Unit 40 Board Finalizes Pay for Administrators

Effingham Unit 40 school board members voted this week for 2-1/2% pay increases for district administrators and agreed to pick up 1% of the administrators' Teachers Retirement System contribution.

The Board also voted to increase the contract for Food Services Director Ryan Elsasser to a 12-month agreement, rather than 11 months.

Also agreed to was a job description for a Career and Technical Director position and for a Dean of Students position at South Side School. The South Side position is related to Cheri Marten's retirement at the end of the school year from her principal's position. The Career and Technical Director job will relate to bridging students with county businesses, according to Unit 40 Superintendent Andy Johnson.

The Board got the lowdown on summer programs for students. Johnson said the efforts will include more like the Teens With Tools program undertaken with Lake Land College last summer, as well as the Benchworx program, STEAM curriculum, and an effort in conjunction with the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce.

Registration fees for the coming school year were approved; catastrophic and voluntary student accident insurance renewal was finalized; and a van was purchased from Northside Ford. Work continues on handbook changes for the coming school year with final action expected this summer; the Board approved an agreement with the City of Effingham on School Resource Officers at an increase of $1/student in each of the three years of the agreement.

District enrollment was 2,296, which is 16 students fewer than last year. The Board bought a floor scrubber for the junior high building, and acted on the calendar for the coming school year with final touchups coming soon.