Unit 40 School Board Discusses Facility Improvement Projects

The Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education had plans to build a new primary grades building had the one-cent sales tax passed in November.

It didn't, but projects are still being pursued.

The chief item is a portable classroom building that would allow all of the second grade students in the district to be housed at South Side School. Some are currently being housed at South Side and some at Central. Prices are to be sought on a four-classroom portable structure that would be located in the rear of the South Side facility. The plan is to get the cost on a two-year rental and a three-year rental of the portable building.

Moving all of the second graders to South Side would also open up more space for staff members at Central.

The Board also accepted other recommendations from their facilities committee. The other projects include:

--replacement of all of the parking lots at Effingham High School

--the north parking lot at Central Grade School

--the sports parking lots at the high school

--an update of the baseball diamond at Effingham High School

--new fencing for the pond at Central School

--the north side fence at West Side School

--the gym floor and new bleachers at Central School

The parking lot projects are targeted for the summer of 2026.

The Board also concurred with work on the blacktop at West Side School. EIASE is paying for the project, but Unit 40 signed off on the project since the district owns the building.

Also Monday, the school board recognized this year's Illinois Stae Scholars at Effingham High School and recognized Jessica Larsen as a cross country state qualifier. Larsen qualified for State all four years of high school. 

The Board approved a donation of a new volleyball system for Central School from the Effingham Sportsbackers; approved upgrades of pay for athletic officials; and heard that the Unit 40 Foundation realized an $8,000 profit from this year's Breakfast With Santa event.

Board members approved a professional development waiver allowing five full-day school improvement days; heard that enrollment is down eight students from the previous month but is up 15 students from a year ago; agreed to add a second B team junior high volleyball coach; and approved acquisition of hand tools, saw stop and laser cutter for $16,300 for trades programs; approved an AP Computer Science Principles class at the high school for next year; and approved an agreement for employees to team up with the district for fitness memberships at the Workman Sports and Wellness Complex. 

In personnel action, the Board hired Kim Blickem as junior high volleyball B team coach; Quenten Austin as high school head boys track and field coach and Nate Coomer as high school assitant boys track and field coach; John Long as a school security officer; Kylie West as custodian at the Early Learning Center; Nancy Reed as breakfast monitor at the ELC; and Heath Rauch as second shift custodian at Central School.

Transfers were approved for Lori Koester as junior high softball head coach; Rick Miller as head custodian at the Early Learning Center; Hilary Claar as fine arts teacher at the ELC for the coming school year; and Karla Greenwood as special ed teacher at Central for the coming school year.

Logan Heil was approved as a volunteer high school assistant boys track and field coach, and Melvin Haarmann's retirement was accepted as head custodian at the Early Learning Center.

Resignations were accepted from Mackenzie Koester as nurse paraprofessional, Caleb Williams as custodian at Central, Kylie West as breakfast monitor at the ELC, Taylor Brown as mentor facilitator at the junior high school, Kadi Carpenter as a teacher at Central at the end of the school year, and Trista McCord and Kristi Lee as paraprofessionals.

Board members Jill Wendling and Andrew Altman were not present for Monday's meeting. Vice-President Chad Thompson presided in place of Wendling.