Unit 40 Board Moving Forward on Junior High Project; Discuss Sales Tax Proposal

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Published on November 20 2018 2:26 pm
Last Updated on November 20 2018 2:26 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

Effingham Unit 40 school board members Monday discussed the renovation of Effingham Junior High School.

The Board decided on utilizing a construction management firm to oversee the $13.3 million project and agreed to negotiate with Poettker Construction to serve as the firm. Poettker has worked on a number of capital improvement projects in Effingham, including Unit 40 projects.

The Board will utilize FGM Architects to do the design work on the project.

The State has okayed the health and life safety work that will make up the bulk of the junior high project. Health and life safety bonds will be issued to pay for the work. The Board Monday okayed a 5.3% increase in the district tax levy for the coming fiscal year. Superintendent Mark Doan said a 1-cent increase in the tax rate should generate enough revenue to cover the cost of the project.

Doan said the plan is to complete the junior high project over a three-year plan in hopes that it will take less time than forecast.

The Board also discussed health and life safety work at South Side School and at the Early Learning Center. Doan said a final okay on that work is expected soon.

Also Monday, there was a brief discussion about whether to pursue a 1-cent countywide sales tax to fund new construction and renovation work on school buildings in the county. The proposal would have to receive approval from a majority of those voting on the question. The last time the question was on the ballot it got a favorable vote in the Teutopolis district, but nowhere else in the county, and the margin of defeat was considerably less than the first time the matter was on the ballot.

The Unit 40 district is a key on any such vote since a majority of the students in the county live in Unit 40. Doan said a decision on whether to pursue the sales tax increase needs to be made by January 14 to get the question on the April election ballot.

Curriculum Director Chelle Beck reported on the district's school report card from the State. You can find out more about how the district fared by going to the Unit 40 website and looking under "academics". One point made is that students (and their parents) would save $229,000 by taking dual credit classes through Lake Land College.

The Board heard a project known as EHS Cafe. Lindsay Westendorf's class has been selling breakfast items and beverages for the past many months. There's now talk about setting up a cafe in a vacant classroom where students could purchase smoothies and coffees. EHS Principal Kurt Roberts, Unit 40 Special Programs Director Jennifer Seachrist and EHS student Brennan Barr were present to discuss the project. Doan said the facility would have a "student union-type feel". The working name for the effort is "Heartbeats and Eats". We'll keep you abreast of progress on the project.

Doug Ess of Glass and Shuffett gave the district an audit containing "no instances of non-compliance". There was also discussion of a Future Green Energy Consortium that could save the district on energy costs. It's a statewide initiative. No votes were taken on the item Monday.

In personnel moves, the Unit 40 board hired Kendra Bierman as a paraprofessional, and approved a leave for Leah Colclasure. The Board also accepted the retirement of teacher Rebecca McIntire as of December 31, 2018, and approved Leah Schrock, Lynae Jansen and Gabriella Durbin as student teachers for the second semester.