Community News
School board votes to seek school improvement day waiver, approves audit and accepts insurance bids
Community Unit School District 7 will seek a school code waiver allowing it to conduct three full-day school improvement days in lieu of six half-day sessions required by the state’s school code after the Board of Education voted Monday night to formally seek the exemption. The action followed a brief public hearing at the start of the board’s regular monthly meeting during which Supt. Shane Owsley outlined the request. Owsley said the administration had already written to local legislators and to the teachers union to advise them of the district’s intention. The public hearing was a final formality before seeking the waiver.
Owsley told the board he wanted to “modify” the school code requirement for six half-day school improvement days to have three full-day sessions instead.
“With our staggered start times, we’re seeing that a half day doesn’t leave a lot of time for instruction,” Owsley said. “In addition, those are days with a lot of student absence and a lot of staff absence because people make appointments on those days.”
Full-day school improvement days, he argued, would provide additional time for professional development, and facilitate engaging speakers and presenters for professional development. Per state statute, the district would still be able to count those days as student attendance days, while eliminating the cost of bussing students to and from school. It also would reduce the need to hire substitute teachers on the days half-day training is scheduled. Owsley also said the change would benefit parents by allowing them to plan for three full days of alternative supervision for their children instead of six half days.
“I see a lot of benefits for our kids, our parents and our staff,” Owsley said.
Tentatively, the three full-day sessions would be scheduled immediately before the first day of student attendance, with one in October and one during the second semester.
Owsley said the Jerseyville School District already has secured permission to modify the code requirement. If Gillespie succeeds in winning approval, he said he expects other districts in the area will follow suit.
Board members voted unanimously to seek the waiver on a motion by Kelli Vesper, seconded by Amanda Ross. The application now goes to the Illinois State Board of Education and Regional Office of Education for review before being submitted to the state legislature for final approval. If the legislature approves the application, the waiver will be valid for five years.
ANNUAL AUDIT
Board members unanimously voted to accept the annual audit, a summary of which was presented by Ken Loy of Loy Miller Talley CPAs, Alton. Loy described the audit as a “clean audit” with no major findings. The audit includes three “clean opinion” letters from the auditors—one regarding the audit in general, one referring to internal controls and compliance regarding bonds, and one referring to the district’s handling of federal funds.
Based on the audit, Loy said the school district will received a financial rating of 3.7 points out of 4, resulting in “Recognition” status. Recognition status is the highest level in the State Board of Education’s rating system.
Loy said the most recent fiscal year was “the second good year in a row for the district,’ compared with previous years.
“Things are a little better now with the one percent sales tax revenue, evidence-based state funding (which benefits rural districts) and increases in the districts equalized assessed valuation,” he said.
Loy said only two funds saw expenditures exceed revenue for fiscal year 2023. Transportation posted a deficit of $23,670, due primarily to fact buses ordered by the district during the previous fiscal year were not delivered until after the start of the 2023 fiscal year. Capital Projects also posted a very slight deficit of $4,574. All other funds ended the year with surplus funds, and most funds were within a few percentage points of what was budgeted for them.
In total, Loy said the district ended the fiscal year $1.38 million in the black.
Property tax revenue was up somewhat, even though the tax rate went down due to a significant increase in the district’s total equalized assessed valuation.
The total equalized assessed valuation for the district was $95.3 million, Loy said, an increase of about 9.3 percent.
“That’s a big increase in the EAV for a school district,” he said. “But tax levies can only go up so much due to tax caps, which means the tax rate goes down when the EAV goes up.” The rate actually fell from $3.80 per $100 in EAV two years ago to $3.48 last fiscal year. The county collected and distributed 99.6 percent of what was sent out in tax bills, Loy said, resulting in revenue of $3,129,179 in local property tax revenue.
Emergency federal funding resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic boosted federal funding for the district to a total of $2.5 million. Federal funds accounted for about 14 percent of the district’s revenue, compared with seven or eight percent a few years ago. Those emergency funds, however, are expected to dry up this fiscal year, and federal funding is expected to drop back to $1 or $1.2 million..
Auditors calculated the per capita cost of education at $10,772—up from $9,452 the previous year. The increase was attributed to inflation, but also stagnant student enrollment.
“A lot of districts are hitting record lows for enrollment,” Loy said. “There are not as many children in rural areas as a few years ago.”
Owsley reported auditors from Loy Miller Talley CPAs spent three days in the district last summer to review financial documents. He thanked Loy for continuing to do perform the audit while other firms are backing away from school district work because of stringent requirements and peculiarities of school district accounting. He said school districts statewide are scambling to find qualified auditing firms and some are still waiting for audits to be completed for fiscal 20223.
INSURANCE
Following the recommendation of Rick Sedlak of Schmale Insurance, Belleville, the board voted to switch the district’s property coverage from EMC Insurance to Wright Specialty, a firm specializing in insuring school districts. EMC, the company that insured the district’s property for the past three years, planned to raise premiums by $30,000, from $188,000 to $222,000. Wright will provide virtually the same coverage for an annual premium of $166,028.
