Community News
School board seats re-elected members, starts budget process for fiscal 2026
Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Monday night voted to direct the District Superintendent to begin developing a budget to govern spending for the upcoming fiscal year. The action followed the board’s biennial reorganization during which members re-elected on April 1 were seated, and officers and committees were appointed.
By unanimous votes, the board canvased the Consolidated Election balloting and certified the vote for three incumbent board members who were re-elected. Dennis Tiburzi was re-elected with 796 votes, according to the tally certified Monday night. Peyton Bernot was re-elected with 592 votes and William “Bill” Carter, who ran as a write-in candidate, won re-election with 80 votes. All three were unopposed on the April 1 ballot.
Tiburzi, Bernot and Carter were seated after taking an oath of office administered by President Mark Hayes. Hayes was re-elected as board president by acclamation after being nominated by Bernot. Weye Schmidt was re-elected as vice president by acclamation after being nominated by Carter, and Bernot was elected as board secretary by acclamation after being nominated by Hayes. The board also voted unanimously to accept Hayes’ appointments to board committees, which are unchanged from the previous two years.
Board member Kellie Vesper was reappointed as the board’s representative to the South Macoupin County Special Education Cooperative.
Kathy McDaniel, a four-decade veteran, was reappointed to serve as the board’s recording secretary.
Essentially the reorganized board remains the same in composition and organization with the exception of Bernot assuming the role of board secretary, a role previously filled by Carter.
On a motion by Tiburzi, seconded by Bernot, the board voted unanimously to direct Supt. Shane Owsley to start work on developing a tentative fiscal 2026 budget. The routine end-of-the-year action authorizes Owsley to develop a document estimating estimated revenues and expenditures for the fiscal year beginning July 1. State law requires the district to adopt a budget by the end of September. Owsley typically presents the tentative budget in August every year, after which the document will be subject to public review for 30 days.
Last year’s budget came in at about $19.5 million, but both revenue and expenditure estimates can change during the year contingent upon unexpected expenditures and/or fluctuations in revenue.
The board also directed Owsley to prepare an amended fiscal 2025 budget to reflect changes in revenue and expenditures that occurred during the fiscal year that concludes at the end of June. That amended budget is likely to be adopted by the full board next month.
Additionally, board members voted unanimously to authorize the Superintendent to make necessary operational expenditures between July 1 and the end of September when the final budget will be adopted.
Also in the area of school finances, the board voted unanimously to amend the district’s Risk Management Plan to cover 80 percent of salary costs for the school resource officer from the Tort Fund budgetary line item. As a result of the action, the board will be able to levy Tort funds to cover 80 percent of the resource officer’s salary, starting with the 2006 levy for property taxes payable in 2027.
Because the school district is subject to the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), commonly known as tax caps, the change will not result in additional taxes for district property owners. However, the change will allow the district to shift 80 percent of the resource officer’s salary from the Education Fund to the Tort Fund, potentially freeing up additional money for educational expenditures.
Tort Funds typically are earmarked for risk management cost, including attorney fees, legal expenses and insurance costs. Owsley said he consulted with the district’s attorney, who agreed the district could legally use the Tort Fund to cover a portion of the school resource officer’s salary.
PERSONNEL
Following an hour-long executive session, the board voted unanimously to hire Ashlee Gibbs as a high school summer school math teacher, and hired Jennifer Brown and Rob Macias as summer school drivers’ education teachers. GHS Principal Jill Rosentreter confirmed about 18 students have enrolled for summer classes at the high school level.
The board also voted unanimously to post a vacant position for a middle school summer school teacher. GMS Principal Patrick McGinthy told the board he expects eight to 10 middle school students to enroll in summer school.
By a unanimous vote, the board hired Alicia Sloan and Amanda Manley as cafeteria workers for the summer school programs.
The board voted unanimously to hire Addison Mays, Glen Carbon, as the new BenGil Elementary School music teacher for the 2025-26 school year. Mays is a 2025 graduate of Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Mays will step into a vacancy created by the resignation of Aubrey Morgan last month.
With one dissenting vote, the board hired Andrew Hirstein as a six-hour cafeteria worker, pending a routine background check. The hire was approve 6-1 with Tiburzi voting “no.”
In other personnel action, the board hired Shari Scott as a district paraprofessional for the 2025-26 school year, and accepted the resignation of Lexi Busman as Gillespie Middle School cheerleading coach and posted the position as vacant.
AI-GENERATED FOIA REQUESTS
The routine approval of the board’s consent agenda prompted a discussion regarding the relatively new phenomenon of Freedom of Information Act requests generated by artificial intelligence. Supt. Owsley reported to the board that he and his staff responded to nine requests under the state’s Freedom of Information Act for voluminous amounts of information for data regarding annual expenses paid to vendors, firms and individuals for multiple fiscal years between 1998 and 2023.
