Community News
School board looks at future financial crisis
CUSD #7 expects to be far worse than surrounding districts
Paul Skeans explains that the district has three things to look at that could have a big impact in CUSD #7.
Assistant Superintendent Joe Tieman explained to the board how “school is going to be in the years coming toward us.” Tieman warned that the following information is just projections as the budget has not been passed yet, so the information was gathered through the media or the Illinois Association of School Boards.
“We are pretty sure we are going to see a reduction in State Aid of sort,” Tieman opened. The district received a packet a few weeks ago explaining how the reduction would impact each district in the state.
One proposal for 2013 is a $258 million reduction from the general fund. According to Tieman, that would impact CUSD #7 a total of $464,566, which would be a 7.49% decrease. If they would go to $500 million decrease, the district would skip out of $797,452 or about 12.86%. “That has been the number thrown out the most at this point,” Tieman added.
If it was even more drastic, $750 million would impact the district $1,142,198 or about an 18.82%.
Pension reform is for all state employees, but specifically, the district is looking ahead at what could happen. These are just proposals again. The first proposal is the district will be responsible for $458k or more as teacher salaries increase. The second proposal would base the teacher’s pension off their initial income level and not compounded each year. “Current retirees and all employees now may have to choose what route they want to go as far as a reduction in cost of living allowance or the forfeit of health insurance,” Tieman explained.
Active retired TRS members must choose now if they want a reduction in COLA or a loss in their health care insurance. In addition, future increases in salary would not be calculated for pension purposes. “So, there are all kinds of plans how to deal with the budget deficit in the state,” Tieman explained.
Tom Hyde explains to the board what wiring would be underground in the change order. The order was later denied after objections from Alepra, Bernot, Hayes, and Schmidt.
A decrease in state aid and the possibility that the district would be responsible for pensions, according to Tieman, is very important for the public to know what kind of financial restrictions the district could face in the upcoming years. “It will be far greater in our district than many surrounding districts,” Tieman closed.
Skeans added that this is just general aid from the State, this does not include transportation funding. “To make it worse, pension reform is not State aid either,” Skeans went on to say. “You are looking at three things that could have a big impact in this school district in the future.”
Tom Hyde then updated the board on the current capital project. Hyde showed the board the current bids for the data cable wiring and other updates to the budget. Savings would include the use of the Benld scoreboards and the installation of the Promethian Boards if Mark Carpani has the capabilities. The total savings there would be around $32,000.
Hyde then asked the board to take another look of the underground service wiring. The number of changes made was $34,000 from last meeting. The maintenance building would have overhead wiring and the primary junction box was moved south to where the service entrance goes west of the school. It would save on wiring and conductivity.
Dave Griffel said there would be no change in appearance between the two figures, but the cost would be $24,000 less. Jenni Alepra questioned what the purpose of the project was. “Do you want to get rid of the power polls or get rid of the wires and still have the power poles,” Alepra questioned. “We are still going to have poles if we take the wiring underground.”
None of the light poles will be taken out, and in fact, lights will be added to the them to make 8 streetlights along the street. We don’t need the poles if you don’t want light on the street, Griffel added.
“Are we just taking down the wires, so it can look aesthetically pleasing,” Bernot questioned. “What is this $25,000,” Schmidt questioned.
Hyde tried to diffuse the confusion by explaining the $25,000 bid. The line from the maintenance garage to the concession stand will be underground and not overhead like it is now, Hyde explained.
“The big decision if you want poles and lights or nothing at all,” Griffel cleared. The board came to a consensus that they do want lighting on the street. There is lighting on the school property and on the school parking, but none of the street, Hyde added.
With no other comments added, Griffel said he was opposed to it first, but now considers the idea after the price was reduced. “Many people from the community have told me we have too much wiring overhead, there is buses and stuff going on. We can’t change this in the future,” Griffel added. Dobrino went on to make a motion with a second by Griffel to approve the underground electrical service. The update was denied with objections from Alepra, Bernot, Hayes, and Schmidt.
The board went on to award a data cable installation bid to B&B Electric from Springfield, IL for the amount of $386,695 without any objections. The bid was the lowest bid.
