Unit 40 Board Gets Progress Report on Construction Trades Class

(CITY COMMISSIONERS DON ALTHOFF AND BRIAN MILLEVILLE SPEAK TO THE EFFINGHAM UNIT 40 SCHOOL BOARD MONDAY NIGHT)

Skilled tradespeople in Effingham County are nearing retirement age. Contractors and union leaders have been talking with school and local government offcials about ways to develop a new pool of workers.

Effingham City Council members Brian Milleville and Don Althoff spoke with the Effingham Unit 40 school board members Monday night about a course being developed that would fill the gap and provide more employment opportunities for younger workers.

The construction trades course would initially involve high school students, but officials are also discussing how to offer the course to adults.

Milleville said the course is now envisioned as being held from 7:15 to 9:30am, with high schoolers back in their school buildings by 10am. The course will be operated along the lines of the Effingham County CEO course; students would apply for the course and a committee would select the participants. A Construction Trades I course would be offered the first year; probably the 2015-16 school year, and then Construction Trades I and II would be offered from that point.

Milleville said a location for the course to be offered hasn't been finalized, but the First National Bank of Dieterich headquarters' basement is an option, along with one of the John Boos and Company buildings in the central part of town of which the City will take ownership when Boos relocates to its operation along South Route 45.

Althoff said an option to help class members hone their skills is a Habitat for Humanity home somewhere in the county.

Milleville and Althoff said to this point, everyone is on board with the idea; industry, labor, government and educators. Financing is still a consideration; Milleville suggested city TIF dollars could be an option initially, but said they want the course to soon become self-sufficient.

Althoff said a general meeting of parties involved is planned later in September to see where things stand.

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In other business Monday, Unit 40 board members learned that the district received a Light Speed Award of $22,000 designed to help teachers and students integrate technology into their learning and teaching. 

Superintendent Mark Doan reported early enrollment in the district is at 2,595, 28 more than at the end of last school year, but down nine from the start of last school year. Doan said the 10th day enrollment will be the official enrollment total. He also reported that the 10-year health and life safety survey of district buildings is underway. He thinks no urgent projects will be discovered, but expects there will be some required work and some recommended projects.

Laurie King was reappointed to represent the district on the Illinois Association of School Boards governing body for the region, and the Board approved hazardous bus routes in the district for which the district can seek reimbursement. Also approved was the hiring of a firm to work to seek State Aid to which the district is entitled based on the EAV of property that might have changed since the EAV was established.  The firm gets a percentage of the funds recovered. Board members also adopted faculty and school handbooks for the new year.

The Board also finalized some personnel moves. Heather Koehler was hired as a cafeteria monitor at the ELC and Janice Dougherty was hired as a three-hour cook at the junior high school. Resignations were accepted from Robin Plummer, Beth Mines and Carrie Collier as cafeteria monitors. Deedra Myers was approved as a volunteer high school volleyball coach.