Responding to questions from board member Bernot, Owsley said the Illinois Association of School Administrators’ Legislative Committee is working on ways to address the issue of AI-generated FOIA requests with possible new legislation.
“You had nine FOIA requests?” Bernot asked.
“Yes,” Owsley responded.
“And they were all AI-generated?”
“They were,” Owsley confirmed.
“Whoever is behind it, these AI requests were sent to every school district in the State of Illinois?” Bernot asked.
“Yes,” said Owsley.
Owsley told the board he checked with the district’s attorney several times. “Unfortunately, there is no law about AI-generated requests,” he said. He told Bernot that collecting the information to respond to a single request took two to three hours for him and another staff member.
Bernot said he was aggravated that the district had to spend so much administrative time responding to what amounts to an anonymous FOIA request. He suggested simply ignoring the request to force whoever is responsible for them to file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Public Access Department. “My understanding is that they have to use their name to file a complaint,” Bernot said. Bernot said the AI-generated requests all came from a blind email called ad.cuius.bonum@proton.me. The proton.me suffix suggests the email is being routed through foreign servers to shield the IP address of the sender.
“No one really knows where they’re coming from,” Owsley noted. “I felt a little better knowing we aren’t the only ones receiving them.”
DISTRICT FOCUS
Kayla Wills, FFA sponsor, accompanied several Gillespie High School FFA members to the meeting to discuss recent competition successes and upcoming programs.
“This is really a good group of students who have chosen to step into leadership roles,” Wills told the board, adding that the FFA program challenges students to take on new opportunities and “try things that can be a little scary.”
“This is one of the best groups we’ve had in the seven years I’ve been here,” she said. “I can hardly keep up with all the new ideas they bring forward. I can definitely say they’ve have done a lot for the community.”
Current FFA Vice President Kayden Koelker told the board the club’s Parliamentary team placed first at the sectional competition but fell short of advancing to the state level, placing third at the district level. “I’m confident that with the team we have for next year, we will make state.”
Landon Higginbotham told board members that the FFA Ag Power team swept all of their competitions at the sectional and district levels and were scheduled to compete at the state level this week in Construction, Surveying, Welding and Electricity.
Payton Bertolis described a Barnyard Day the group has planned May 8 at BenGil Elementary School during which FFA members will teach students about various farm animals and give students a chance to pet and interact with them. Tember Miller discussed a new outreach program allowing FFA members to teach ag-related topics to middle school special needs students.
Brooklyn Crockett, junior greenhouse manager, announced dates for the FFA’s annual greenhouse sales during which plants grown by FFA members will be available to the public. The greenhouse will be open for sales this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 2-4, as well as next Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 9-11. Senior Greenhouse Manager Nate Spencer told the board that he is managing the group’s sweet corn plot. “This year we are using phased planting so we’ll have sweetcorn all summer,” he said. Proceeds from sweetcorn sales and greenhouse sales help support FFA scholarship funds.
Cedrick Krieter described a tractor/vehicle safe driving event the club has planned for May 20.
Also during the District Focus segment, Jennifer Parker described a cross-curricular Volume Unit recently completed by 70 fifth grade students. Students were assigned to research an animal before constructing a representative of the animal using cardboard boxes. The students then were required to measure the boxes and determine the total volume of their model. Determining volume and area is a large part of the IAR assessment test fifth graders take.
Students also were assigned to write a poem about their animal and speak about their project during a special parents’ night, bringing language arts and public speaking aspects into the program.
Parker said students enjoyed the program, which “gives them an opportunity to be creative and work together.”
EARLY GRADUATION REQUEST
With one dissenting vote, the board approved an early graduation request for Hunter Hegel. The measure will allow the student to graduate at the end of the first semester of the 2025-26 school year, provided he has completed all graduation requirements. Tiburzi cast the sole “no” vote.
“I think our early graduation rate is too high,” President Hayes noted, adding he would like to know how the rate at GHS compares with surrounding school districts.
GHS Principal Rosentreter said the school typically approves 12 to 15 early graduation requests every year but some of those students later opt to complete the school year. The majority of early graduates chose to leave school early in order to enter the work force, she said.
“We have some things—positive things—coming up that will help deter (the number of early graduation requests),” she said. The district is looking at a work-school program that would allow students to enter the workforce while continuing their education for the final semester.
Supt. Owsley said the district also could consider making graduation requirements more stringent.
“Our graduation requirements are less than some other districts,” he said. “We require two years of science, for example. I think that could easily be bumped up to three years.”