Superintendent Paul Skeans announced that the district received an “excellent” report from the Health Life/Safety Code for public schools. The annual inspection report asked the district to install an exhaust fan in the teacher’s workroom and in the workroom in the middle school building. Also, the district was asked to look at relocating the fire detector in the media center. “That was the only thing they could find,” Skeans closed.
The board went on to accept the retirement of 5th grade elementary teacher Sharon Schwab at the end of the 2013-2014 school year. “Reluctantly,” the board accepted and posted the job opening. Schwab has been in the school district for 20 years.
Under non-certificated personnel, the board accepted resignation of school bus driver Joe Done effective November 2, 2012. “We thank him for his many years of service,” Skeans added.
The board went on to appoint Jenni Alepra to the new South Macoupin Association for Special Education Governing Board.
In other new business actions, the board approved employee insurance rates for FSY 2012-2013 from Blue Cross & Blue Sheild. The board also approved KidGuard Student Insurance and a new fee waiver policy for grades K-8.
Later, the board reappointed 2012-2013 spring coaches as presented and recommended to hire Benjamin Clark for unit assistant technology coordinator.
School administrators then updated the board on the activity in each building without students being present. Angela Turcol explained to the board that the custodians are doing an “excellent” job preparing her building for the next school year and noted they are making great progress. She went on to add that the multi-purpose room is being occupied by Kids Kollege classes and many elementary students take advantage of the summer school camp education whether it be coloring or reading or crafts.
Lori Emmons explained to the board about her recent trip to Normal, IL to attend a Response to Intervention Conference along with 5 other district teachers. “The conference sessions were very informative and well-presented,” Lori explained. “GMS teachers were complimented on their efforts to schedule RtI time in their schedule. Emmons went on to add GMS is implementing the program as effectively, if not better, than most of the other schools. She went on to announce 6th grade orientation is set for Monday, August 13 at 6pm in the cafeteria.
Mr. Tieman, assistant superintendent, updated the board on the high school progress while Tiburzi is on vacation. The main highlight from Tieman was the online gradebook. “Parents will be able to check their students grades from exam scores down to homework scores,” Tieman explained. “It should be available by the start of next school year.” He went on to congratulate Abigail Harszy as she recently won the Proficiency Award at the FFA State Convention.
The payment of June bills were approved as follows:
- Education Fund: $66,084.21
- Building Fund: $13,750.16
- Transportation Fund: $17,206.28
- Site and Construction Fund: $571,737.04
- Subtotal: $688,838.69
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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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One of the greatest annual events in American sports is the Saturday is the Kentucky Derby, which will be run for the 152nd time this Saturday. One past champion was bred in Macoupin County.
This week marks 137 years since the victory of Spokane, who captured the 1889 Kentucky Derby during the infancy of the event. The horse was bred at “The Meadows,” the farm of Gen. Richard Rowett one mile north of Carlinville.
Rowett horses, and their jockey colors of orange jacket and blue cap, were on tracks throughout the west and south. But Spokane was the greatest production of The Meadows, a nationally recognized breeding ground for thoroughbreds.
In 1885, a prized dark brown horse named Hyder Ali was standing at The Meadows when Rowett bred him to one of his top mares, Interpose. This pairing had produced favorable offspring in the past, including Grey Cloud, a fine racer owned by Noah Armstrong of the Doncaster Ranch near Twin Bridges in the Montana Territory.
Armstrong’s famous stable included such horses as Lord Raglan, the third-place finisher in the 1883 Kentucky Derby. When Rowett offered Interpose for sale late in 1885, Armstrong, familiar with the high quality of Rowett stock, purchased the pregnant mare and her suckling filly, Madelin, for the price of $1,000 and shipped the brood to Montana.
The Doncaster Ranch was known for its spectacular, three-story round barn that featured an indoor track. While in Spokane in the Washington Territory on business, Armstrong received word of the birth of Interpose’s colt. In honor of the city, he named the colt Spokane.
Spokane showed great promise as a two-year-old, winning two of five starts in 1888, and Armstrong entered him in the 1889 Kentucky Derby. Although a premier race, the Derby had not achieved the monumental status it enjoys today.
