Unit 40 Board Purchases Instructional Materials, Approves Junior High Resurfacing

(SEVERAL OF THIS YEAR'S UNIT 40 SCHOOL DISTRICT RETIREES WERE PRESENT FOR MONDAY'S MEETING)

Effingham Unit 40 school board members Monday approved the $130,000 purchase of instructional materials. 

Curriculum Director Chelle Beck said the materials will instruct in English, Language Arts, Spelling and Phonics and will range from Grades K through 5. Beck said the materials will be used the year long and said the materials being a pilot project will "help us see what will work and what will not work." She thinks the materials could be used for up to the next seven years.

The Board approved the project to resurface the rear of the junior high building. Assistant Superintendent Jason Fox said there were concerns that there was not a sufficient base on the area so an upgrade will bring the project cost to $276,070. 

Fox also reported that work on the South Side School playground is underway after another district delayed the work they had planned and the vendor gave their equipment to Unit 40, which was purchasing the same item.

The Board approved an E-rate proposal of up to $110,000 with the District paying 30% of the cost. Also approved was a shorecare maintenance agreement for district phones.

Board member Jill Wendling asked about attention to the parking lot at Effingham High School. Fox said the Board had said improvements to district buildings was the priority, and said once the South Side project is completed, attention will turn to projects such as the parking lot. The consensus is that the parking lot will need a total re-do. 

The Board also acknowledged this year's retirees, who are leaving with a total of 218-1/2 years of experience in the district. Teachers, support staffers and administrators were all recognized. In order of experience, those recognized were Carol Hoelscher, Bernice Schabbing, Ellen Brummer, Amy Niebrugge, Vickie Stuckemeyer, Karla Reed, Teresa Fuesting, Penny Wiedman, Cindy Matteson, Ellen Broom, and Mark Doan. Doan is leaving the superintendent's position after 11 years in the district. Andy Johnson will take over the reins as of July 1.

Doan reported that the Unit 40 Foundation generated contributions from the community sufficient to generate 60 scholarships for district students.

Board member Jane Willenborg agreed to another year as the district's representative to the Eastern Illinois Area Special Education Board. Steve Bone will serve as the alternate.

In personnel matters, the Unit 40 board hired Amanda Hirtzel as a Special Education teacher, Allison Bowen, Catherine Zumwalt and Brooke Hansen as paraprofessionals, Rene Green and Becky Daugherty as Extended School Year Special Education teachers, Jenny Castillo as Extended School Year Speech Language Pathologist, Diana Brown, Josephine Westendorf, Stacey Hollinshead and Cassie Williams as Extended School Year Paraprofessionals, Lisa Miller, April Hardiek, Stacey Hollinshead and Kerri Krischel as Summer Special Education Clerical Assistants, Lana Adams as an Extended School Year Bus Aide, Diane Claar as an Extended School Year Bus Driver, Lisa Campton as a Summer Bridge Bus Aide, Mark Middleton as summer custodial help, and Jennifer Wudtke as a high school Math teacher for the coming school year.

Leaves of absence were approved for Kim Mihlbachler and Vickie Darling.