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
• Renewed the district’s membership in the Illinois Elementary Schools Association at a total cost of $1,415. The membership fee is based on the number of competitive sports, including Scholar Bowl, the school offers.
• Approved a fee and textbook rental schedule for the 2025-26 school year. The textbook fee remains at $75 per student. Lab fees remain at $25 for elective classes other than drivers’ education, which remains at $100. Student lunches and breakfasts will continue to be free of charge, provided the federal government releases USDA funds to subsidize the free lunch program for low income school districts.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement to offer more than a dozen dual credit high school courses in cooperation with Lewis and Clark Community College.
• Amended the current school calendar to reflect adjustments in the dates for parent-teacher conferences during the past year.
• Agreed to move the date for the board’s June meeting from June 23 to June 30.
Comments
FELONIES
Christopher L. Black, 43 of Virden, is charged with home invasion/causing injury and two counts of aggravated battery of a peace officer in connection with a January 4 incident.
Casey W. Sobberi, 40 of Wilsonville, is charged with burglary in connection with a January 3 incident.
Eugene Arnold, 62 of Royal Lakes, is charged with aggravated battery/great bodily harm, aggravated battery/use of a deadly weapon, and domestic battery/bodily harm in connection with a January 6 incident.
Michael A. Upton, 34 of Palmyra, is charged with twelve counts of child pornography and possession of methamphetamine (5 grams) in connection with multiple dates in 2025.
Bryer D. Greff, 31 of Virden, is charged with aggravated battery/public place, resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee, and two counts of disorderly conduct in connection with a January 7 incident.
Shayne W. Dugger, 26 of Palmyra, is charged with possession of methamphetamine (<5 grams) in connection with a September 28 incident.
Sarah L. Winston, 36 of Carlinville, is charged with possession of methamphetamine (<5 grams) in connection with a November 4 incident.
TRAFFIC
Austin D. Courier, 30 of Vriden, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a December 30 incident.
Courtney N. Lomelino, 23 of Virden, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with a December 25 incident.
William R. Dyer, 55 of Carlinville, is charged with leaving the scene, driver failing to give notice of a crash, transporting/carrying alcohol/driver, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, improper traffic lane usage, seat belt required/driver, and failure to reduce speed in connection with a January 4 incident.
Billy R. Austin, 44 of Modesto, is charged with expired registration, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and being unlicensed in connection with a January 4 incident.
Richard W. Wallis, 63 of Nilwood, is charged with driving on a suspended license in connection with a January 5 incident.
Stephanie E. Jennings, 34 of Girard, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a January 6 incident.
Bruce A. Day, 60 of Carlinville, is charged with driving on a revoked license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a January 5 incident.
Clayton R. Sampson, 19 of Palmyra, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with a January 6 incident.
Dakota R. Lavely, 20 of Troy, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a January 5 incident.
Wayne E. Mitchell, 46 of Brighton, is charged with driving on a revoked license, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and expired registration in connection with a December 30 incident.
Monty M. Gardner, 55 of Brighton, is charged with driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a January 2 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Catherine Harrison versus David Breen
- Margaret Putman versus Justin S. Putman
- Taunia R. Moore versus Blake A. Moore
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- Wade Logan Yates of Brighton and Anna Catherine Marcy of Riverton.
- Douglas Guennewig and Buffy Riddens, both of Staunton.
Comments
SUNDAY, JANUARY 4, 2026
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South 4th Street in Benld in reference to a domestic dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Charles Street in reference to a 911 call.
An officer was dispatched to South Hard Road in Benld in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of East Walnut Street in reference to a 911 call.
An officer was spoke with a male at the Gillespie Police Department in reference to harassment.
MONDAY, JANUARY 5, 2026
An officer spoke with a female at the Gillespie Police Department in reference to neighbor trouble.
Jiles R. Lyons, 36 of Benld, was arrested on a Macoupin County warrant for failure to appear for possession of another’s credit/debit card.
An officer spoke with a male at the Gillespie Police Department in reference to an animal complaint in the 600 block of North 7th Street in Benld.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of East Burton Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to Osie Street and Handy Street in reference to a security check.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2026
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of South Hard Road in Benld in reference to juvenile issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of West Burton Street in reference to a 911 call.
