Unit 40 Decides on Administrative Changes for Next Year

(RETIRING UNIT 40 ADMINISTRATOR DEAN MANUEL {left} WITH UNIT 40 SUPERINTENDENT MARK DOAN)

Dean Manuel said he never imagined he'd be a principal in his home school district.  

21 years later, he's ending his Unit 40 administrative career.

Manuel is retiring at the end of the school year.  He worked in the Jasper school district before coming to Unit 40, but is a Unit 40 kid, having graduated in the early 70's from Effingham High School.

Sharing at Monday night's Unit 40 school board meeting, Manuel said, "When I came to the district, I was the youngest, now I'm one of the older ones." 

Touching on his educational philosophy, Manuel said, "Kids still need taught; doors open in August, you work with the kids who walk through the door."

Amy Niebrugge, who has served as principal at South Side, will take over as principal at Central; Cheri Marten, who is principal at Edgewood this year, will take over as principal at South Side.

Board members heard from Dave and Peggy Campbell, who say there are problems with the operation of Effingham High School.  The Campbells have spoken at Board meetings the last couple of months, saying that administrators are too heavy handed in their approach to discipline.  The Campbells' son, who was a senior, was suspended earlier this school year and the Campbells withdrew him from the school.

Dave Campbell began reading some letters criticizing the operation of the school, but when he told the Board that the letters were not signed, several board members objected to them being read.  Peggy Campbell read statistics that she said demonstrated that performance is suffering at the high school, which she said is due to the way the school is operated.

Dave Campbell objected to proposed changes in the student handbook.  One proposal dealt with administrators seeking a password of a cell phone in certain situations.  The Board amended the language suggested by the District's attorney, inserting that a request for a password could only be made if there was an "imminent issue".  The proposal also indicated that failing to give the password would result in possible expulsion or suspension.  Board member Carol Ruffner said, "People are not going to hear 'possible expulsion or suspension', only that 'if I don't give my password, they're going to suspend or expel me.'"  She proposed including points as a possible penalty along with suspension and expulsion.  

Superintendent Mark Doan suggested using the phrase "further discipline" rather than specifying what the punishment might be.  The final wording is that "if a student fails to provide the password, it may subject the student to further discipline."  That wording was approved by the Board.

The Board heard from Ervin Yocum, a Mason area native who has worked on a number of efforts through the years, including establishment of the community college system in Illinois.  Yocum spoke about the work done by the Edgewood American Legion through the years on behalf of students at Edgewood School.  Since the school is closing this year, Yocum said the last Student of the Month plaques presented for 20 years by the Legion Post will be presented this Thursday.

Board members approved a change in the job description of Assistant Superintendent Rem Woodruff to reflect his work in personnel matters as well as the District's fiscal issues.  The Board also approved a three-year contract for Woodruff that will be in effect until his retirement announced Monday night as of June 30, 2017.  Board members also renewed the five-year contract of Superintendent Mark Doan through June 30, 2019 with pay to be decided later.

Woodruff reported that the district's overall financial picture was 1.14% over last year's balance, but operating funds are down slightly.

Board members approved a proposal that all high school seniors will get a photo taken at the high school for some uniformity in the yearbook.  Yearbook sponsor Stephanie McGuire said students will still be welcome to get whatever other senior photos they want.  The cost to the District to get the senior photos taken will be $600, and seniors will have the option of buying the photo.

Board members also:

--renewed student athletic insurance for $33,186

--approved a health and life safety amendment earmarking an additional $25,000 for work to the Central School entrance designed to restrict access to the building

--agreed to seek bids to see what it would cost to install sanitary sewer in the area of the baseball and softball fields at Effingham High School

--voted to increase the Driver's Ed fee to $150, from $50

--agreed to fees for next school year, including lunch prices of $2.30 for grades K-8, $2.55 for high schoolers and $2.80 for teachers, as well as increases in fees for breakfast

--approved a separation agreement with bus driver Alvie Siefert, if Siefert submits a letter of resignation containing language sought by the school district attorney, and 

--recognized Board President Delbert Soltwedel for his 22 years' service on the school board, which is one of the longest current tenures in Illinois.

   The Board approved employment of personnel for school registration.  That includes Pauline Sapp, Cathy Hille and Pansy Limes as elementary registration cafeteria workers; Pauline Sapp and Pansy Limes as high school registration cafeteria workers; Rhonda Tweedle, Kim Knierim and Janet Inman as elementary registration transportation workers; and Rhonda Tweedle as high school registration transportation worker.  

   Also hired: Zachary Rhines as a part-time chorus teacher at the junior high and high school; Kimberly Repking as an 8th grade Technology teacher at the junior high; Derek Logue as a driver's ed and PE teacher at the high school; and Kevin McKenna as a computer and administrative information systems support specialist.

   The Board hired extended school year personnel, including Jennifer Castillo for teaching Speech, Becky Schumacher and Christy Curry as extended year teachers, Lisa Miller and Angie Probst as extended school year paraprofessionals, Rhonda Tweedle as extended school year bus driver and Rita Bushue as extended school year bus aide, and authorized Doan to hire two additional summer workers.

   Board members approved reductions in force for Jeff Leasher who will switch from the head custodian at Edgewood to a custodian at the high school, Tina Haarmann who was a custodian at the high school, and Amy Donaldson who was a secretary at the junior high school.  Rebecca Eskew was hired as a secretary at the junior high.  Resignations were accepted from teacher Matt Altman, cafeteria monitor Dawn Allen, and part-time nurse paraprofessional Tami Higgs, and leaves were approved for Diane Claar and Kaleena Knaus.