Community News
School board approves $19.2 million budget
Members of the Community Unit School District No. 7 Board of Education on Monday night unanimously approved a $19.2 million budget to govern spending for the fiscal year that began July 1. The action followed a 15-minute public hearing during which Supt. Shane Owsley discussed details of the tentative spending plan. Owsley cautioned that although the budget has to be filed with the Illinois State Board of Education by Oct. 1, the document approved Monday night is likely to change because some areas of revenue of expenditures cannot be known by the time the budget is due.
“There are always projects going on or things that come up and things we have to address,” Owsley said. Additionally, he said it is not possible to accurately predict what grants and the amounts of those grants the district might receive during the course of a year. The fiscal 2024-25 budget is similar to last year’s budget, which projected revenue at $20,699,566, with expenditures estimated at $19,532.378. The current year’s budget projects revenue at $19,143,287, with expenditures projected at $19,207,960. While the new budget technically is in deficit by $94,329, the district will end the fiscal year with positive balances in all funds due to healthy end-of-the-year balances in all funds.
The Education Fund represents the lion’s share of the budget, with revenue projected at $14,173,009 and expenditures estimated at $13,751,769. State funding is expected to provide 69 percent of the Education Fund’s revenue, including evidence-based funding and special education/pre-kindergarten allotments. As a Tier I school, Owsley said, the district will receive supplemental funding under the evidence-based formula, but he warned the amount of that supplemental funding is likely to decline next year if the local district is kicked up to a Tier II school. Tier status is determined by the school’s percentage of full per capita funding for educating students. When evidence-based funding began, Owsley noted, CUSD 7 was at 67 percent. This year, the district is at 76 percent, just two percentage points away of being elevated to Tier II.
“We may bump up to Tier II next year,” Owsley noted. “What that means is the tier money we receive will start to decrease.”
Local funding, which includes property tax and student fees, is expected to contribute $2,215,562, or 16 percent, to the Education Fund’s total revenue. Federal funding, including grant programs for Title I and Title II, is expected to account for $2,202,146, or 15 percent of the total. Owsley said the federal government’s share also includes Elementary and Secondary School Recovery funds (ESSR). Designed to help school districts recover from the impact of COVID-19, ESSR funding will end on Dec. 31, meaning next year’s federal share is likely to be substantially less.
Fifty-nine percent of the Education Fund’s expenditures are earmarked for instruction, with two percent allotted for support services and 12 percent for payments to other districts who cooperatively provide educational services for CUSD 7 students. Owsley said he also built in a one percent line item for contingencies in hopes of precluding the necessity of formally amending the budget if expenditures exceed expectations.
Revenue for the Operations and Maintenance Fund are expected to total $1,278,524, which includes $480,284 in local funding, $300,000 from the state, and $475,240 from federal sources, including ESSR funds that will expire at the end of the calendar year. Expenditures are projected at $1,230,195, which includes general maintenance, supplies, utilities and custodial salaries.
The Transportation Fund is expected to have revenue totaling $860,242, with 75 percent of that revenue coming from the state government. Expenditures, totaling $836,090, will include $651,699 (78 percent) for driver salaries and supplies, and $184,391 earmarked for debt services.
A Capital Projects Fund is expected to receive $390,405, accruing from a state grant and the county’s school facilities sales tax. A total of $225,000 will be transferred from other funds to service a $1.6 million alternative revenue bond issue approved earlier this year. Additionally, there will be a $75,000 abatement to taxpayers, as agreed when the one-cent sales tax was approved by voters. The district plans to spend $872,906 from the Capital Projects fund for various capital improvement projects.
For debt services, the budget expects $1,123,614, which will come entirely from local sources including real estate taxes and a county-wide school facilities sales tax, plus $219,308 for the lllinois Municipal Retirement Fund and Social Security contributions. Expenditures are projected at $1,531,362, including payments of $410,887 for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund and Social Security contributions, and $1,120,475 for debt services.
The Tort Fund, which covers legal expenses and insurance premiums, is expected to take in $564,684 and have expenditures of $587,500.
The Working Cash Fund, basically a “rainy day” fund that can loan cash to other funds, will have revenue of $105,707 with no anticipated expenditures.
