Community News
School board member Alepra resigns
Community Unit School District 7’s Board of Education on Monday night accepted the resignation of a long-serving member and approved a new class schedule for the 2022-23 school year designed to provide additional instruction time without increasing the amount of time teachers are on the clock.
Board President Mark Hayes said it was “with a heavy heart” that he asked for motion to accept Jennifer Alepra’s unexpected resignation from the board. Alepra, currently serving as Vice President of the board, was absent from the meeting, as were board members Bill Carter and Dennis Tiburzi.
In her letter of resignation, dated April 15, Alepra said her resignation was effective immediately, and she thanked the community and school district staff for “the opportunity to serve.”
“The children and parents are the core of our school district, and it has been a pleasure and an honor to serve my community for the past 19 years,” she wrote. “I feel that it is time to allow another member of our community to have the privilege to serve our district and our children.”
Alepra’s resignation was unanimously accepted “with regret” on a motion by Weye Schmidt, seconded by Jack Burns.
Supt. Shane Owsley said he will post notice of the vacancy in local media and on the district’s website. Applications for Alepra’s successor will be accepted through Friday, May 6. The board plans to convene a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 9, to review applications, interview applicants and choose Alepra’s replacement.
Hayes said anyone can apply for the position except persons living in Cahokia Township. While board members are elected “at large,” state law prohibits majority membership from any one township. Three members of the current board are Cahokia residents.
Alepra was last re-elected to the board in 2019 after serving four prior terms. Her successor will serve until the next consolidated election in the spring of 2023 when Alepra’s term would have expired.
SCHEDULE CHANGES FOR NEXT YEAR
The board unanimously approved a change in attendance schedules that will stagger arrival and departure times for elementary students and middle/school high school students. Under the new schedule, recommended by Owsley and endorsed by the teachers union, BenGil Elementary School classes will convene at 8 a.m., with students arriving between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. Classes at Gillespie Middle School and High School will begin at 8:15 a.m. BenGil Elementary students will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m. and the school day will end at the middle school/high school at 3 p.m.
Owsley said the shortened drop-off and pick-up times is expected to increase instructional time for elementary students by 30 minutes daily.
Staff members will continue to arrive at 7:30 a.m. and leave at 3:15 p.m. The schedule change will allow additional time for middle school and high school staff to attend before school meetings and professional development sessions and will allow district coaches to attend practices in full regardless of the building they work in.
Schmidt asked whether the schedule changes would require athletes to leave before the end of classes to play in “away” games and meets. High School Principal Jill Rosentreter said class disruption is expected to be “very minimal.”
“We have a lot of schools in the area that don’t allow their students to leave earlier,” she said. “On long journeys, we may have to make some adjustments—maybe 15 minutes—and we may not get there an hour before the game.”
In other action, the board approved a revision to the current school calendar to make Friday, May 13, the last day of classes for the school year. Commencement is set for 2 p.m., Sunday, May 15.
The board also approved a calendar for the coming school year calling for classes to start approximately a week later than usual. Under the newly approved calendar, classes will start Aug. 17, with teacher institute days scheduled for Aug. 15 and 16. The last day of classes will be June 2 with early dismissal. If no emergency days are used, the last day of classes could be as early as May 25. Commencement ceremonies are set for May 21.
Standard school holidays include Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Election Day, two days for Thanksgiving, and Presidents Day. Winter Break is slated for Dec. 22 through Jan. 4, and Spring Break is set for April 3-10.
Early dismissals are slotted for Sept. 2, Oct. 5 and 6 for middle school and high school parent/teacher conferences, Oct. 14, Nov. 21-22 for elementary parent/teacher conferences, Dec. 2, Dec. 21, Feb. 3, March 10, and April 14.
PERSONNEL
The board tabled action on an agenda item calling for the possible hiring of a high school science/physical education teacher but the fact it was on the agenda prompted a formal statement from the teachers union calling for the board to also consider increasing staff in other critical areas.
Reading from a prepared statement, Casey Sholtis, Vice President of the Macoupin County Federation of Teachers Local 528, spoke on behalf of the union, saying the union welcomes the addition of staff to support students but “would like to suggest some other areas that require increases in staff.”
The number of students with individual education plans (IEPs) is increasing necessitating “additional resource teachers . . . not only to best serve students but also to maintain legal student/teacher ratios,” Sholtis said.
Additionally, he said, BenGil Elementary, which historically had two physical education teachers now has only one PE teacher to meet the needs of nearly 600 students. Likewise, the number of PE teachers at the middle school has been reduced from two to one. BenGil Elementary also lost a fine arts component due to scheduling needs within the high school, he said.
“COVID has placed tremendous pressure on our student body, and many struggle to achieve grade-level competencies,” Sholtis said. “The effects of this learning loss can be most clearly seen at the elementary level. The current Title I reading program does a tremendous job of helping students make up ground. The addition of a Title math program would provide additional and much-needed support.”
Sholtis said the recommendations came from teachers “who fight each day to deliver the best instruction they can” and “see on a daily basis where our gaps are.”
Speaking for the union, Sholtis concluded: “We feel the suggestions… should be implemented ahead of an additional high school science/PE position that no one in either of those departments recognizes a need for.”
In response, President Hayes noted that matter had been tabled and that a school improvement committee is set to meet on Wednesday to discuss staffing needs and instructional strategies.
In separate actions, the board voted unanimously to hire staff for this year’s summer school program. Jennifer Brown was hired as a behind-the-wheel driver education instructor. Dan Edgerton was hired as a high school summer math teacher, Jake Peterson was hired for middle school summer math, Casey Edgerton was hired for middle school summer English, all with the provision that enough students sign up for summer courses. Jennifer Parker, Karissa Smith, Nancy Schmidt, Melissa Bussmann, Amy Price and Jessica Kelly were all hired as elementary summer school teachers, and Penny Feeley and Janice Hammann were hired as summer school food service workers.
The board accepted the resignations from Jack Burns as head high school cross country coach, Amanda Dugger as a special education resource teacher, and Stuart Ringer as head high school golf coach. Vacancies were posted for all three positions.
The board voted unanimously to hire Rachel Bouillon as a school nurse at BenGil Elementary School, pending a background check and confirmation of certification.
Casey Bonstead was hired as an assistant freshman football coach, and Nathan Wise was employed as an assistant varsity football coach.
DISTRICT FOCUS
Gillespie Middle School Principal Tara Cooper recognized eighth-grade honor students who were listed on the honor roll every quarter throughout their three years of middle school. As a District Focus, she presented a PowerPoint presentation featuring slides of each of the students, along with their achievements and aspirations.
She congratulated the students on their success, noting they were among those who persevered and continued to maintain their academic endeavors through the COVID crisis. The honor students will be recognized, she said, during Eighth Grade Promotion ceremonies.
Those recognized include Jacob Baglin, Emily Bergen, Addison Cox, Hank Fletcher, Marshall Garwood, Katherine Gerdes, Carson Hailstone, Hunter Hegel, Zoey Jackson, Lillianna Jones, Kayden Koelker, Dawson Lancaster, Dawson Morgan, Tyler Palmer, Ava Parish, Kori Peterson, Zachary Phillips, Ava Rakers, Paxton Reid, Sean Roach, Wyatt Rondi, Ava Segarra, Brody Shaw, Brock Sherman, Lusas Rosenthal, Luke Schuckenbrock, Carter Sees, Clair Wallace and Hailey Young.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Approved job descriptions for all district positions.
- Approved a high school course description handbook for the 2022-23 academic year.
- Adopted an Risk Management Plan updated to include mine subsidence risks.
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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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