Unit 40 Board Updated on Food Services

(UNIT 40 FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR RYAN ELSASSER)

Effingham Unit 40 school board members Monday were updated on the district's food services program.

District Food Service Director Ryan Elsasser said efforts to upgrade the system saved the district $18,000. Elsasser said food items were free to all except to high school kids eating a la carte.

Elsasser said he has purchased a stainless steel salad bar for the high school and upgrades have resulted in a full bakery. There is a condiment station at the junior high school and two stations at the high school. 

The Board Monday voted to purchase two new gas convection ovens for the junior high building. The total cost is $20,400.

Elsasser's take on the situation is that the upgrades and better food choices will result in more food purchases. The moves were endorsed by board member Steve Bone, who said, "you can't do as well on an empty stomach."

Also Monday, the Board reviewed the first reading of a policy on district cell phone procedures. Superintendent Andy Johnson said his preference is that everyone use their own cell phone, but said he understands that employees still want a separate phone for district business. Those individuals would be grandfathered as the new policy is implemented.

The Board also awarded a fuel bid to South Central FS; several other policy changes were approved for first reading; and Midland States Bank and Dieterich Bank were approved as depositories of district funds.

In personnel moves, the Board hired Nancy Moeller as a four-hour midday work program driver; Lisa Campton as a two-hour midday bus aide; Jerry Kinkelaar as a speech driver; Barb Mueller as a two-hour midday bus driver; Kevin Shamhart as a network specialist; Lauren Pals as MTSS/SEL Director; Cayleigh Beeman as an ELA teacher at the junior high school; Katia Beals as an ESL paraprofessional; Tia O'Dell as a junior high B-team volleyball coach; Andrew Donaldson as 6th grade boys basketball coach; Garrett Wolfe as 5th grade boys basketball coach; Becky Quandt as 6th grade volleyball coach; Abbey Armstrong as 5th grade volleyball coach; Elizabeth Russell as 6th grade girls basketball coach; Megan Adkins as 5th grade girls basketball coach; and Drew Deters as bass fishing head coach. Erik Williamson was transferred to be a technology teacher at Central. These volunteers were approved: Nate Boggs as an assistant football coach; Alexandra Estes as assistant girls tennis coach; and Christen Bowen as assistant junior high girls basketball coach. Leaves of absence were granted to Kadi Carpenter and Katie Beckman. Resignations were accepted from Katherine Batley as a paraprofessional and from Violet Marshall as a junior high mentor facilitator.