Community News
School Board hires teachers for 2022-23, posts positions for summer school
In a meeting heavy on personnel action, the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night rehired tenured and non-tenured teachers for the 2022-23 school year, and voted to post vacant teaching positions for summer school classes set to begin in a few weeks.
On a motion by Jennie Alepra, seconded by Jack Burns, the board voted unanimously to rehire the district’s entire roster of tenured teachers for next school year. In separate actions, the board rehired and offered to tenure to nine teachers who will be teaching their fifth year in the district next year, and voted unanimously to rehire 13 non-tenured teachers.
Tenured teachers re-employed for the upcoming school year are: Tracy Petersen, Lorraine Strutner, Jody Dunn, Leanna Sawyer, Melissa Bussmann, Tracy Hostettler, Darrick Oran, Kara Saracco, Kelly Lons, Holly Nejmanowski, Jennifer Parker, Anastasia Henderson, Cate Plovich, Amy Price, Nice Barrett, Jessi Luketich, Mindy Savant, Karissa Smith, Beth Sees, Valerie Jubelt, Carrie Scott, Dana Tie-in, Sharon Wernle, Marcia Johns, Colleen Favre, Celia Jubelt, Jami Schmid, Nancy Schmidt, Lori Emmons, Vanessa Barrett, Amy Gerdes, Beth Roll, Kim Henderson, Christina Blevins, Jacob Bilbruck, Casey Edgerton, Kyle Lamore, Stephanie Wilson, Tammy Garde, Matt Brawner, Jeremy Smith Jarrod Herron, Rachelle Prough, Stephanie Bray, Kaitie Prange, Robert Macias, Casey Sholtis, Jennifer Brown, Jeff Nehls, Mark Goldasich, Troy Barker, Michelle Smith, Holley McFarland, Michael Bertagnolli, Mary Kirk, Nichole Stoecker, Amy Goldasich, Daniel Edgerton, Ashlee Gibbs, Zachary Simon, Stuart Ringer, Kelly Bulla and Whitney Page.
The following teachers were rehired as fifth-year teachers and placed on tenure for the 2022-23 school year: Nathan Henrichs, elementary teacher; Allison McElroy, elementary teacher; Shanna Conner, middle school English and language arts teacher; Elizabeth Thackery, middle school math teacher; Kayla Wills, high school agriculture teacher; Eric Bogle, business education teacher; Amanda Dugger, special education teacher; Nikki Brawner, art teacher; and Kevin McNicholas, district social worker.
Non-tenured teachers rehired for the 2022-23 school year are: Amber Allan, fourth-year elementary teacher; Lisa Ballinger, fourth year; Nikki Zenner, second year; Katie Lieveers, second year; Alex Plovich, second year; Pete Visintin, second year; Jay Weber, second year; Madi Whittington, second year; Jacob West, third year physical education teacher; Chase Peterson, fourth year middle school math; Jessica Kelly, fourth year middle school resource teacher; Korben Clark, fourth year high school science teacher; and Jill Strole, fourth year school counselor.
In other personnel action, the board accepted the resignation of Alex Weinberg, middle school/high school choir instructor and sound technician, effective at the end of the current school year and posted a vacancy for the position. Board members also accepted the resignation of Gillespie Middle School paraprofessional Emily Barylske and posted the position as vacant.
Board members voted unanimously to post vacant summer school positions for high school English, math and behind-the-wheel drivers’ education; middle school math and English; and six elementary teaching positions. Also in preparation for the summer school program, the board voted to post vacancies for two food service workers.
The board accepted the resignations of Korben Clark and Jarrod Herron as volunteer assistant high school football coaches. The board also voted to hire Cory Bonstead, Nathan Wise and Sam Mount as assistant high school football coaches for the coming season.
John Q. Halteman and Ryan Bussmann were hired as assistant coaches for the district’s newly created bass fishing program. Jake Killebrew was hired as an assistant varsity boys basketball coach. Darian Gill was hired as the high school cheerleading coach for the 2022-23 school year. Jacob West was hired as an assistant high school track and field coach. Matt Brawner was hired as a high school volunteer assistant girls basketball coach. Andrea Williamson was hired as a prom sponsor.
