Community News
School Board stays the course with remote learning plan
Several parents of Community Unit School District 7 left disappointed after the Board of Education declined to take action on reversing or reaffirming the district’s remote learning plan currently in place during a special meeting of the board on Wednesday night.
Five mothers of CUSD 7 students urged the board to reopen the district for in-person learning during the public comment portion of the meeting. Among other issues, the speakers noted that remote learning is not as effective as in-person attendance and continued isolation from classmates may adversely affect students emotionally and mentally.
Those speaking apparently expected the board to take an up or down vote on the issue. Instead, board members offered no motion on the question and Supt. Shane Owsley read a prepared statement reiterating the district’s intention to continue with remote learning at least through early October. His reading of the statement was met with shouts of “You’re hurting the children” as board members moved to adjourn the meeting.
The board met in the Gillespie Middle School cafeteria to allow room for social distancing. The school’s resource police officer was on hand to take temperatures of those entering the room, and he remained on the premises during the meeting. Board members Don Dobrino, Jenni Alepra, Mark Hayes and Weye Schmidt attended the meeting in person; Becky Hatlee and Bill Carter participated remotely via the internet.
Reading from a prepared statement, Owsley said the district’s decision to continue with remote learning was driven by concerns for the safety of students, staff and community members. Even with the school closed to in-person learning, he said, the number of COVID-19 cases in the district doubled from 43 cases on Aug. 11 when the school year started to 86 as of Sept. 6.
“While remote learning is not perfect, it is consistent,” Owsley said. “The Board of Education and the Administrative team believe the consistency provided by remote learning is far more effective than an in-person plan where students will be brought into school and pulled out of school on a regular basis.”
The consistency provided by the current plan, he noted, also facilitates families arranging for daycare for their children.
“The district fully understands that COVID-19 will be an ongoing concern for the remainder of the school year,” Owsley said. “The district also fully understands that students will need to return to in-person learning at some point during the year. The Board of Education and Administrative team would like to see a ‘leveling off’ or a decrease in positive cases within our district’ before resuming in-person learning.
Departing from the prepared statement, Owsley assured parents that sports programs, a major concern of those speaking Wednesday night, would resume immediately upon the district returning to in-person learning.
Additionally, he said, the district will continue to offer remote learning for parents who want that option when in-person classes resume. He warned, however, that the remote learning experience after classroom learning resumes will not match what students and parents are accustomed to while remote learning is the only option available. Teachers will be expected to teach classroom students during the day and offer online instruction at the end of the school day.
When a decision is made to return to in-person learning, according to information provided to persons attending the meeting, students will attend school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. High school and middle school students will be dismissed at 1 p.m., and elementary students will be dismissed at 2 p.m. Wednesday will be used as a day for cleaning and sanitizing school facilities, including buses. Teachers will be available for remote learning opportunities on Wednesdays.
The board met in executive session for about 90 minutes before coming into open session to hear concerns from parents. Board members spent about 30 minutes listening to the concerns of parents.
Jennifer Hailstone and Keri Kaylor, both of whom addressed the board at its previous meeting regarding the same issue, reiterated their objections to the remote learning plan and asked pointed questions of both the board and Owsley. Both women were dismayed that the agenda called for them to offer their comments before the board announced its decision.
Hailstone said her comments at the previous board meeting were not intended to create division.
“I am, however, passionate about education opportunities for our children,” she said. “That’s why I’m pushing for choice.” The remote learning plan does not provide adequate education and continuing to rely on remote learning is having an adverse effect on students, according to Hailstone. “It’s very concerning, very heartbreaking,” she said. “There are kids out there suffering from depression and suffering from anxiety.”
Hailstone asked if the district had appointed an advisory task force comprised of board members, administrators, teachers, parents and students, as she had recommended during her previous appearance before the board. Owsley responded that no such task force had been created but said a team made up of administrators, teachers and County Health Department personnel were continuing to evaluate information to guide the district in regard to reopening plans. No students were involved, he said. Parents were indirectly involved by virtue of an informal online survey.
Results of that survey, made available to persons attending Wednesday night’s meeting, showed parents to be evenly divided between those who prefer in-person instruction and those who would opt for remote learning. With more than 900 parents responding, slightly less than three out of five said they would be comfortable with sending their children back to school for in-person instruction.
Hailstone also pressed Owsley for a definite number of cases in the district below which the district would feel comfortable with reopening school. Based on Macoupin County Public Health Department recommendations, Owsley said, the district is looking for a declining number of cases or a leveling off of new cases. “As far as saying there is a magic number where it is safe and a number that’s not, we can’t do that,” he said.