Three of the funds are projected to be in deficit for the fiscal year. Expenditures are expected to exceed revenue by $91,579 in the IMRF/Social Security Fund, $22,816 in the Tort Fund and $482,501 in the Capital Projects Fund. Because each of those funds have surplus balances, however, all district funds are expected to end the fiscal year in the black. The Capital Projects fund, for example, received an injection of $1.6 million last fiscal year due to the alternative revenue bond sale. That revenue was reflected in last year’s budget, while expenditures from those funds are expected to take place over the next three years.
Allowing for existing balances at the beginning of the fiscal year, the district is expected to end the currently fiscal year with $14,655,840.
According to Owsley’s projections, the Education Fund ended the last fiscal year with a balance of $7,532,031 and is expected to end the current fiscal year with $7,953,271. The Operations and Maintenance Fund had $772,872 at the end of last fiscal year, and is expected to have $821,201 at the end of the current year. Starting with a balance of $518,728, the Transportation Fund is expected to have $542,880 at the end of the current fiscal year. Capital Projects had $1,968,901, due in part to the bond sale, and is expected to end the year with $1,486.400. Debt Service is expected to have $398,697 at the end of the year. IMRF/Social Securities started with $597,467 and is expected to end with $405,888. Starting with $173,558, the Tort Fund is expected to end the fiscal year with $150,742. With zero expenditures expected, the Work Cash Fund is likely to grow from $2,791,054 to $2,896,761 at the end of the fiscal year.
Though allowed by the School Code, CUSD 7 does not have a Fire Prevention/Life Safety fund, Owsley noted. That’s because the limitations imposed by the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL), the district cannot levy a tax for the fund without exceeding the tax cap. However, Owsley reported, legislation is being proposed that would allow districts subject to tax caps to levy a Fire Prevention/Life Safety tax without it counting against the cap. If that legislation is passed into law, the district would be able to levy a tax for that fund, thereby establishing a new base for future tax levy calculations.
DISTRICT FOCUS
Macoupin County CEO Board Chair Scott Reichmann asked the board to consider making a $1,000 “investment” in the innovative countywide education program that trains high school seniors in entrepreneurship. Launched in 2017 by a group of Carlinville area business leaders headed by Karmak founder Richard Schein, the Macoupin County Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities (CEO) provides training to equip high school seniors with the tools they need to launch a business later in life. All eight Macoupin County school districts participate.
Reichmann said this year’s CEO class comprises 12 students, three of whom are from CUSD 7.
“You can tell who the leaders in Gillespie are going to be,” Reichmann said, referring to the GHS seniors.
Reichmann said the class meets in a location that is somewhat centrally located for most students. This year’s class has been meeting at the Illinois Coal Mining Museum in Gillespie. With eight districts involved, some students have a half-hour drive to attend the class.
Each student is assigned a “mentor” from among 30 business leaders on the program’s mentor roster. During the course of the year, students will brainstorm a new business from the ground up, developing a product or service, writing a business plan, and exploring how to finance and promote their business start-up. At the end of the year, the students participate in a CEO Trade Show where they showcase their concepts. Some students in the past have gone on to actually establish the business they developed in the CEO Program.
“I’ve been involved with this from the start,” Reichmann said. “I love this program.”
He told the board the CEP Program is approaching all eight districts in the county to ask for a $1,000 investment. The program receives no state or federal funding and is funded entirely by donations, primarily from Macoupin County businesses. Reichmann said the program typically operates on an annual budget of $35,000 to $40,000, which includes the salary paid to the program facilitator. The Macoupin County program also pays a fee to the Effingham CEO program, which is the parent program for the program in Maocupin County and other areas.
Answering a question from board member Amanda Ross, Reichmann said students can earn college credit through the program if the facilitator has a master’s degree. Former facilitator Pete Visintin held a masters degree. The current facilitator does not, but Reichmann said the local board is working with the Effingham parent program to find a way to offer college credit.
Reichmann was accompanied by Josh Ranger who completed the program in 2022.
“I truly believe it is one of the best classes you can take,” Ranger said. “It had a big impact on my life. It teaches you things from how to talk to people to how to run a business.”
STRATEGIC PLAN
Board members received a new Strategic Plan for the district to guide the district in various areas over the next five years. Written over a period of about 18 months, the new plan was drafted by a 24-member committee that included community members, district administrators and teachers, and two school board members, along with the maintenance director and transportation director.
