Unit 40 Decides to Go 1 to 1 on Technology

Effingham Unit 40 board members Monday decided to go 1 to 1 in technology.

The Board voted to spend $478,000 to purchase 1,250 laptops for students in grades 1 through 12 and 160 iPads for those in grades Pre-K and kindergarten. The purchase will give the district 2,353 laptops and 280 iPads

Board members Robin Klosterman and Brad Waldhoff are a part of the district's Technology Committee. They explained that the units that would have allowed 2 to 1 learning are more expensive, the goal has been to go to 1 to 1 learning, and the funding is available to make the purchases possible. The Board voted to transfer $975,000 from Working Cash to the Operations and Maintenance Fund to allow the purchases.

Assistant Superintendent Jason Fox said the units should still arrive in October and be ready for use by Thanksgiving.

The Board also heard that 85% of those who have indicated a preference want to do in-class learning. 333 students, about 15%, have indicated they want to do remote learning. Fox said a little more than 100 students still need to get enrolled before next Wednesday's opening of school.

Superintendent Mark Doan said they will be meeting with Effingham County Health Department officials on Wednesday, and then Health Department officials will be in the buildings on Thursday to finalize plans for the start of school next week.

The Board amended the community service hours plan to let students do more things online to fulfill the hours needed, and amended the school year calendar to reflect a day off for Election Day November 3 as is the law this year in Illinois.

Board members reviewed the tentative budget for the coming school year. Fox focused on the operating funds. He said the Transportation Fund should be up, but the Operations and Maintenance Fund, Education Fund, and Working Cash Fund all project down by the end of the fiscal year. 

Fox said one reason for the deficit in the Education Fund is a new districtwide Math series and a blended pre-school class. The Board purchased 20 document cameras that will project documents so students can see them rather than the kids handling the items in this COVID world. The purchase costs a little under $8,000.

The Board decided against pursuing a 1% sales tax initiative at this time. Doan said the other districts in the county indicated they feel this is not the time to pursue the initiative with so much else going on.

Klosterman reported she had the chance to tour the junior high school building and remarked on the "unbelievable change" she saw in the facility. She attended high school in the building and taught there for many years and is pleased with what she saw.

Board members adjusted the pay of district administrators that typically work 11 months, but have had to work a 12-month schedule this year due to COVID.

In personnel moves, the Unit 40 Board employed Ashley Sills as a nurse paraprofessional, Denice Tarin, Sadie Ruholl and Kim Bushue as paraprofessionals, and Dale Donaldson and Gretta Beckman as cafeteria monitors at the Early Learning Center. A transfer was approved for Michelle Sidwell to a five-hour cook at the high school, and resignations were accepted from Todd Stewart as a bus driver and Karen Dust as a cafeteria monitor at the ELC. Janice Flack was granted a family and medical leave act, and Dave Parker was approved as a volunteer junior high assistant baseball coach.