Unit 40 Board Chooses Wendling as President

The changing of the guard took place at a special meeting of the Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education Wednesday night, but two matters were not finalized.

The Board did not announce who will fill a two-year unexpired term. They also did not announce who will be hired as Assistant Superintendent. Rem Woodruff returned from retirement to serve as assistant superintendent after Jason Fox's departure for the Decatur school district earlier this school year.

Both of those items...the Board vacancy and the assistant superintendent post...will be finalized at the Board's regular monthly meeting on May 22.

The Board recognized retiring members Robin Klosterman, Brad Waldhoff and Desha Wear. Klosterman and Waldhoff joined the Board in 2019, while Wear was appointed to the Board in 2021. 

Andrew Altman and Scott Volpi, who were elected to the Board in April, were sworn in to four-year terms. Jill Wendling and Jane Willenborg, who were re-elected to the Board in April, were also sworn in to new terms. 

The Board also elected its officers for two-year terms. Wendling was elected Board President, Chad Thompson was elected Vice-President, and Willenborg was again chosen Secretary. Wendling moves up from Vice-President to succeed Klosterman as Board President. 

In other business, the Board finalized a daycare management lease agreement with Little Lambs Early Childhood Center, and also approved adjustments to the pay for non-certified, non-union contracts. 

In personnel moves, the Unit 40 Board hired Katelyn Lybarger as head cook at the junior high school for the coming school year, Courtney Bushue as three-hour food service and cashier employee at the high school for the coming school year, Payton Bushue as a maintenance worker, Elijah Jones and Sean Mahaffey as summer and seasonal maintenance workers for 2023, Sarah Coffin and Heather King as summer and seasonal custodial workers for 2023, and Tiffany King as a lunchroom supervisor at Central Grade School. 

The Board also hired Erin Hartke as Marketing and Communications Specialist for the district. The hiring is an outgrowth of a Board committee initiative to promote good things happening in Unit 40 schools. 

Also, a leave was approved for Hilary Claar, and resignations were accepted from Emma Fearday as a paraprofessional, Madison Healy as a healthcare supervisor, and Tyler Semple as fresh/soph boys basketball coach. 

The Board also approved a speed camp to be offered to those in Grades 7-12 by teacher and coach Jordan Jaspering, and approved a five-year copier lease agreement with Watts Copy Systems.