Unit 40 Board Approves Contract w/Support Staff

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Published on September 22 2014 5:42 pm
Last Updated on September 22 2014 5:46 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education Monday ratified a contract with members of the Effingham Educational Support Personnel Association.

The three-year agreement with the 129 members of the Association is retroactive to July 1 and will expire June 30, 2017. Superintendent Mark Doan said the contract contains a 2% per year salary increase, plus an annual health insurance payment for those in the Association who have coverage through the District. The payments will be $175 the first year, $225 the second year, and $275 the third year. Association members approved the agreement earlier.

Both Doan and Association President Kim Knierim were pleased with the negotiations, Doan saying, "I appreciate the union and its membership for their professionalism during the talks."

The Board also approved the same increases for non-certified, non-union employees.

Board members agreed to support participation in the new Construction Trades program being developed for inclusion in education programs. The Board's motion was the same as has been approved in other school districts in the county; the District will support the effort if funding comes from other than school district funds. Supporters hope the program will be offered beginning next school year. An informational meeting for businesses and trade organizations is set for Thursday evening to discuss the program.

Doan reported District enrollment is up 20 students from the same point last year, with Kindergarten leading the way. There are 222 children enrolled in Kindergarten in Unit 40.

Board members approved the budget for the next fiscal year. The financial blueprint calls for a couple of hundred dollars more in income than outgo. Doan said it's the first balanced budget for the District in at least four years, something he said District staff had worked hard to achieve. There is still a deficit of $321,000 in the Education Fund, but that's offset by surpluses in the Operations and Maintenance, Transportation, Working Cash, Tort and Fire Prevention and Safety Funds. Assistant Superintendent Rem Woodruff said expenditures are down $911,000 from the previous year, following a trend of recent years.

The Board heard from Unit 40's Kathy Nava-Sifuentes about the District Mentoring Program and about the Summer Food Program. Nava-Sifuentes shared that 1,322 lunches were served during June and 1,148 during July. She still hasn't been able to determine why numbers decline from June to July, but that's been the trend each year the program has been offered. She thanked the number of programmers and volunteers who make the program possible.

Nava-Sifuentes also reported that this is the 15th year for the District Mentoring Program, where numbers have grown from 30 mentors when it began to 141 this year. She also reported on a Success Mentor effort designed to address chronic absenteeism. She has started with three children on being in attendance each day each week. Her first week was last week, and two of the kids were present each day last week.

Local resident Peggy Campbell spoke to the Board about the District's state report card scores and thinks more should be done to raise those scores. Board President Delbert Soltwedel also spoke, as a citizen, not as a Board member, and read a poem about those who seem ready to tear down than to build up. Board Vice-President Jeff Michael chaired Monday night's meeting. When asked why, Soltwedel said, "Because I asked him to."

Also Monday, Unit 40 Foundation Advisor Todd Schuette said they're in need of five new Foundation Board members and that the Homecoming Parade is next Wednesday, October 1 and that the Foundation Board will be represented in the parade.

Doan reported that Board member Carol Ruffner has maintained Master School Board member status; shared that the school board election will be held April 7 and that petitions can be circulated beginning Tuesday; thanked those connected with the Carl Koerner Sports Spectacular for a donation of $30,000 to both city school's booster funds; and reminded that the Second Annual Manufacturing Day in Effingham County will be Friday, October 3 where students can tour local manufacturing operations to see what's available at home rather than elsewhere.

In personnel moves, the Unit 40 board hired Cindy Mietzner as ELC cafeteria monitor and Danielle Harden as EHS cafeteria monitor...accepted retirements from teacher Todd Wiedman at the end of the 2016-17 school year and from bookkeeper Sandy Devall as of January 16...and approved leaves of absence for custodian Jeff Leasher and bus driver Bill Stahl.