Community News
School District may consider football field improvements within year
Mark Goldasich, construction vocational teacher, made his presentation to the board regarding the new SkillBuilder Club, which the board approved Monday night.
Based on the success of a project to make improvements to the Community Unit School District 7 baseball field, the CUSD 7 Board of Education may consider a similar plan to improve the district’s football field.
During a regular meeting of the school board on Monday night, Supt. Joe Tieman and members of the Building and Grounds Committee reported on preliminary discussions about improvements to the football field, primarily to resolve drainage issues.
[pullquote]Whether the scope is large or small is yet to be determined[/pullquote]”Whether the scope is large or small is yet to be determined,” Tieman said. “There has literally been only one meeting.”
Earlier in the meeting, Tieman reported that baseball program has garnered a total of $7,460 in donations to go toward repaying a $12,000 loan from the school district to make improvements to the baseball field. The board originally gave the program four to five years to repay the loan, but Tieman reported Monday night that it looks like the baseball program may be able to repay the loan in total by the end of the current school year.
The success of that unique arrangement with the local baseball program has led school officials to start discussions about whether or not a similar approach could be taken to make improvements to the football field. The potential project was the focus of a Building and Grounds Committee meeting last week.
“We’ve started the process of looking at what we can do for the football field,” Tieman said. “Our field is very flat. One of our options is to crown the center of the field to improve drainage. Whether that is from 25-yard line to 25-yard line, or 35-yard line to 35-yard line, we don’t know. The scope is to be determined. The plan is that any improvements also will be entirely funded by donations.”
Billy Carter, a member of the Building and Grounds Committee, said a key to the project will be the ability to fund it with donations rather than public funds. A representative of the Mustangs junior football program attended the committee meeting to discuss the possibility of their program supporting the project with fund-raising efforts. Those efforts could include running the concession stand during some home football games and donating the profits to the football field project.
Tieman said there is about $10,000 to $12,000 remaining from a Schmidt Family Foundation donation to fund improvements to the Gillespie High School sports complex. Those improvements included installation of an all-weather track and other amenities. The remaining funds could be used as seed money for the football field improvements, but Tieman warned the board to keep in mind that the all-weather track will need to be resurfaced in four to five years at an estimated cost of $40,000.
Dave Griffel, also a member of the Building and Grounds Committee, said any action on the project may be as much as a year away. He recommended to the committee that school officials view other high school football fields to see how the Gillespie field compares, and talk with Athletic Directors from other school districts to gather additional information. Among the issues that will have to be considered, he said, are determining how to transport dirt and heavy equipment over the all-weather track without damaging the track surface, whether or not an existing sprinkler system will have to be altered with the addition of a crown, and whether or not tiling the field would be practical.
[pullquote]Griffel said board members are committed to ensuring no tax dollars are spent on the project[/pullquote]Regardless of the scope of the project, Griffel said board members are committed to ensuring no tax dollars are spent on the project. The board may follow the precedent set by the baseball field project and loan money for the football field improvements, possibly from proceeds of the recently approved Countywide School Facilities Sales Tax measure, with the expectation that upfront money will be repaid.
Tieman noted that the district recently received its first installment of sales tax revenue in the amount of $27,208.95.
Also in the area of Buildings and Grounds, school board members learned that progress is being made toward developing a plan for establishing and upgrading science labs for Gillespie Middle School. Middle School Principal Jill Rosentreter said she has been visiting labs at other schools and has determined that a traditional lab for physics and chemistry is what is needed. Such a lab, she said, would enable science teachers to teach a curriculum that is consistent with what middle school students will continue to learn at the high school level. She said she and administrators are ready at this point to start consulting with the school architect regarding issues concerning safety, layout of the lab and other concerns.
Griffel noted that the Building and Grounds Committee also discussed improvements to the playground at the new BenGil Elementary School, including installation of outdoor basketball hoops. Installing the hoops has been stymied by the fact that no one knew exactly where underground geothermal tubes are located. Tieman said he has located a company who can locate the tubes for the district so that district workers can start on installing posts and hoops later this week.
