Community News
School Board green lights Athletic Wall of Honor program
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night gave permission for a five-member committee to pursue the development of a Wall of Fame program for outstanding school district athletes and supporters. Similar to the school’s longstanding Wall of Honor program, the Athletic Wall of Fame will recognize alumni of Gillespie High School and Benld High School who distinguished themselves either during their high school careers or as a post-graduate athlete. The program also will recognize non-athlete supporters who have contributed to the success of the district’s athletic programs.
In other action, the board reviewed a 2022 Annual Disclosure Report required under rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and took action of several personnel issues. The Annual Disclosure Report includes information on the financial status of the district along with the amount of bonded indebtedness the district is carrying.
Gillespie High School Baseball Coach Jeremy Smith said establishing an Athletic Wall of Fame has been a goal for him for about five years. More recently, he spearheaded establishing a committee that consists of two administrators, the Athletic Director, one teacher/coach and one community member. Currently, Supt. Shane Owsley, High School Principal Jill Rosentreter, Athletic Director Mike Bertagnolli, Smith and Gillespie Public Library Librarian Steve Joyce. Over the past five years, Smith said he has conducted extensive research to compile a list of persons he believes would make outstanding nominees for the Wall of Fame. That research stretches over more than 100 years of boys’ athletics and more than 45 years of girls’ athletic programs.
Smith cited Fullerton “Fully” Fulton, a basketball star for the Gillespie basketball team from 1930-1933 as an example of a possible inductee. Fulton, who died in 1985 at the age of 71, was a towering 6-foot, five-inch center who led GHS to a 70-14 record over his three-year career. He was central to Gillespie’s first team to take home a Macoupin County Championship in 1931-32, and led the team to a fourth-place finish in the state tournament in 1932-33. Additionally, Fulton had a stellar career as a football player, according to Smith. In another time and place, Fulton probably could have had a career in professional sports, Smith noted.
Tentatively, the awards would be broken down into four categories: Individual Athletes (limited to persons who have been out of school at least five years), Coaches (limited to coaches who coached at least five years and have been retired at least five years), Outstanding Teams, and Contributors who have supported athletic programs for the school district. Because of limited space, no decision has been made about where the names of recipients would be displayed. One option is to create video graphics that would play on monitors around the high school, including the gymnasium. No decision has been reached on whether or not recipients would receive a plaque because of the expense involved. Also because of expense, no decision has been made on whether or not the school would hold a banquet to honor inductees.
Owsley said costs associated with the Wall of Honor program currently are underwritten with concession stand proceeds from the Homecoming football game every other year. There is no funding mechanism in place at this time for the Athletic Wall of Fame.
GHS Principal Jill Rosentreter commented that because of Smith’s extensive research she has several pages of teams that won championships and players who were named all-state or all-conference team members. If funding can be found or generated, she said she wants to have banners designed for each sport that will list outstanding teams and players.
“We want to make sure this is meaningful,” Owsley told the board, noting that there are some years no one is inducted onto the Wall of Honor because no nominees make the cut. The committee will be responsible for selecting Athletic Wall of Fame honorees. Nominations, including the rationale for nominating the individual or team, will be accepted year-round with a deadline of April 1 for consideration for that year.
Though still tentative, Smith said there has been some discussion about alternating years for Wall of Honor and Athletic Wall of Fame honors.
“There have been some amazing athletes who have gone through this school,” Owsley said, noting individuals who have participated on Olympic teams and two GHS graduates who played football for the NFL, facing off against each other in one game. “I think this is an amazing way to honor our past athletes, and it gives something for our current athletes to shoot for.”
The board unanimously voted to proceed with developing the program on a motion by Jack Burns, seconded by Amanda Ross.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
Though no formal action was required, Supt. Owsley briefly reviewed the content of an Annual Disclosure Report required under a Securities and Exchange Commission rule. The report focuses primarily on the school district’s bonded indebtedness but also provides additional information regarding the district’s financial status.
With $10.7 million in debt, $10.4 million of which result from the sale of bonds, the school district is at 88.5 percent of its borrowing capacity. The district’s debt limit of $12.2 million is determined by taking 13.8 percent of the district’s total equalized assessed valuation (the value on which property taxes are collected).
By virtue of special emergency legislation, $7 million in bonds issued to construct the BenGil Elementary School do not count toward the district’s debt limit. If those bonds were counted, the district would exceed its debt limit by about $5 million.
Realistically, according to Owsley, the district has no remaining capacity to borrow significant amounts for capital improvements or emergency repairs.
“We are bonded out to 2035,” Owsley said.
Still, the report includes positive news regarding the district’s financial condition. Between 2017 and 2021, the district’s total equalized assessed valuation grew from $69,847,262 to $87,198,959. Meanwhile, Owsley said, the school board has honored its commitment to use 25 percent of the money collected from a county School Facilities sales tax to pay down the debt on the BenGil School. Consequently, the district has been able to lower its levy for Bond and Interest over the past five years.
The amount of money collected from property taxes has increased from $69,847,262 to $87,198,959 over the past five years.
“While the amount of money we collected has gone up, our tax rate has gone down,” Owsley noted, primarily because of increases in the equalized assessed valuation. The tax rate fell from $4.20504 in 2017 to $3.65515 in 2021. The fact the school district consistently collects more than 99 percent of the taxes it extends also is a positive factor, Owsley said. “We’re doing what we said we’d do regarding tax rates,” Owsley said.
