Unit 40 Board Decides to Waive Second Semester Finals

Effingham Unit 40 school board members have waived second semester exams for this school year at Effingham High School. The decision came at a special meeting Thursday evening.

In a release, Superintendent Mark Doan said a number of factors outside the control of both students and faculty had a significant impact on student learning. As a result, all EHS students will be exempt from second semester finals for the 2020-2021 school year.

There is an exception; dual credit students will be required to take finals. It's a Lake Land College requirement. Remote and on-line dual credit learners will be guided by their instructors as to the dates and nature of their final exams.

Doan also mentioned that there will be no changes to the process of determining GPA and Class Rank.

The school board also took action on several personnel items.

Two hirings were approved; Morgan Pals as a Science teacher at Effingham High School for the coming school year and Micaela Chrappa as a Special Education teacher at South Side for the coming school year.

A transfer was approved for Jenna Orsborn to a cashier's spot at Effingham Junior High School for the coming school year, and a leave of absence was granted Marie Sawyer.

Resignations were accepted from Maria Bushur as an English as a Second Language Paraprofessional, and from Aaron Adams as 8th grade boys track coach for this school year since junior high track and high school football, where Adams also coaches, overlap this year.

Don Kimura was named 8th grade boys track coach for this season, and Rebecca Quandt was named 7th grade boys track coach.