Community News
School Board lays groundwork for $1.8 million bond issue
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night approved a resolution that lays the groundwork for issuing up to $1.8 in alternate revenue bonds to finance school facility improvements. Actually issuing the bonds, however, could be another three months or more away if the board ultimately decides to proceed with the bond issue.
Kevin Wills of Bernardi Securities, O’Fallon, the firm that would handle the bond issue, told board members the bonds would be repaid with revenue the school district receives from the County School Facilities sales tax. According to Wills, the school district receives $400,000 to $450,000 annually from the School Facilities sales tax. The bond issue would enable the district to leverage enough funds to pay for several major projects and pay off the bonds with money accruing from the special sales tax. Because the bonds will be repaid with an “alternate” revenue source in lieu of property taxes, the bond issue is not necessarily subject to a referendum election.
With the approval of the resolution Monday night, Wills said his firm would place a public notice in a local newspaper advising of a 30-day period during which local voters could petition to require voter approval for the bond issue. Under Illinois law, such a petition would require signatures from at least 10 percent of registered voters who live within Community Unit School District 7. The 30-day petitioning period begins with the date of publication for the public notice.
Wills said his firm also will publish a public notice advising of a mandatory public hearing on the issue set for 7 p.m., Monday, April 24, at the district office. The public hearing coincides with the board’s regular monthly meeting for April.
“What you’re doing tonight is a first step,” Wills said. “You’re stating your intention to the public that you want to go down this route. You’re not committing to issuing bonds tonight or in this amount.”
In theory, the district could issue bonds at any time after the public hearing. Meeting the requirements for issuing the bonds essentially gives the board “elbow room,” according to Wills, to issue the bonds when interest rates are most attractive. While Wills said most bond issues of this nature are completed within 90 days, the board can opt to issue them much later. Noting that a new board will be seated April 24 following the April 4 Consolidated Election, Wills said the school has no obligation to issue bonds at all if the new board chooses to stop the process.
“All you would be out is the cost of publishing two public notices,” he said.
Because of the “cushion” built into the proposal, both Wills and Supt. Shane Owsley confirmed the actual bond issue would be less than $1.8 million. Wills said a more likely figure would be $1.6 million or less. Owsley said the final amount would be contingent upon estimates the district receives for projects currently on the “wish list.”
“We don’t have a firm figure,” Owsley said. Among the projects under consideration according to Owsley, are a circular drive in front of the high school, a new weight room, softball and baseball field improvements, and safety features.
“The Board has several projects it would like to get started,” said Board President Mark Hayes, “some maybe as early as this summer.”
“We need to prioritize and discuss that (list of projects),” board member Weye Schmidt noted. “Right now, we don’t know what we need.”
Regardless of the amount of the bond issue, Wills recommended structuring the pay down for 10 to 12 years and keeping the annual payments at about $200,000—approximately half of the district’s revenue from the School Facilities sales tax. “You can go out as much as 40 years,” Wills said. “Most investors don’t want to wait that long to get their money. Most districts that go that long are building a new facility. As a practical matter, you want something more like 25 or 30 years.”
With anticipated interest rates ranging from 3.74 to 4.25 percent, Wills said the bond issue could be structured for about 10 years and keep payments at the $200,000 level. “If we need to go out further, we can extend the term by one or two years to 11 or 12,” he noted. The board has committed 25 percent of School Facilities sales tax revenue to retiring bonds issued for construction of the BenGil Elementary School. In August, the district will make its final payment of $175,000 to pay off a five-year loan taken out to build the Gillespie Middle School STEM lab.
“Your payments are going to end up being about what you’re paying now,” according to Wills.
Wills noted that the alternate revenue bonds will not count against the district in calculating the district’s debt limit, meaning the district could borrow additional funds if the need arises or in the event of an emergency.
Wills also explained to the board that the School Facilities sales tax legislation ensures the tax cannot be revoked while school districts are using the revenue to pay off debt. Neither the county government nor voters themselves have the ability to end the tax.
If the revenue source were to “dry up” for whatever reason before the bond issue is retired, there is an underlying property tax levy that would be activated to service the debt. Because the levy is in place, Wills said the board would be required to instruct the County Clerk to abate that tax in lieu of the sales tax revenue being used for debt service.
“Your County Clerk is familiar with the process,” Wills said. “Several other schools have already blazed this trail, including some in Macoupin County.”
GPA RECONFIGURATION
Board members approved a proposal presented by Gillespie High School Principal Jill Rosentreter to reconfigure the way grade point averages are calculated to selected senior valedictorians—a move that is expected to eliminate the phenomenon of having multiple valedictorians presenting speeches during commencement ceremonies. A GPA of 3.67 to 4.0 is an “A,” according to Rosentreter. In past years any “A” was counted as 4.0 regardless of where the student’s actual grade fell within the spectrum.
“We’ve had multiple years with multiple valedictorians,” Rosentreter said.
