Unit 40 Gearing Up for FFA Program

Effingham Unit 40 school board members got good news at this week's meeting about the development of the district's new FFA program at Effingham High School.

38 students are signed up for the program, which will be taught by Ty Totten. The group received approval to travel to the national convention in Indianapolis and got the okay to sell mums to help pay for the trip.

The Board learned that 61 scholarships totaling $62,000 were presented to EHS students through the Unit 40 Foundation. The scholarships all have a minimum value ot $1,000 and are being sent to the school the student plans to attend.

District enrollment for the previous month totaled 2,288, eight down from the previous month. Unit 40 Superintendent Andy Johnson said he doesn't like to continue reporting declines in enrollment, but said Year Two of his time in Unit 40 has been a "great year." Johnson offered the assessment in the wake of last year's cybersecuity breach.

The Board reappointed Jane Willenborg and Steve Bone as the delegate and alternate, respectively, to the Eastern Illinois Area Special Education Board; and also purchased a stair lift to the Home Ec area at the junior high building for $27,984. The Board also approved a $27,000 purchase of security glass laminate and will seek grant funds to finance the purchase.

Board members also acknowledged retiring employees, including Tina Haarmann with 11 years' service, Lorrie Milleville for seven years, Dave Worman for 19-1/2 years, Amy Miller for 23 years' service, David Woltman for 28 years, and Cheri Marten for 29 years' service.