Over 125 People Turn Out for Unit 40 Board Meeting in Support of Teacher Contract

Over 125 people turned out Monday night for the Effingham Unit 40 school board meeting, pushing for a contract settlement with district teachers.

A mixture of teachers, parents and students attended the meeting, many standing in the rain until meeting time when the Board meeting room was flooded with people.

(NANCY ERVIN)

Speakers included two teachers, Nancy Ervin, who focused on how to keep their teaching staff if they can make more money elsewhere. Ervin shared about her child's fourth grade teacher, Mindy Boswell, who worked with her son who has the disorder known as Tourette's Syndrome. She talked about how Boswell took her time interacting with Ervin's son until he felt comfortable sharing with his classmates about his disorder and is doing well. She has another child with hearing disabilities and wonders whether there will be another teacher willing to devote the time that child will need.

Amy Hewing also spoke, talking about a non-tenure teacher in the district who, although she and her husband both work, still qualify for a medical card. Hewing said a teacher's work day doesn't end at 4pm, or at the end of May.

(EHS STUDENTS JACOB MILLER AND JACOB SWAN WERE AMONG THE MANY STUDENTS IN ATTENDANCE)

Three members of the Effingham Sportsbackers also spoke. Chris Koester, a former Unit 40 Board member, said he believes the Board will "roll up their sleeves and get this done", but he and fellow Sportsbacker Chris Kreke both mentioned a low morale among students because of the issue. Angie Wolfe thanked the parents who are also teachers and coaches for their efforts, but noted that she is praying for everyone involved for a peaceful resolution to the matter.

Unit 40 Board President Jeff Michael said, "We are all here, trying for a solution".

The next bargaining session will take place April 10, with a Federal mediator in attendance to hear from both sides in the matter.

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Also Monday, the Unit 40 board approved a three-year agreement with the City of Effingham for supplying a School Resource Officer for the district. The County Sheriff's Department has supplied the SRO since the program's inception, but that will change with the new school year. There have been assurances from Sheriff Dave Mahon that an orderly transition period will be involved as the changeover takes place next year. The cost will be $25/student for the school district the first year, $26/student the second year, and $27/student the third year. The City Council is expected to act on the agreement at their meeting next week.

There was also discussion of online registration for the next school year. Assistant Superintendent Jason Fox said a vendor known as Powerschool is the likely choice to provide the system. Fox said the plan would be to open online registration July 1 and continue until the week before school opens. It would likely take 30 minutes to register a new student, but just five to 10 minutes for returning students. Health forms would be routed to the school nurse and changes of address would go to the transportation director. Fox said the cost to the district would be $13,000 the first year and $11,000 in subsequent years. He said that compares to the $16,000 to $20,000 it costs to set for the current registration. Should someone not feel comfortable with online registration, Fox said they could sign up at the school their child will attend once the office opens to get ready for the school year.

Fox also discussed IT and Internet upgrades. He said the new agreements with Consolidated Communications would actually be a cost savings to the district; $1,000/month savings for the IT service, and $520/month for the Internet service.

Superintendent Mark Doan again asked whether board members had questions or comments about moving ahead with a renovation of the junior high building, but none were forthcoming. Doan said it'll likely be necessary to hold a special meeting especially dedicated to the issue to see whether to move ahead with the project.

In personnel moves, the Unit 40 board hired Vicki Luppino as a cafeteria monitor at the Early Learning Center, hired Katherine Diener as a 4th grade teacher at Central and Josh Morton as a 5th grade teacher at Central, hired Lisa Lauritzen as a special education teacher at the Early Learning Center, and hired Andrea Durbin as a Kindergarten Interventionist at the Early Learning Center. The Board also approved hiring Michelle Morrissey as a 12-month secretary at the high school upon Susie Cisna's retirement, reassigned Kami Hefner as a first grade teacher at South Side, and approved Deb Spence as a Grades K-2 General Interventionist at South Side and the Early Learning Center. A leave of absence was approved for Janet Inman, and resignations were approved from Kayla Carson as a teacher as of the end of the school year and from Denise Snow as a cafeteria monitor at the Early Learning Center.

The Board approved Rob Davies, Jeff DeLong and Katie Koester as members of the Unit 40 Foundation Board, and discussed changes to the Discipline Handbooks. At Central, smart watches will be added to the cell phone policy, and at South Side, a definition will be added to what is reflective comments, a definition will be added for bullying, and a change will be made as to where bullying is located.

The Board approved renewing membership in the IHSA, the IESA and the SEPCO food purchasing co-op.