Unit 40 Board Contracts for Facility Study at EJHS

The Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education Monday contracted with GRP Mechanical of Bethalto for $33,000 for a facility study of Effingham Junior High School.

Unit 40 Superintendent Mark Doan said the document will include what infrastructure changes would be needed to use the building long-term, as well as any cosmetic changes that might be required. The goal is to have the document ready for the school board by December 4.

The vote to proceed with the study was 7-0. Board President Jeff Michael said, "it's a necessary step." Doan said it'll be up to the Board what to include in any project and how to proceed.

The Board reviewed a tentative budget for the coming fiscal year. It was especially tentative since the district still doesn't know how much they'll receive in funding from the State. Assistant Superintendent Jason Fox joked that he wanted to thank the State for making his first year preparing a budget so interesting.

Doan said it's tough, too, with the District in the midst of open enrollment for insurance and with negotiations going on with both the teachers union and the support staff union.

Board members discussed utilizing available Working Cash funds to repair the tennis courts at Effingham High School and to update the technology at Effingham High School, the junior high building and at the ELC. The tennis courts work is estimated at $255,000 while the technology upgrades could cost $235,000. Utilizing Working Cash funds would eliminate the need to sell bonds to finance the work. The hope is to get the tennis courts work done this fall with the technology upgrades likely done next summer.

Also discussed was utilizing Health/Life Safety dollars to pay for replacement of roofs on three buildings. Fox mentioned again this month that East Side is the top priority with South Side a close second and West Side also a serious situation. The cost won't be known until a study is done to decide how much existing insulation needs replaced.

Doan said District enrollment is at 2,455; down close to 50 students from last year, but some students are still expected to enroll. The junior and senior classes are the two smallest classes in the District.

The Board agreed to buy two activity buses with Board member Angie Byers voting No, the retired Rem Woodruff was retained in case Doan or Fox need help in the Unit office in the short term with Board member Jane Willenborg voting No, the District crisis plan for the school year was approved; and revenue is up from this point a year ago, chiefly, Fox said, because of Health/Life Safety funding on hand for the work being completed at the high school and at Central School.

The Board also gave the okay to the EHS band starting preparations for a trip to Orlando next April.

In personnel moves, the Board hired Lorrie Milleville as a 3rd grade teacher at Central; Michael Lambton as Choral Director; Jill Lobb, Debbie Lappin and Donna Gadd as cafeteria monitors, and Nick Bushue as a paraprofessional. Dawn Byrum was transferred to head cook at South Side; Family and Medical Leave Acts were granted to Becky Daugherty, Jenni Fritcher and Chris Fleener; resignations were accepted from Kelsey Ericksen as girls junior high track coach, Denise Elson and Cindy Mapes as cafeteria monitors, Kim Smerdel as a paraprofessional, and Carla Yocum as a custodian; a retirement was accepted from Roland O'Leary as a custodian; appointments were approved of Erin Schackmann as 8th grade girls track coach, Elizabeth Schumacher as 7th grade girls track coach, Michelle Hinterscher as 8th grade boys track coach, and Morgan Healy as 7th grade boys track coach, and Kelsey Ericksen as high school head girls track coach; and Martin Reyes was accepted as a volunteer high school soccer coach.