Unit 40 Board Expels Student; Reviews Policies

Effingham Unit 40 school board members Wednesday expelled a student through the end of the 2014-2015 school year.  The student will have the option of enrolling in an alternative education program.

The Board also reviewed proposed policy changes.  Superintendent Mark Doan said board members went through a new bullying policy as well as changes concerning teen dating violence and use of e-cigarettes on school grounds.

Doan said some of the proposed changes are the result of new legislation at the state level, but others are the result of recommendations from within the school system.  He said there is a discipline handbook committee in each Unit 40 school building.  The recommendations from each building are reviewed by a districtwide committee including parents, teachers and administrators.  That committee sends recommendations to the school board for a final vote on whether the policy changes should be adopted.

There was also discussion in closed session on the status of contract talks with members of the Effingham Classroom Teachers Association.  Doan said another mediation session is scheduled next week.