Moreover, fund balances reported at the end of the fiscal year have grown from a total of $8.5 million in 2017 to $11.1 million in 2021.
While the report paints a fairly rosy picture of the school district’s financial condition, Owsley noted that much of the positive news is due to an influx of federal grant dollars related to the COVID-19 pandemic. “In the coming years, we will probably see the federal share of our revenue to back down to 12 percent,” he said.
PERSONNEL
Following an executive session of about 90 minutes, the board voted to extend Supt. Owsley’s contract by one year. Superintendents are employed under terms of a three-year contract, so Monday night’s action will extend Owsley’s contract to the 2026-27 school year.
The board also voted to hire Casey Fellin as a volunteer assistant girls soccer coach and Donnie Allen as an assistant varsity football coach, both appointments subject to certification documentation and a background check.
On a motion by Dennis Tiburzi, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of custodian Jeff Mueller, effective Jan. 31, and to post the position as vacant.
In other personnel-related matters, the board voted to approve a seniority list for both certificated and non-certificated employees.
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
GHS Principal Rosentreter reported that an idea for a safe driving public service announcement submitted by Kennedy Helmkamp was chosen for production in the Drive Safe Chicago contest. She said Alan Weiss, an Emmy-winning producer, and his team were expected at the school on Tuesday to film the PSA with Chloe Fellin and Ellie Wilson taking roles in the production. Helmkamp is scheduled to go to Chicago in two weeks for the Chicago Auto Show where her PSA will be screened for the first time.
Rosentreter also reported that Xavier Steward passed a Cyber Security Assessment given by the military. She said Steward’s recruiter was “ecstatic” because the test has an 86 percent failure rate. Only 11 people in Illinois, including Steward, have passed the assessment. As a result of his performance, Steward will attend a year-long training on National Security Threats starting in September.
Two GHS band students—Ellie Wilson and Travis Steward—were selected to participate in the Bi-State Band Festival at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. The pair attended master classes in music and performed with the SIU-E wind ensemble. Steward was chosen to participate with the honor band—a first for any GHS band student.
Rosentreter reported Macie Wright and Emmarie Moutria had artwork selected for the 2023 Scholastic Art and Writing Show and will have their works displayed Feb. 5-23 at the Springfield Art Association. Additionally, GMS Principal Patrick McGinthy reported that photographic work by Madison Durstan also was selected for the Scholastic Art and Writing Show.
BenGil Elementary Principal Angela Sandretto told the board that more than 80 students are taking advantage of a tutoring program involving 18 of the school’s teachers. She said both parents and students have had positive things to say about the new program.
Supt. Owsley offered a brief report including his efforts to write grant applications for federal grants that, if awarded, would allow the school to replace appliances in the school’s cafeteria kitchen.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Agreed to purchase a subscription to the MaintenanceX computer program at a cost of $16 per month. The program facilitates establishing maintenance schedules for HVAC equipment and other maintenance items and assigning maintenance workers to specific tasks. The program will be for the use of the Maintenance Director alone at this time, but Owsley told the board he is likely to return with a request to expand the program to other computers once the Director has familiarized himself with the program so other maintenance workers can access the program and use it.
- Approved a resolution to take delivery of leased buses. The board approved the lease agreement in June and the resolution is a formality allowing the district to take possession of the buses when they arrive.
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Community News
Benld prepares to celebrate 72nd annual Italian American Days over Memorial Day weekend
A beloved community tradition returns this Memorial Day weekend as the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days brings three days of food, music, and family fun to Benld City Park from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.
Hosted by the Italian Club of Benld, the long-running festival celebrates the area’s rich Italian heritage while welcoming visitors from across the region for a full slate of activities.
Festivalgoers can expect a wide variety of homemade Italian favorites served throughout the weekend, including salami and meatball sandwiches, tortellini soup, bagna cauda, and cannoli. A daily fish fry featuring cod and whiting will also be available, along with classic festival fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian beef, and carnival treats. Beer, wine, and soda will be available for purchase.
In addition to the food, the event will feature carnival rides provided by Conner Family Amusement, Inc., with unlimited ride sessions offered throughout the weekend. Bingo will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m., and festival-themed shirts will be available for purchase.
Live music and dancing will take center stage each evening. Friday night entertainment includes a performance by Flip the Frog from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the park open from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday highlights include the Italian Club Car Show, with registration from 8:00 a.m. to noon and judging beginning at noon. The park opens at 11:00 a.m., and live music will feature Pat Jones in the afternoon followed by Borderline in the evening.
Sunday kicks off with the “Meatballs on the Run” 5K at 9:00 a.m., sponsored by the Gillespie Cross Country Boosters. You can sign-up to participate online here. The day continues with free spaghetti served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a bocce ball tournament beginning at noon, and a full lineup of live music throughout the day, including performances by Unbroken, Syner-Gee, and B&B Strings.
Connors Family Amusements will provide carnival armbands for $30. Armbands will be valid Friday (May 22) from 6:00 to 10 :00 p.m. and again on Saturday (May 23rd) and Sunday (May 24th) from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m, Advanced armband sales will be available from May 4th through May 21st at the Frank Bertetti Public Library and Benld City Hall for $25. Debit and Credit Cards will NOT be accepted.
Organizers note that no outside beverages are permitted in the park or at club events.
With its mix of tradition, entertainment, and community spirit, the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days promises to once again be a highlight of the summer season in Macoupin County. For more information and updates, follow the festival on Facebook at Benld Italian American Days.
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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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