In a separate action, the board renewed its policy with Zenith Insurance for workers compensation coverage at a cost of $53,860, down from $56,262 last year. Board members also voted to renew excess mine subsidence/earthquake insurance with Axis Insurance to cover the first $10 million in damage, Sompo to cover the next $5 million in damage and Markel Insurance to cover up to $5 million in damage exceeding $15 million. The total premiums for excess mine subsidence coverage if $202,084—about $30,000 more than the $170,6334 th district paid last year.
In aggregate, the district will pay $368,112 for property insurance and excess mine subsidence coverage, compared with $359,334 last year.
“If you stay with EMC and renew your excess mine subsidence insurance, you’re going to be up about $65,000,” Sedlak reported.
Sedlak said his firm received only two bids after reaching out to five national insurers. The second bidder, Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust, a consortium of more than 400 public bodies in Illinois, offered a bid of $146,982 but with significantly less coverage.
“We’re in a hard market for property insurance,” Sedlak said. “We’re in a high tornado/high hail area., and you have lots of property value. For those reasons, a lot of companies don’t want to quote.”
Sedlak said part of the challenge was to find a carrier that would offer adequate coverage for mine subsidence and earthquake damage. EMC, the district’s current insurer, offered full coverage for earthquake damage, while Wright Specialty’s policy limits coverage to $15 million. Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust capped coverage for earthquake damage at $5 million, less than 10 percent of the district’s total property value.
While Wright’s earthquake coverage is lower than the district’s current provider, Sedlak said that difference is somewhat mitigated with the district’s excess mine subsidence insurance, which also covers earthquake damage. Coupled with the excess mine subsidence policies, the district will have coverage to a limit of $35 million.
“That’s more than half of your property value,” Sedlak said. “You’re in a moderate zone for earthquake risks,” he said. “You could have damage to buildings but you shouldn’t have buildings collapse.”
Sedlak said an $8,000 increase in premiums for property insurance “is unheard of in today’s market.” Moreover, he said Wright Specialty’s rate could end up being lower than what was quoted after the company does its own independent appraisal of the value of the district’s assets. Sedlak said he estimated “on the high side” for bidding purposes, setting the value of the district’s buildings at $67 million.
PERSONNEL
Following a 70-minute executive session, the board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of district custodian Tommy Richards, effective immediately and posted the position as vacant. The board also accepted “with regret” the resignation of Mike Bertagnolli as high school men’s track and field coach.
The board also approved a maternity leave for first-grade teacher Sydney Owsley, who is unrelated to the Superintendent, from approximately Feb 24, 2024, through April 20, 2024.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
- Heard brief reports regarding BenGil Elementary’s Fall Family Fun Days program, the first Athletic Wall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony, and a report on how elementary teachers are using data points to refine teaching strategies to ensure students meet state standards in specific subject areas.
- Voted to ratify changes to the South Macoupin Association for Special Education’s Joint Agreement to remove Bunker Hill School District from the agreement, and revise fees from a per-student-based structure to a single fee per participating school. Owsley said the fee change will benefit CUSD 7 by reducing the amount it pays into the consortium.
- Voted to accept a change to the district handbook to include specific consequences for violating the district’s cell phone policy. Owsley said some students cited for using cell phones questioned their punishment because it isn’t specifically outlined in the current handbook.
- Accepted a Health Life Safety survey for BenGil Elementary School. The survey is required every 10 years, and 2023 is the tenth year since the school was built.
Comments
Carlinville – The Macoupin County Agriculture Education (MCAE) Foundation is offering 6 – $1,000 scholarships for the upcoming 2025-26 school year to students wishing to pursue agriculture majors.
The MCAE Foundation offers scholarships to provide encouragement and financial assistance to Macoupin County residents and/or students of Macoupin County schools who display well-balanced attributes of good citizenship, commitment to activities and scholastic ability.
The applicant must be a graduating high school senior or a current college student who plans to attend or is attending an Illinois junior college, college, university or Career Technical Education (CTE) program, and majoring in agriculture.
Applications are available through your high school guidance counselor, high school agriculture instructor or the Macoupin County Farm Bureau® (MCFB®). An electronic copy of the application can be requested by contacting the MCFB® office by telephone or by email at: mcfb@gomadison.com
All applications must be submitted to the MCFB® office by March 27, 2025. Any questions can be directed to the MCFB® office at 217/854-2571.
Comments
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
Comments
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.
Comments
-
Slider3 weeks agoGillespie library hosting family night on Jan. 13
-
Community News3 weeks agoCarlinville author’s work reviewed in Lincoln Herald
-
Police News4 weeks agoGillespie Police Report December 15 – December 21, 2024
-
Community News3 weeks agoGillespie council poised to impose 1% public safety sales tax