NARCAN AND DRUG TESTING POLICIES
The board tabled action on policies regarding administering medicines to students and implementing a student drug testing policy, pending more information regarding legal liabilities.
Board members previously tabled approval of the medications policy because of possible options that would require the school district to stock and administer Narcan, a drug used to treat opiate overdoses.
“I’m not asking the board to act tonight,” said Supt. Tieman. “I’m still in the process of getting a legal opinion on the advantages and disadvantages.”
Last month’s discussion on the policy focused on the district’s legal liability if the board choses to include in the policy medications for treating overdoses of opiates such as heroin. Some school districts that have such a policy have faced lawsuits resulting from the death or injury of an individual who did not get treatment after overdosing. Schools that do not have a policy for opiate treatment are exempt from liability simply because they do not have supplies of Narcan or proper authority to administer it.
Tieman said that if the board chooses to have a policy on Narcan, school nurses will have to be trained before they can legally administer the medication. For that reason, he said, the policy would need to include an “effective” date that would provide a reasonable amount of time for medical training.
“Once the policy kicks in, you have to follow the policy,” he said.
Another issue to be considered, he said, will be whether or not to limit the scope of the policy to the school day, rather than extend it to afterhours activities such as football games and other events. The more expansive policy presumably would require the presence of school personnel authorized to administer the drug.
Tieman said he also expects to meet with Josh Ross, a Gillespie High School graduate currently working as an Emergency Medical Technician. Ross reportedly has experience with administering Narcan and was a presenter at a recent public meeting on the influx of illegal heroin into the community.
“By the November meeting, I hope to have recommended wording and a recommendation on whether or not to approve,” Tieman told the board.
Also on Tieman’s recommendation, the board tabled action on a policy that would permit school officials to have students tested for illegal drug use.
“We are exploring a ‘for cause’ student drug testing policy,” Tieman said, which would allow school officials to require drug testing for students exhibiting symptoms of being under the influence of illicit drugs. Tieman said he also is looking into whether the Macoupin County Public Health Department could do the testing or whether the school district would have to contract with another health care professional.
Tieman said he received a legal opinion from the district’s attorney earlier in the day regarding the policy but he had not had time to read it prior to the meeting.
“I would suggest that before we adopt a policy on student drug testing that we give the public an opportunity to comment,” he said.
SKILLBUILDER CLUB
Following a brief presentation by Mark Goldasich, construction trades instructor, the board unanimously approved the creation of a new SkillBuilder Club aimed primarily at vocational students who intend to enter the labor force immediately after high school in lieu of attending college or trade school.
The concept was presented to the board last month but was tabled after board members said they wanted more information about the club before agreeing to approve it.
Goldasich told board members Monday night that the club, meeting after school hours, would provide him with an opportunity to provide additional instruction as a pathway for students to enter a union apprenticeship after graduation. He said he recommends trade schools or military service for most vocational students who are not college-bound, but the apprenticeship opportunity can be another option for some students. Goldasich said he would be teaching from a series of union-endorsed textbooks that require students to complete various construction projects. Successful completion of the curriculum will enable students to enter into an apprenticeship upon graduation.
“Once the club starts rolling, all of this will fall into place,” Goldasich said.
He said the club will involve some community involvement in that student club members may be recruited for various community projects, such as building picnic tables, that are congruent with the curriculum.
“Getting into an apprenticeship is huge,” said Jenni Alepra, who moved to approve the club. “I want to make sure that everyone completely understands the opportunities available to vocational students.” She asked Goldasich to “reach out” to the parents of vocational students to make sure they are aware of the potential apprenticeship opportunity for students who participate in the SkillBuilder Club.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, board members:
- Voted unanimously to hire Nancy Konneker as a three-hour food service worker.
- Voted unanimously to expel a high school student for disciplinary issues for one year beginning Oct. 25. The student will be transferred to the Macoupin County Safe Schools program to continue his education. If he fails to complete the Safe Schools program, the remaining portion of the expulsion will become effective.