“This is very impressive,” Board President Mark Hayes said, thanking the committee members who worked on the document.
“This isn’t something that’s going to sit on a shelf,” said Supt. Owsley. “This is going to serve as the roadmap for us for the next five years.” He said he was pleased to report that some of the initiatives outlined in the plan are already being implemented in the district.
The last five-year plan was drafted in 2014 and actually expired in 2019. The work on an update was delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The updated plan focuses on five strategic areas:
• Growth and Development: which includes introducing middle school and high school students to college and career opportunities, promoting off-campus certification programs, expanding the fine arts program, expanding advanced learning and college credit opportunities, and increasing parent involvement in district initiatives.
• Student Mental Health and Physical Well-Being: which includes fostering development of social skills, providing additional food options to improve nutrition, and providing more choices for educational and extra-curricular opportunities.
• Community and Culture: which emphasizes educational opportunities to prepare students to manage personal finances and understand financial responsibility, ensures career or college readiness on the part of GHS graduates, creates a sense of community within the district, and increases sponsorship of non-athletic clubs and organizations within the district.
• Campus Environment: which includes improving and maintaining infrastructure, providing for campus safety and emergency protocols, upgrading libraries and media centers, improving campus parking, upgrading district transportation, and upgrading and maintaining playgrounds at the elementary level.
• Financial and Fiscal Responsibility: which directs the district to seek additional revenue through grants and other resources, manage spending for the greatest efficiency, invest funds for maximum returns, and focus on facility upgrades including enhanced safety measures and expanded scholastic opportunities.
SIXTH DAY ENROLLMENT
The board briefly reviewed sixth-day attendance figures, which is the basis on which school aide formulae are calculated. The number of students enrolled and attending on the sixth day of school this year is down from the previous year, continuing a trend for declining enrollment over the past ten years.
School attendance on the sixth day in CUSD 7 totaled 1,073, which included 498 in elementary school, 245 in middle school and 330 in high school. The total attendance is down from a peak of 1,344 in 2017-18, and a ten-year average of 1,225.
“This is the lowest our enrollment has ever been and it’s not even close,” Owsley said. “We are seeing a pretty dramatic decrease.” Declining enrollment is a countywide phenomenon, according to Owsley, but it will have an impact on staffing needs, budgeting, and other areas.
Without taking formal action, the board authorized Owsley to purchase a $5,000 program from Frontline Analytics which will help project enrollment in the future on the basis of live births, compare test scores with districts of similar size, compare financial information with other districts and otherwise analyze available data.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Supt. Owsley reported to the board that CUSD 7 has been selected to receive a $221,635 Stronger Connections grant which will be used to support Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) staff at BenGil Elementary School. Owsley also reported he has been selected to be a presenter, along with superintendents from Mount Olive, Sparta and Marissa, for a session on Social-Emotional Learning at the American Association of School Administrators next March in New Orleans.
STUDENT DISCIPLINE
Upon returning from a 35-minute executive session, the board voted unanimously to “hold in abeyance” the expulsion of an unidentified student, and transfer the student to the Macoupin County Alternative School for no less than the first semester of the current school year. The action essentially allows the student to avoid being expelled by attending Alternative School classes. The action also allows the student to continue to earn credits toward graduation.
PERSONNEL
Also following the brief closed-door session, the board voted unanimously to hire Chris Fenton as a district custodian.
Laurie Price was hired as a special education bus aide, pending verification of certification and a background check. In separate actions, the board accepted the resignation of Bennie Maddox as a full-route bus driver and rehired him as a substitute driver. Billy Bowles was unanimously employed as a full-route bus driver. Mark Smith was hired as a substitute driver, pending verification of certification and a background check.
The board accepted the resignation of Emilie Campbell as a paraprofessional classroom aide, effective Aug. 22, and hired Shelby Maguire as a paraprofessional classroom aide, pending verification of certification and a background check.
Board members unanimously accepted the resignation of Jan Allan as a part-time cafeteria work and posted the position as vacant.
OTHER ACTION
In other action, the board:
• Voted unanimously to apply for a $6,000 school maintenance grant.
• Changed the date of the December board meeting from Monday, Dec. 16, to Wednesday, Dec. 18.
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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.
