Unit 40 Board Votes to Seek Sales Tax Hike

The Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education Monday voted to seek a 1% countywide sales tax increase to pay off existing bonds and then look at building improvements or new construction.

The Board voted to put the the question on the March 2014 primary election ballot.  Unit 40 and the other four public school districts in the county have considered the question.  Altamont, Beecher City and Dieterich have agreed to request the question be put on the ballot; Teutopolis also approved the matter at their Monday night meeting.

In addition to the vote to put the question on the ballot, Unit 40 board members also voted to approve a position statement for how the District would use the revenue generated by the sales tax hike.  The statement pledges four things:

--pay existing building bonds and interest that are currently being levied against property tax payers until they are paid in full in 2019

--continue to repair and renovate existing school facilities as needs arise

--once existing bonds and the interest accrued are paid in full, the district will then utilize this revenue stream to meet the long-term needs of the district, which is to efficiently utilize three buildings to house Unit 40 students

--these funds will be used in accordance with parameters set forth and as authorized by statute

Also Monday, in personnel moves, the Unit 40 board hired Angela Byers as Student Service Secretary at Effingham High School...approved leaves of absence for Ty Totten and Sheryl Ingram-Conder and Family and Medical Leave Act leaves for Julie Garner and Patria Clough...and accepted resignations from cafeteria monitor Christina Jones and varsity volleyball coach Laurie Bohnhoff.