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Community News
Benld prepares to celebrate 72nd annual Italian American Days over Memorial Day weekend
A beloved community tradition returns this Memorial Day weekend as the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days brings three days of food, music, and family fun to Benld City Park from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24.
Hosted by the Italian Club of Benld, the long-running festival celebrates the area’s rich Italian heritage while welcoming visitors from across the region for a full slate of activities.
Festivalgoers can expect a wide variety of homemade Italian favorites served throughout the weekend, including salami and meatball sandwiches, tortellini soup, bagna cauda, and cannoli. A daily fish fry featuring cod and whiting will also be available, along with classic festival fare such as hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian beef, and carnival treats. Beer, wine, and soda will be available for purchase.
In addition to the food, the event will feature carnival rides provided by Conner Family Amusement, Inc., with unlimited ride sessions offered throughout the weekend. Bingo will be held nightly at 7:00 p.m., and festival-themed shirts will be available for purchase.
Live music and dancing will take center stage each evening. Friday night entertainment includes a performance by Flip the Frog from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., with the park open from 4:00 to 11:00 p.m.
Saturday highlights include the Italian Club Car Show, with registration from 8:00 a.m. to noon and judging beginning at noon. The park opens at 11:00 a.m., and live music will feature Pat Jones in the afternoon followed by Borderline in the evening.
Sunday kicks off with the “Meatballs on the Run” 5K at 9:00 a.m., sponsored by the Gillespie Cross Country Boosters. You can sign-up to participate online here. The day continues with free spaghetti served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., a bocce ball tournament beginning at noon, and a full lineup of live music throughout the day, including performances by Unbroken, Syner-Gee, and B&B Strings.
Connors Family Amusements will provide carnival armbands for $30. Armbands will be valid Friday (May 22) from 6:00 to 10 :00 p.m. and again on Saturday (May 23rd) and Sunday (May 24th) from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and again from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m, Advanced armband sales will be available from May 4th through May 21st at the Frank Bertetti Public Library and Benld City Hall for $25. Debit and Credit Cards will NOT be accepted.
Organizers note that no outside beverages are permitted in the park or at club events.
With its mix of tradition, entertainment, and community spirit, the 72nd Annual Benld Italian-American Days promises to once again be a highlight of the summer season in Macoupin County. For more information and updates, follow the festival on Facebook at Benld Italian American Days.
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Gillespie will host a Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife, the provider of blood components for local hospitals. The blood drive will be from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm on Monday, May 11 at 900 Broadway, inside Gillespie Methodist Church Gym.
To donate, please contact Brenda Lowe at (217) 7101336 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 60020 to locate the drive. Appointments are requested. You may also call ImpactLife at 800-747-5401 to schedule.
Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available
through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate.
For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 7475401. Donors who last gave blood on or before March 16, 2026, are eligible to give at this drive.
Blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour. Individuals with diabetes or controlled high blood pressure may be accepted as eligible donors.
ImpactLife is a nonprofit community organization providing blood products and services to more than 100 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as researchers and resource sharing partners across the country.
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Members of the Community Unit School District 7 Board of Education on Wednesday night approved a package of four capital improvement projects totaling more than $160,000 in value. Work will start on the projects after the end of the current school year and is expected to be completed before the start of the 2026-27 academic year in August.
The board met on Wednesday night after Monday’s inclement weather forced the district to reschedule the board’s regular monthly meeting.
The board approved entering into a contract with Fisher Tracks, Boone, Iowa, to resurface the district’s all-weather track at a cost of $105,209. Supt. Shane Owsley told the board the district will use about $50,000 from an all-weather track activity fund, with the remainder to be paid with proceeds from an alternate revenue bond issue approved last year for capital improvements.
