Unit 40 Continues to Put Computer Network Back Together, Plans to Acquire Daycare Facility (ADDING PERSONNEL MOVES)

Effingham Unit 40 Superintendent Andrew Johnson briefed board members Monday on the process of putting the district's computer network back together.

In a statement shared at the Board meeting, Johnson stated that "the assessment of the problem with the...computer network is nearly completed." Johnson's statement reads, "at this time there is no evidence and officials are still highly confident that no employee or student personal information has been compromised."

Johnson said work continues on the recovery of all essential network systems. Computer workstations for building administrators and office staff now have access to basic services. The phone systems are fully operational, and the security camera system is operational. The district technology staff is working with the teaching staff to implement two factor authentication for Google services so teachers can use personal devices to access their Google data. Johnson's statement reads "progress continues toward a return to regular network operations."

Also Monday, the Unit 40 board approved a letter of intent to enter into a purchase agreement with Little Lambs Early Childhood Education Center. Johnson said the eventual goal is to provide daycare for the children of district employees. He said that the children currently attending Little Lambs will be allowed to "age out" and then more spaces can be made available to children of district staff members.

The goal is to have the transaction finalized by January 1, 2024. The acquisition fee is $125,000. 

Little Lambs leases their facility, so that will be a consideration for the district. Another matter to be addressed is that there are fewer seats available than children who could use those seats. Johnson said they have to decide a process to decide who gets the slots. 

Also Monday, the Board set high school graduation for Sunday, May 14th at 2pm, and approved an agreement with the Regional Office of Education for alternative education classes for the coming school year.

Board members put off consideration of landscape projects at the Early Learning Center and Central Grade School until more proposals are secured, but did purchase a replacement scrubber at Central for $19,316 from Crossroads Truck Equipment.

The Board approved a memorandum of understanding for a hard to fill position after Jeni Phillips agreed to take a position that has been open for some time. The district will pay to train Phillips for the position. Also approved was a memorandum of understanding with the Effingham Education Support Personnel Association to address the time off given 12-month employees when an emergency day was taken after the problems with the computer system were discovered. Nine- and 10-month employees will be paid when the day is made up. 

Board members also agreed to seek bids on both concrete and asphalt paving for the teacher parking area at the Early Learning Center, and approved purchase of heating and cooling equipment from KCH Mechanical at East Side Preschool for $12,870 to finish out the end of heating and cooling runs at the school building.

In personnel moves, the Board hired Emma Fearday as a paraprofessional at East Side Preschool, Makayla Shoot as a paraprofessional at South Side, Kelby McCoy as a 1st grade teacher at South Side for the coming school year, Jessica Mette and Rachel Bushue as Kindergarten teachers at the Early Learning Center for the coming school year, Abigail Taylor asa LBS1 at the junior high school, Jordyn Biggs as an early childhood guidance counselor for the coming school year, Carrie Hankins as a paraprofessional at the Early Learning Center, Angela Ingram as a nurse paraprofessional at South Side, Nicole Whetstone as a paraprofessional at Central, and Eric Walker as a four-hour bus driver.

Transfers were approved for Jeni Phillips as a special education Kindergarten teacher at the Early Learning Center as mentioned earlier for the coming school year, and for Beth Stundon as a part-time early childhood social worker for the coming school year. 

Resignations were accepted from Christina Tangman as a special education teacher at the junior high school, Amanda Probst as a nurse paraprofessional, Sidney Donaldson as freshman volleyball coach, and Jaycie Belcher and Kimberly Herboth as paraprofessionals at the Early Learning Center.

Leaves were approved for Dana Flowers, Erin Hardiek, Lisa Abbott and Morgan Pals. Flowers was changed to a regular leave from a Family and Medical Leave Act leave.