DISTRICT FOCUS
High School Principal Jill Rosentreter presented a brief District Focus segment focusing on the accomplishments and future plans of outstanding Gillespie High School seniors. Rosentreter had brought into the board room several art projects created by Brynn Baker, Zoe Lewis and Candace Borror, all of whom won Gold Key awards at the Mid-Central Illinois Regional Scholastic Art Show. Both Lewis and Borror were American Vision nominees invited to participate in the next level of competition.
Baker also was recognized for being selected for a national safe driving public service announcement competition. Board members viewed a professionally produced video of Baker’s commercial concept. In it a Safe Driving Superhero patrolled traffic and corrected dangerous situations and practices. Baker was one of three students nationwide whose concepts were selected for production. Baker participated vicariously in the production process via the internet. Producers in California found a young actor who resembled Baker to play the part of the Superhero.
Board members also viewed an audition video Alex Pelt, who has been accepted to attend SIU-Edwardsville, prepared as an audition for the Bi-State Music Competition. For the audition, Pelt played a flute solo.
Also during the presentation, Rosentreter showed the board photos of construction trades students with projects completed this year. She said most of the projects went to the students’ homes, some were donated to local institutions such as the Gillespie Police Department, and some are available for sale to members of the public.
Rosentreter summarized the number of seniors who have committed to joining military branches after graduation, the number of seniors who have been accepted to universities, colleges and trade schools and listed the institutions Gillespie High School graduates will attend next year.
MOUNT OLIVE COOP
Without taking formal action, the board declined to consider a proposal from the Mount Olive School District to create a cooperative athletic program for golf. Supt. Shane Owsley reported that Mount Olive wanted to be the host school, meaning CUSD 7 golfers would have to be bused to Mount Olive for practices.
Owsley said CUSD 7 identified 16 students from 8th grade to seniors who were interested in pursuing golf as a sport. “All of them said they would prefer to remain Miners,” Owsley said.
Mount Olive currently has only two students participating in golf.
Given the disparity in the numbers of student golfers and other factors, the board declined to consider the proposal.
“My recommendation would be to continue with the status quo and continue to field our own team,” Owsley said.
FUEL BIDS
On a motion by Alepra, seconded by Hayes, the board voted unanimously to accept the bid of M & M Service Co. to supply fuel for the fiscal year. M & M provided a locked-in price of $3.57 per gallon for diesel and $3.35 for gasoline.
EARLY GRADUATION REQUESTS
On a motion by Weye Schmidt, seconded by Burns, the board voted unanimously to approve early graduation requests submitted by Alicia Albers, Kyleigh Blankley, Hunter Blevins, Ian Brown, Hailey Rhodes, Julie Jackson, Makayla Kirby, Emma Livengood, Emmarie Moutin, Mary Parkins, Dawson Royer, Mya Stewart, Devon Williams, Loralei Clark and Evan Webb providing all graduation credits and requirements are met.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Adopted a schedule for regular meetings of the board for May of this year through April 2023. Generally, the board will meet in executive session at 6 p.m. with open session beginning at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month, except for December when the board will meet on the third Monday to accommodate the winter break.
- Voted to renew the district’s membership in the Illinois High School Association, the governing body for high school athletics. Earlier in the meeting, Owsley reported that IHSA planned to refund dues high schools paid during the COVID-19 pandemic. Membership normally is free of charge but the organization imposed dues during the pandemic because state and regional championships were canceled.
- Voted to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Lewis and Clark Community College to offer dual credit courses, permitting students to earn college credits recognized by LCCC while still in high school.
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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.
The MCAE Foundation offers scholarships to provide encouragement and financial assistance to Macoupin County residents and/or students of Macoupin County schools who display well-balanced attributes of good citizenship, commitment to activities and scholastic ability.
The applicant must be a graduating high school senior or a current college student who plans to attend or is attending an Illinois junior college, college, university or Career Technical Education (CTE) program, and majoring in agriculture.
Applications are available through your high school guidance counselor, high school agriculture instructor or the Macoupin County Farm Bureau® (MCFB®). An electronic copy of the application can be requested by contacting the MCFB® office by telephone or by email at: mcfb@gomadison.com
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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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