Great Western Abatement, Jerseyville, was retained to remove flooring containing asbestos from the choir room floor and middle school gymnasium school at a cost of $40,700. Great Western’s bid was the lowest of seven bids, ranging up to $65,000, submitted for the work. Additionally, the district is paying $8,900 to Reliable Environmental Services, Springfield, for engineering and design work associated with the asbestos removal.
All-purpose rubberized flooring material will be installed on the middle school gym floor by Dynamic Sports Construction, Leander, Texas, at a cost of $51,424.
For the first time in a number of years, the high school gymnasium floor will be sanded and refinished with new artwork. Blast Technologies, St. Louis, was hired to sand the 4,200-square-foot floor at a cost of $5,250. Designs Unlimited, Pinckneyville, will paint game lines and logos on the floor before sealing it with a clear stain at a cost not to exceed $18,738.
The board also accepted a bid of $33,890 from DeLaurent Construction, Wilsonville, to resurface the 118,700-square-foot parking lot at Benld Elementary School.
Though no action was taken, Board President Mark Hayes reported that the Building and Grounds Committee had directed Owsley to investigate the cost of replacing the CUSD 7 administrative building.
“This building is very much in need of replacement,” Hayes said. “It’s beyond its time.” During Monday’s torrential rainfall, Hayes said water came in through windows and water seeped in under the sill plate, bringing displaced nightcrawlers into the building. Staff members ran fans after the storm in an effort to dry out the interior.
According to Hayes, the school has been in contact with the local Baptist Church to investigate the possibility of acquiring the former Trinity Baptist Church for use as an administrative building. Church officials, however, have not yet made a decision about the fate of the former sanctuary after Gillespie’s two Baptist churches merged.
Owsley said the current administrative building comprises about 6,000 square feet. Current estimates are $400 per square foot for new construction which would translate into about $2.5 million to replace the administrative facility. The district might be able to shave some dollars off that estimate by reducing the size of the building.
“There’s a lot of unusable space in this building,” Owsley said, suggesting a more efficient floorpan could reduce cost. He also mentioned the possibility of a basement to provide storage space for outdated documents.
In addition to construction costs, Owsley noted, the district would be responsible for tearing down the existing building.
“I have no idea what’s in this building,” Owsley said, raising abatement concerns. “I’m guessing disposal of this building is going to be expensive.”
Hayes said Kevin Wills, the district’s bond issue advisor, will attend the June board meeting to discuss the possibility of refinancing some existing bonds to free up enough revenue to build a new administrative building. The administration currently is housed in a “temporary” structure that has served as the administration building for several decades.
MINE SUBSIDENCE STUDY
After several minutes of discussion, the board took no action in relation to entering into a contract with Marino Engineering and Associates to assess the district’s risk for incurring damage from a mine subsidence event. Owsley said existing maps show that portions of Gillespie Middle School are undermined. While the high school is not undermined, a major subsidence would likely damage the high school as well as the middle school. In recent months, more than one residential home on Elm Street near the school property has experienced damage from mine subsidence.
Marino’s $94,000 Phase I proposal would “determine the likelihood of something happening to one of our buildings,” Owsley said. The problem is that too much information could negatively impact the district’s ability to purchase subsidence insurance. “Information is great until it’s not.”
The district currently pays about $300,000 for mine subsidence insurance on the middle school, high school and vocational arts building. The school carries no subsidence insurance on BenGil Elementary because mine shafts under the building were grouted before the school was built.
“If we find out there’s not a major concern,” Owsley noted, it could reduce the district’s subsidence insurance costs.
On the other hand, if the study reveals a high risk of experiencing mine subsidence, the insurer could drop the district at the end of the current policy’s term. With only two companies in the country offering subsidence insurance, the district could end up with no insurance at all to cover damage from mine subsidence.
The only way to avoid that scenario would be to implement whatever options Marino might recommend to reduce risk. Those recommendations would likely include grouting (backfilling) mine shafts under the middle school. Grouting for the elementary school cost $4 million. To grout under the middle school would likely run as much as $6 million or more.