An officer spoke with a male at the Gillespie Police Department in reference to harassment.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of West Walnut Street in reference to a neighborhood dispute.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of North Francis Street in reference to a 911 call.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Elm Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to Macoupin Street and Walnut Street in reference to suspicious activity.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2026
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of South 5th Street in Benld in reference to a burglary.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Springfield Road and Virginia Street in East Gillespie. Debra A. Brooks, 65 of Carlinville, was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Adams Street in reference to ordinance issues.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of South Illinois Street in Benld in reference to criminal trespass to property.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Macoupin Street and Osie Street. Kylee P. Cothern, 18 of Benld, was issued a citation for expired registration and operating uninsured vehicle.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to a hit and run traffic crash.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Springfield Road and Virginia Street in East Gillespie. Tiana F. McFarland, 28 of Staunton, was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Springfield Road and Virginia Street in East Gillespie. Debra A. Brooks, 65 of Carlinville, was issued a citation for speeding.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2026
The School Resource Officer was dispatched to the High School office in reference to a fight.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Springfield Road and Illinois Street in East Gillespie. Darlene Karns, 70 of Gillespie, was issued a citation for speeding.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at 7th Street and Pine Street in Benld. Dylan S. Richards, 32 of Staunton, was issued a citation for suspended registration.
An officer was dispatched to the 400 block of South Illinois Street in Benld in reference to a security check.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2026
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of Park Avenue in reference to criminal trespass.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of West Spruce Street in reference to criminal damage.
An officer was dispatched to the 200 block of South Montgomery Street in reference to a 911 call.
An officer spoke with a female at the Gillespie Police Department in reference to a theft in the 500 block of South Jersey Street.
An officer spoke with a male at the Gillespie Police Department in reference to an animal complaint in the 200 block of West Maple Street.
The School Resource Officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Oak Street in reference to a juvenile issue.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2026
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of Frey Street in reference to criminal damage.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Macoupin Street and Pine Street. Racheal A. Aleshire, 47 of Gillespie, was issued a citation for driving while her license was revoked.
An officer initiated a traffic stop at Hard Road and Central Avenue in Benld. Amber R. Brackett, 31 of Gillespie, was issued citations for suspended registration and for no insurance.
An officer was dispatched to the 700 block of Springfield Road in East Gillespie in reference to a well-being check.
An officer was dispatched to the 300 block of East Elm Street in reference to an animal complaint.
An officer was dispatched to the 100 block of North Macoupin Street in reference to an intoxicated pedestrian.
An officer was dispatched to the 500 block of West Virginia Street in East Gillespie in reference to stalking.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Comments
FELONIES
Micah J. Ramsey, 39 of Carlinville, is charged with aiding/abetting/selling a stolen vehicle and driving on a revoked license in connection with a December 27 incident.
Shawn M. McBride, 38 of Staunton, is charged with obstructing justice/destroying evidence in connection with a December 18 incident.
Riley G. Rhodes, 18 of Carlinville, is charged with possession/displaying an altered ID card in connection with a December 18 incident.
Shane S. Bell, 35 of Girard, is charged with possession of methamphetamine (<5 grams) in connection with a November 6 incident.
MISDEMEANORS
Ted. E. Hanner, 50 of Bunker Hill, is charged with obstructing identification in connection with a December 3 incident.
Brittany M. Lyons, 35 of Benld, is charged with criminal trespass to a building in connection with a December 19 incident.
Betty J. Jamieson, 75 of Carlinville, is charged with violating the animal control act in connection with a December 29 incident.
James J. Denby, 27 of Carlinville, is charged with criminal trespass to land in connection with a December 8 incident.
Tricia J. Pfeiler, 37 of Carlinville, is charged with battery/cause bodily harm and cruelty to animals in connection with a January 1 incident.
Rodney J. Rosentreter, 60 of Gillespie, is charged with criminal damage to property (<$500) and resisting a peace officer/firefighter/corrections employee in connection with a January 1 incident.
TRAFFIC
Rustin L. Reed, 19 of Springfield, is charged with speeding 26-34 mph over the limit in connection with a December 27 incident.
Passion M. Kinzey, 33 of Chicago, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a December 27 incident.
Ella R. Robinson, 20 of Bonne Terre, MO, is charged with speeding 35 mph over the limit in connection with a December 30 incident.
Julie B. Kruse, 55 of Staunton, is charged with driving on a suspended license and operating an uninsured motor vehicle in connection with a December 18 incident.
Gregory A. Knezic, 60 of Staunton, is charged with driving on a suspended license and improper use of registration/title in connection with a December 23 incident.
Dixie L. Moffitt, 73 of Worden, is charged with canceled/revoked/suspended registration in connection with a December 22 incident.
Dakota L. Schoondyke, 28 of Virden, is charged with driving on a suspended license and operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration in connection with a December 26 incident.
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE FILED
- Debra E. Seago versus Carl L. Seago Jr.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
- David L. Ehlers and Shirley Marie Lee Haines, both of Bunker Hill.
- Steven D. Clattenburg and Billie Jo Croll, both of Virden.
- Robert J. Halpin and Chelsea L. Kirkover, both of Gillespie.
