Cody Lewis Named Effingham Junior High Principal for Coming Year

Cody Lewis, who has been serving as assistant principal at Effingham High School, Monday was hired as Effingham Junior High School principal for the coming school year.

Lewis will succeed Bill Myers as junior high principal. Myers is headed for a principal's job in Beardstown.

The change means all new leadership at both the high school and the junior high buildings for the coming year. Current EHS principal Jason Fox is succeeding Rem Woodruff as assistant superintendent and Lewis will be principal at the junior high school. Current assistant junior high principal Kurt Roberts will succeed Fox as EHS principal. That means assistant principals need to be hired for both the high school and the junior high school.

(UNIT 40 TEACHER KIM WILLENBORG WAS INTRODUCED BY PRINCIPAL CHERI MARTEN AT MONDAY'S MEETING)

The Board also hired Jason Lewis as the next transportation director, succeeding the retiring Tonna Percival. Lewis earlier this month resigned his transportation director and athletic director positions as of school year's end at North Clay school district.

(UNIT 40 CURRICULUM DIRECTOR CHELLE BECK {right} INTRODUCED AMY HEWING FOR HER WORK AS PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ROAD READING COUNCIL)

Board members also accepted the resignation of Kali Carroll as special ed teacher at the end of the current school year.

The Board approved several hirings for summer work. Those hired are Deb Blankenship, Michael Carie, Katrina Eirhart, Teresa Fuesting, Joshua Kinder, Sue Kinkelaar, Darlene Krietemeyer, Deverick Mayfield, Peggy Manley, Megan McDonald, Weston Peno, Frank Schneiderjon, Brandy Simmons, Ray Thompson, Diane Tieffel, Drew Vasquez and Preston Walker.

UNIT 40 ACTIVITY DIRECTOR DAVE WOLTMAN {right} INTRODUCED GIRLS BASKETBALL COACH JEFF SCHAFER WHO WAS HONORED BY THE ILLINOIS BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION AS THE REGION'S CO-COACH OF THE YEAR)

Monday's meeting saw special recognition of four individuals for achievement. Kim Willenborg was honored for receiving an award from Eastern Illinois University for teaching ability, Amy Hewing was recognized for her work as president of the National Road Reading Council made up of school districts in this region, Dave Woltman was honored as a finalist for state athletic director of the year, and Jeff Schafer for being named the region's co-coach of the year in girls basketball.

(MEANWHILE, EHS PRINCIPAL JASON FOX {right} INTRODUCED DAVE WOLTMAN AS BEING NAMED THE REGION'S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR. WOLTMAN IS NOW IN THE RUNNING FOR STATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR)

Monday's meeting was the final one for retiring board members Brian Wick, Steve Bone and Chris Koester. None of the three ran for the Board in this month's election. Koester had filled a seat on the Board until the election after Laurie Borrelli's move out of the district, Bone completed a full four-year term on the Board, but Wick wrapped up two stints totaling 25 years on the Board. Wick had a part in hiring the past three Unit 40 superintendents and was a key member of the group that oversaw construction of Effingham High School.

Newly-elected board members Patty Russell, Kathleen Smith and Angela Byers will take office in May.