The only way the study would make sense, Owsley suggested, would be if the district was “comfortable making the corrections the study is going to make.”
Moreover, $94,000 would cover only a preliminary assessment.
“To get a full understanding of what’s going on underground, we’d be looking at a half million dollars,” said Owsley.
The issue was allowed to die when no board member moved to consider the contract.
COMMUNITY SOLAR PARTICIPATION
On a motion by Bill Carter, seconded by Weye Schmidt, the board voted unanimously to enter into a contract with Summit Ridge Solar to participate in a community solar project. Under terms of the 15-year contract, the district will realize a 13 percent savings on electrical power bills. The contract is automatically renewable for five years unless the district chooses to withdraw.
“Illinois provides a number of incentives for using solar,” Owsley said. “However, not everyone likes the look of having solar panels on their property. This will get us the benefits without putting up solar panels on our property.”
Summit Ridge’s proposal was the most lucrative of the proposals the district received. Other companies offered shorter terms with savings of five percent.
After 20 years, it’s likely the savings would drop to five percent. Owsley said he was told the district was better off going with the longer contract to get 13 percent in savings for as long as possible.
The school district was able to secure such favorable rates, according to Owsley is because there is an issue with solar fields storing the power they generate. “Our main usage time is during their maximum production time.”
DISTRICT FOCUS
During a District Focus segment, the board recognized sophomore Matrix Wright, whose art was the only entry from the United States included in the 2026 TOLI International Student Art Exhibition. The exhibition is a project of The Olga Lengyel Institute for Holocaust Studies in New York. The exhibit includes student art relating to themes associated with the Holocaust.
Wright’s work, entitled “An Immortal Continuum,” attempts to portray “the constant entrapment a Holocaust survivor might feel.”
Exhibition organizers received more than 250 entries from around the globe.
BUDGET PROCESS
On a motion by Peyton Bernot, seconded by Board President Hayes, board members voted unanimously to begin work on developing a district budget for fiscal 2027. Board members also approved a routine measure to permit expenditure of fiscal 2027 funds after July 1, pending approval of a new budget.
The school district’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 but new budgets typically are approved two to four months after the start of the fiscal year.
The current fiscal year’s $19 million budget was approved in September last year.
PERSONNEL
Following a one-hour executive session to discuss personnel and other issues, the board voted unanimously to approve the request of long-time middle school English and language arts teacher Kim Henderson, effective at the end of the 2028-29 school year.
Board members also voted unanimously to hire Andrew Crook as a first-year, non-tenured high school English teacher for the 2026-27 school year, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check. A graduate of Gillespie High School, Crook earned his teaching certificate at Illinois College, Jacksonville and for the past two years, he taught English at North Mac High School.
In separate actions, the board made multiple assignments to staff the district’s summer school program. Those hired include: Jessica Kelly as a middle school teacher, Ashlee Gibbs as a high school math teacher, and Jennifer Brown and Rob Macias as high school drivers’ education instructors. Each of the positions are contingent upon adequate student enrollment to offer the classes. In addition to academic staff, the board hired Andy Hirstein as a summer school food service worker.
The board voted unanimously to accept the resignation of Foli Seferi as high school paraprofessional and as assisted football coach. Both resignations are effective immediately.
In other personnel action, the board appointed Cate Plovich as the BenGil Elementary School yearbook sponsor, and appointed Josh Ross as a volunteer assistant football coach, pending documentation of certification and a routine background check.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
• Approved a mens highs school soccer coop with the Carlinville School District, with the provision Carlinville will dissolve the agreement if it pushes its program into a higher competitive classification.
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Lewis and Clark Community College under which the college will recognize some high school courses as college level credits.
• Approved early graduation requests for an undisclosed number of students, provided all graduation requirements are met.
• Approved renewing the district’s membership in the Illinois Elementary Schools Association.
• Approved the final calendar for the 2025-26 school year pending no further emergency days. Barring the use of emergency days, Monday, May 18 will be the last day of student attendance, with graduation ceremonies set at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 17.
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