As a result of the board’s action Monday night, GPAs will be calculated on the basis of actual numerical values. High ranking students would be identified in the commencement program as cum laude, summa cum laude or magna cum laude.
“It’s a big change,” Rosentreter said. “This would minimize or eliminate having a valedictorian altogether.” She said some surrounding schools that use a similar system for calculating GPAs have the top student from the graduating class give an address or have the class president address the graduates.
“You can’t expect better performance without raising standards,” Owsley commented. “Right now an A+ and an A- count the same, and that just sounds crazy to me.”
Under the new system, students currently enrolled in high school will be subject to the former GPA standard. The new standards will be implemented starting with the 2023-24 freshman class.
Board member Dennis Tiburzi voiced some objection to the new system, saying he likes the idea of recognizing as many top-performing students as possible.
“I know there have been years when we had five or seven but I don’t remember having 15 or more,” he said. “I’d like to see data on when that has happened. I want to see that students are recognized.”
Tiburzi left the meeting before the issue came to a vote but it was unclear if he left because of his objection or needed to leave for other reasons. He also was absent for the bond issue resolution vote.
PERSONNEL
The board was in executive session for 80 minutes before returning to open session to take action on a number of personnel issues.
Board members voted unanimously to rehire all tenured teachers for the 2023-24 school year. The list includes 32 tenured teachers at BenGil Elementary School, 14 Gillespie Middle School teachers, and 21 Gillespie High School teachers.
In separate actions, the following teachers were rehired and granted tenure: Amber Allan, Chase Peterson, Jessica Kelly, Korben Clark and Jill Stole.
Additionally, the following non-tenured teachers were re-employed for the coming school year: Nikki Jenner, Katie Livers, Alex Plovich, Pete Visintin, Jay Weber, Rachel Bouillon, Radeana Taylor, Kaylee Collins, Jacob West, Ben McCullough and Cory Bonstead.
Board members voted unanimously to hire Brad Taupe as band instructor for the 2023-24 school year, replacing Zach Simon whose resignation was accepted last month.
The board voted unanimously to hire Jacob West as the middle school girls track and field coach for the 2023-24 school year, accepted West’s resignation as a high school assistant track and field coach, and posted the high school position as vacant.
Dennis Kellebrew and Glenn Kellebrew were hired as volunteer assistant bass fishing coaches pending routine background checks.
Board members voted unanimously to post a vacancy for a District Student Services Director.
The board voted unanimously to post vacancies for six elementary summer school positions, a middle school summer school English teacher contingent upon enrollment, a high school summer school English teacher contingent upon enrollment, a summer school drivers’ education position, and two summer school cafeteria positions.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
On a motion by Schmidt, the board unanimously voted to adopt the school calendar for 2023-24. The newly adopted calendar started with teacher institutes on Aug. 14 and 15 with the first day of student attendance on Aug. 16 and the final day of student attendance on May 22. School holidays are set for Labor Day, Sept. 4; Columbus Day, Oct. 9, Thanksgiving, Nov. 22-26; Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 15; and President’s Day, Feb. 19. The winter break is slated for Dec. 22-Jan. 2 and the spring break will occur March 27-April. There will be no school on Oct. 27 and Jan. 3 for teacher institutes, and early dismissals on Oct. 25 and 26, Dec. 1, Feb. 2, March 1 and May 3. Commencement is set for May 19.
EARLY GRADUATION
The board approved early graduation requests for the following students, provided the students meet all requirements for graduation: Cole Conner, Kylie Cordie, Logan Bethard, Nolan Hamilton, Ryder Koniak and Josh Feeley.
DISTRICT FOCUS
As part of a District Focus segment, the board recognized the eighth-grade girls volleyball team, which recently won a sectional tournament against Hillsboro.
“You did the school very well,” Owsley told the girls. “We’re very proud of you.”
GMS Principal Patrick McGinthy reported to the board about a couple projects undertaken by Kim Henderson. Henderson assigned her students to pick a notable personality to research and then perform a presentation in costume. A total of 33 students participated in a parent’s night event, presenting a first-person biography of the subject they selected.
McGinthy also took note of a project in which Henderson had students write poetry which was then collected into a hard cover book available for students to purchase.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Authorized the district to participate in the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance, a purchasing cooperative that provides discounts on goods and services.
- Authorized Supt. Owsley to either renew certificates of deposit as they mature or invest the funds with the Illinois School Districts Liquid Asset Fund+, depending upon which instrument offers the best interest rate at the time.
- Accepted a low bid from M & M Services to provide gasoline at a cost of $3.52 per gallon and diesel fuel at a cost of $3.90 per gallon.
- Voted to renew the district’s membership in the Illinois High School Association.
- Approved a schedule for regular monthly board meetings for the coming year. The board will continue to meet on the fourth Monday of each month, except December when the meeting is one week earlier to accommodate the winter break. Meetings start with an executive session at 6 p.m., followed by an open session at 7 p.m.
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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.