The race was run on May 9, 1889–a Thursday–in front of a crowd of 25,000, a fraction of the throngs that fill Churchill Downs today.
Home state favorite Proctor Knott was the overwhelming favorite at 1-to-2, while the relatively unknown Spokane was listed at 10-to-1 odds. That was enough for Frank James, brother of outlaw Jessie and a regular at countless tracks.
James, flush with a windfall of $2,400 from an earlier race that day, asked a bookmaker of the odds on Spokane. The reply was “Ten-to-one and the sky’s the limit.” James threw down $5,000 on Spokane, causing the bookmaker to reply, “As far as I’m concerned, that’s the sky!”
Under jockey Thomas Kiley, Spokane edged Proctor Knott by a head, setting a record at 2:34 ½ over the mile-and-a-half layout (it was changed to a mile and a quarter in 1896). He remains the only Kentucky Derby winner ever born in Montana.
Proving the win was no fluke, Spokane again beat Proctor Knott five days later at the Clark Stakes in Louisville. On June 22, Spokane won another key race of the era, the American Derby at Washington Park in Chicago, to become the first horse to win both races in the same season.
Back in Illinois, Rowett did not live to see the triumph of Spokane, as he died on July 13, 1887. His death was covered on page one of the New York Times the following day.
In addition to breeding, Rowett is also remembered as the first to introduce the true-bred beagle hound to this country from his native England. Prior to that, he was a Civil War officer and state politician.
The only horse actually born in Illinois to win the Kentucky Derby was the 1970 champion, Dust Commander.
Tom Emery of Carlinville, who wrote the award-winning biography Richard Rowett: Thoroughbreds, Beagles, and the Civil War, may be reached at 217-710-8392 or ilcivilwar@yahoo.com.
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A former Carlinville High School football standout has signed as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots.
Kyle Dixon, a record-setting receiver at Culver-Stockton, an NAIA program in Canton, Missouri, inked the deal with New England after being passed over in the NFL Draft April 23-25.
Dixon was seen as an outside shot at being selected in the draft. He reportedly had visited at least one team, including Indianapolis, and was the subject of Internet speculation from various writers on his potential.
At Culver-Stockton, Dixon named to the American Football Coaches Association – NAIA All-American team. He was also a Heart of America Athletic Conference first team pick for the second straight year.
The 6-4, 216-pound Dixon was fourth in the NAIA with 83 receptions and third with 1,282 receiving yards in 2025.
New England advanced to last February’s Super Bowl, losing to Seattle.
It was the tenth Super Bowl appearance in the last 25 seasons for the Patriots, one of the NFL’s marquee teams over the last quarter-century.
New England won six Super Bowl titles in that span. The Patriots also played in the Super Bowl after the 1985 and 1996 seasons.
Though most undrafted free agents have an outside chance of sticking on NFL rosters, some future superstars began that way. Notable UDFAs include NFL Hall of Famers Kurt Warner, Warren Moon, Antonio Gates, Adam Vinatieri, and John Randle.
In 2025, eight NFL teams had at least three starters who had been UDFAs coming out of college.
The Patriots are known for their development of UDFAs. The franchise has had sixty starting players who were undrafted free agents from 2011-25, more than any other team in the NFL.
At Carlinville High School from 2015-18, Dixon finished in the top 20 in Illinois High School Association history in single-season receiving yards and touchdowns, career touchdowns, receptions, and receiving yards, and career interceptions on defense.
An all-state selection as a defensive back, Dixon was an all-South Central Conference pick as a receiver. He was also a two-time all-SCC pick in baseball.
Prior to Culver-Stockton, Dixon played baseball at SIU-Carbondale, SIU-Edwardsville, and Georgia Gwinnett College.
Dixon will try to become just the third Carlinville product to play in the NFL.
The others were Leland “Tiny” Lewis, who appeared in 14 games over the 1930-31 seasons with Portsmouth (now the Detroit Lions) and a now-defunct Cleveland franchise, and Mike Seyfrit, who played in 13 games for now-defunct franchises in Toledo and Hammond in 1923-24.
(Tom Emery may be reached at ilcivilwar@yahoo.com or 217-710-8392).
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