Unit 40 Board Makes Changes Due to Brooks Retirement

The Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education approved a series of changes related to the upcoming retirement of Edgewood School Principal Wanda Brooks.

Brooks, who was scheduled to retire at school year's end, has decided instead to retire this Friday. 

Unit 40 Superintendent Mark Doan said there are some physical considerations related to Brooks' decision, "not anything life-threatening" Doan said, but after talking it over with her family, Brooks decided to leave now.

Early Learning Center Principal Kay Halford will oversee operations at Edgewood for the balance of the school year with support from Central School Principal Dean Manuel and Central Assistant Principal Todd Schuette.  Doan said a substitute teacher would be hired to take care of the teaching duties Brooks was handling at Edgewood, and said Sherri Marten, who will become principal at Edgewood next school year, will oversee after-school activities at Edgewood while continuing her teaching duties in Unit 40 for this year.

In other personnel moves Monday, the Unit 40 Board approved an agreement with the Effingham Classroom Teachers Association regarding sick leave for librarian Barb Lindley.  Doan said there was some ambiguity regarding sick leave.  The agreement will allow Lindley to retire after the 2015-2016 school year. 

Retirements were also approved for teacher Cathy Kaufman after the 2013-2014 school year, along with Lindley, Debra Price, Jane Ries, Connie Mankin and Dave Ruff after the 2015-2016 school year.

Resignations were accepted from Michelle Rieman as a cafeteria monitor at the ELC and from Robby Cornell as high school boys tennis coach.  Leaves were approved for Linda Richards and Melvin Haarmann under the Family and Medical Leave Act.  The Board also RIFd Lisa Miller as a specialized paraprofessional from a position Doan said had concluded and then recalled her to a paraprofessional position.  The Board also hired Jordan Jaspering as a high school boys and girls assistant track coach.

The Board heard a presentation from teachers at Central Grade School regarding the Math common core standards that will be implemented in the next couple of years.  Teachers showed a video that featured students working with the standards.

Doan also shared with the Board that, since 2005, Effingham County public schools have lost more than 900 students.