Hailstone said the Illinois Department of Public Health issued guidelines saying it would be relatively safe to reopen schools in communities where the rate of infection is below eight percent of the population. The infection rate in CUSD 7 was below eight percent on Aug. 11 when school resumed, she said. Even though the number of positive cases has doubled since that time, the number of cases in the district remains below eight percent of the population.
While district officials said they would monitor the success of other districts reopening for in-person learning, Hailstone complained that CUSD 7 remains closed while “other districts are doing very well.”
Asked specifically about fall sports programs, Owsley confirmed that all sports programs would be immediately re-implemented as soon as students return to the classroom. He defended the district’s decision to make contact with a privately organized seventh-grade baseball team to ensure the team was not playing as a school team.
Kaylor reported to the board that her son, a senior, received a computer and only one textbook to start the school year even though parents are paying textbook rental fees equivalent to previous years. Owsley said teachers are providing classroom materials, including textbook chapters, on the Chromebooks issued to students at the beginning of the year.
She also asked about the number of minutes online teachers spend with students per class. High School Principal Jill Rosentreter replied that the amount of time spent on online learning varied from about twelve minutes to 30 minutes.
“To keep a student’s attention online for 60 minutes times four is not recommended,” Rosentreter said.
Owsley said the district also has concerns about keeping enough substitute teachers available. Under current provisions, a teacher that arrives with symptoms, such as a runny nose, must be sent home. Having multiple teachers out of the classroom could create challenges in making sure classes have instructors present, Owsley said.
Owsley declined to answer when Kaylor pointedly asked if he would feel comfortable sending his own children back to the classroom at this time. But five of the six board members said they would not want to send their children to school for classroom learning under the current circumstances.
Kaylor then alleged area youths would be no more at risk for contracting COVID-19 if they were in the classroom than they are now.
“Kids are out and about now. I don’t see that being in school is any more dangerous,” she said. “They need to be in school. I’m very, very concerned that our kids are going to be so far behind students from other districts.”
Amanda Yeager, a mother of four elementary school-age children, presented upward of 40 pages of supporting documents with her statement to the board calling for the district to reopen for in-person learning.
“This board has the responsibility to take proper precautions for safety and make sure our children are properly taught, and in-person learning is proven to be the best for our children,” Yeager said. “I and others feel you need to do your job as elected officials or resign.”
Yeager used data from Niche.com, a school and community assessment site, to draw a correlation between administrative scores and whether or not schools have reopened for in-person learning. Carlinville, Staunton, Mount Olive, and Bunker Hill, whose administrations are graded at B- or better, are open with hybrid in-person/remote learning programs. Gillespie with an administrative grade of D is open for remote learning only.
“I believe you can see a pattern here with administrative grades,” she said.
Yeager said students reliant on remote-learning only maybe as much as a year behind other students in academic development, and that reopening schools for in-person learning is critical for students’ mental and physical well-being.
She noted that the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Macoupin County represents less than one percent of the county’s population and that schools that have reopened for in-person learning have reported no problems.
In addition to her statement to the board, Yeager submitted a Freedom of Information request for all correspondence and discussion related to the board’s decision to reopen exclusively with remote learning.
One mother attributed her freshman daughter’s anorexia and depression to the lack of in-person learning. She said her daughter currently is working with a counselor and nutritionist after dropping nearly 30 pounds since last spring. Hillsboro and other surrounding school districts are using classroom learning with no problems, she said.
“They’re still going,” she said. “They may have a few cases, but they’re still going. Please consider sending them back to school for the health of our children.”
Owsley pledged to reach out to the mother of a special needs student after she said she had been unable to get special services for her son. She said both she and her husband work full time and do not have the time or ability to provide in-home services for her son.
“I do not have the knowledge or the ability to teach a special needs child,” she said. “I’m asking for help.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of this,” Owsley told the woman. “Obviously our goal is to serve all of our students. I will give you a call tomorrow.”
Faculty member Casey Sholtis, speaking on behalf of the teachers union, offered praise for the district’s Technology Department for working to resolve problems and make it possible for teachers to offer remote learning experiences for CUSD 7 students.
As board members voted to adjourn, Yeager demanded to be allowed to speak.
“You’re not doing anything for these kids,” she insisted. “I have one more statement to make. You’re not going to listen.”
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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.
