Published on April 10, 2025 7:48 pm
Last Updated on April 10, 2025 7:48 pm
Effingham Unit 40 school board members approved agreements with Holland Construction and BLDD Architects to move ahead with work at South Side and at Central Grade School.
The work includes a parking lot project at South Side and a repaving project at Central.
The Board also hired Amy Hewing as MTSS/SEL Coordinator, effective July 1, for one year. Hewing will leave her ELA Interventionist position, so the district will be advertising for someone to fill that position.
Board members approved the purchase of bleachers for the junior high school baseball diamond upgrade, for $36,000. Also approved was a contract with Effingham Park District for the 21st Century grant funded after school program. The agreement is retroactive since the program began March 25, and will run until May 15.
Unit 40 Superintendent Andy Johnson said 130 kids are utilizing the program. High schoolers are utilizing the high school, junior high students are utilizing the Lake Land Kluthe Center, 3rd thru 5th graders are using the Ron Diehl Center, and K-2 students are utilizing Crossroots Church.
Johnson said Friday (TODAY) is the deadline to apply for the program and for transportation to the program. Contact the Unit 40 office at 217-540-1500 to register or for more information.
The Board purchased a used van from Northside Ford for $60,000 for the maintenance department; approved catastrophic and voluntary student accident insurance renewal; and approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Classroom Teachers Association for Flex Teachers Sequence of Honorable Dismissal list placement. Johnson said the SOHD list relates to Reductions in Force, but added that he doesn’t anticipate any RIFing.
In other personnel moves, the Board hired Braden Kiser as video board operator for the 24-25 school year, Devynn Haslett as PFA Paraprofessional and seasonal help at Little Hearts Early Childhood Center. Those hired for the 2025 summer technology are Katrina Eirhart, Jason Eirhart, Brandon Wilson, Andrew Donaldson, Landon Wright, Gwen Mihlbachler, Sidney Donaldson and Adam Flack. Barb Mueller and Leland Knierim were hired as 21st Century Grant Program bus drivers; and Isabella Harkins-Albin, Adam Flack and Harsh Patel were hired as 21st Century Grant Program facilitator assistants.
Transfers included Rhonda Parmenter as a six-hour cook at the ELC, Lexie Boggs as 4th grade teacher for the coming school year, Regina King as a seven-hour cook at South Side, and Lorrie Siler as a three-hour cashier at Central. Resignations were accepted from Becky Quandt as freshman girls volleyball coach and from Jennifer Kirk as high school head boys and girls cross country coach.
Two retirements were accepted…Melissa Donaldson and Jennifer Winters, both as of the end of the 2027-2028 school year.
