards, compared with a statewide average of 37 percent. The proficiency rate for science was 38 percent, which also lagged behind the state average but put the school third among schools in Macoupin County.
[pullquote]We want to be the top school not only in the county but also the South Central Conference and ROE 40. That’s going to be our goal, Owsley said.[/pullquote]
“That speaks highly of our students and speaks highly of our teachers, but whenever we don’t reach those state averages we are not entirely pleased,” Owsley said. “We want to be the top school not only in the county but also the South Central Conference and ROE 40. That’s going to be our goal.”
TAX LEVY HEARING SET
On a motion by Board President Mark Hayes, seconded by Becky Hatlee, the board voted unanimously to set a public Truth in Taxation hearing regarding this year’s property tax levy at 6 p.m., Monday, Dec. 16, prior to the board regular monthly meeting.
Tieman told the board the district is subject to restrictions imposed by the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) limits taxing bodies to increasing the annual tax levy to no more than five percent or the rate of inflation (whichever is less) over the previous year’s levy. If the taxing body seeks to exceed those limits, a public hearing is required. In recent years, the district has proposed levies that are within the limits set by PTELL but scheduled a public hearing anyway. This year, however, Tieman said the proposed levy is 9.5 percent greater than the last year’s levy.
Ostensibly, the county clerk would reduce the levy to fall within the restrictions set by PTELL when he sets the property tax rates for the district. The exception is when the district’s total equalized assessed valuation declines from the previous year. In that case, Tieman said, the district could request an increase without taking a referendum to voters.
Under the proposed levy, the district is seeking a total levy of $2,350,840, compared with last year’s extension of $2,147.304. The additional $250,000 requires the district to conduct a public hearing.
The proposed levy does not include $917,151 the district requires for bond and interest payments.
HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE LABS
Tieman reported to the board that administrators and high school science teachers are in the process of evaluating the high school needs for either new science labs or renovations to current labs. He said he may return to the board at a later date with a request to contract with the school architect to develop plans and bidding specifications for such a project. In addition, he said he would be responsible for identifying funds to pay for the project.
“At a minimum, we are at least 18 months away from that,” he said. “I’ve asked them (teachers) to think outside the box. I don’t have a clue what the price tag might be but we’re going to find out.”
Tieman also advised the board that administrators will approach them soon to approve a new math curriculum program for the elementary and middle school levels.
PERSONNEL
In the area of personnel, the board hired Jake Killebrew as a volunteer boys basketball coach and accepted “with regrets” the resignation of Tim Hilyard as a district custodian, effective May 11, 2020.
“Tim has been in the district for more than 30 years,” President Hayes commented. “He’s been a very valuable employee and he will be greatly missed.”
The board also voted unanimously to post a vacancy for an assistant coach position for middle school track.
Because of the Christmas holiday, the board will meet one week earlier than usual in December.
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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.
