Personnel Moves, New Legal Firm for Unit 40 Monday Night

The Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education acted on a number of personnel matters Monday night.

Those employed were Berly DeSedas as an ESL paraprofessional for the coming school year, Chrissy Brown as seasonal help and PFA paraprofessional at Little Hearts Early Childhood Center, Victoria Ault as an ELL teacher at the high school Laney Harrison as a paraprofessional, Jared Yager as JV boys basketball coach, and Kaden Howard as a flex teacher for the coming school year. Also, Abigail Taylor was transferred to a junior high resource teacher for the coming school year.

Those approved as volunteers were Alex Savage as a boys and girls swim coach, Brittney Mooney-DiBlasi as high school basketball cheer sponsor, Bryce Braddy as junior high assistant baseball coach, Nick Painter as varsity boys assistant basketball coach, and Mason Hull as junior high assistant baseball coach.

Resignations were accepted from Jeht Wendt as fresh/soph boys basketball coach, Barbara McGuire as lead instructor at Little Hearts Early Childhood Center, Obie Farmer as PE and driver's ed teacher at the high school, and Emily Flach as Technology Director. Also, the Board dismissed Jeffrey Habing as a custodian.

Also Monday, the Board hired Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick and Kohn of Itasca as the district's legal firm, and contracted for the next year with Bendi Investments as an investment counselor for $2,500/month.

The Board voted to approve an emergency contract with I-70 Truck Center for bus mechanic services. The district's mechanic retired, and Board Vice-President Chad Thompson said the district hadn't come to an agreement with the Effingham Educational Support Professionals Association on a rate of pay for a successor, leading to the contract with I-70 Truck Center.

Speaking of transportation, Director Kristen Harvey demonstrated the district's transportation software. Harvey said the system will allow parents to know where their child on the bus, even during field trips and athletic events. Harvey said the system is saving hours of time per route and that they continue to learn more about what the system will do.

Also Monday, the Board heard that enrollment was down 14 students from the previous month and down 18 from the previous year. A new e-rate proposal was approved for just over $10,000; job descriptions for IT positions were approved; property casualty/cyber/and workers comp insurance was awarded to Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust for $463,045; property/casualty insurance for Little Hearts Early Childhood Center was awarded for $14,198; and bids were awarded for dairy, bakery, pizza and grocery products.

The Board approved a building access control system for the Unit office building from Entec for $19,750; and voted to accept a computer science grant for the coming three years from the State Board of Education. Johnson said the hope was that the district would receive up to $330,000/year; instead, the award was for $51,009. There was also discussion about Emily Flach's departure as the district's Technology Director. Johnson said Flach was finding "more and more on her plate" with less opportunity to focus on the things she had hoped. Johnson said he would like the Board to divide the workload into two positions...a Director of Information and Instructional Technology, and an Information Technology Supervisor. He said he would love to be able to fill the spots at the special meeting set for July 8.

The Board approved an amended budget for the balance of the current fiscal year, and also recognized Spring sports participants in junior high track, high school track and the high school softball sectional qualifier team.

Board members Jill Wendling and Andrew Altman did not attend Monday's meeting.