Work Underway to Establish Shelby County CEO Program

Business owners and educators in Shelby County like what they see of the Effingham County CEO program and are working to establish a program in their county.

Stewardson-Strasburg Superintendent Michele Lindenmeyer said the goal is to offer the program beginning with the 2017-18 school year. The high school principals in Shelby County are working out the logistics of the program. Business owners are being sought who would pledge $1,000 each toward the cost of the program. Organizers are hopeful of attracting 35 business operators to support the program.

CEO is an acronym for Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities. The program gives students the opportunity to see how business works, and to establish their own business. 

Stew-Stras board members heard about the project at this month's meeting. Members also discussed developing a plan to generate revenue for the athletic program. Calendars, banners, T-shirts are all possibilities, but the goal is to find a booster, or maybe one each from Stew-Stras and from Windsor, who would coordinate the effort. Anyone interested is encouraged to contact their school to see how they could help.

The Board accepted resignations from Rosemary Morrison as a cook, Sheila Crist as a cook, Nick Niemerg as junior high boys basketball coach, Jake Haegan as junior high track coach, and Christy Elder as school psychologist. The Board then contracted with Elder as psychologist rather than working as a district employee, hired Nick Niemerg as junior high girls basketball coach, and hired Ben Giertz as junior high boys baseball coach. Giertz is returning to the district to succeed the retiring Tim Bishop to teach high school PE, Drivers Ed and Health.

The Board hired Ryann Ibanez as Windsor/Stew-Stras Co-op Cheerleading Coach for the coming school year; named Jeremy Chaney as EIASE Board member for the district with Rob Quast as alternate; and approved $5,700 in grade school boiler repair work.