Superintendent Search Firm to Meet w/School Board on Candidates

The search firm working with the Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education on a search for the district's next superintendent will meet with the board at next week's regular monthly meeting.

The firm's representatives, Educational Leadership Solutions, in closed session, will present potential candidates for the position now held by Mark Doan, who is retiring at the end of this school year. The goal is to hire the next superintendent at the October meeting. Board President Robin Klosterman said the Board would schedule first interviews with the candidates before moving forward in the hiring process.

Also Tuesday, the Board ratified a four-year contract with the Effingham Education Support Professionals Association. The Board earlier ratified a four-year agreement with district teachers.

In personnel moves, the Unit 40 board employed Ashlee Barcus as a cafeteria monitor at the Early Learning Center, Breanna Miller as a cafeteria monitor at Central, Barb Mueller as a midday bus aide, Allen Birch as a midday bus driver, Dana Flowers as a speech driver, Laura Hodges as a midday bus aide, Nancy Moeller as a midday bus driver, Sheila Rentfrow as a three-hour cashier as the Early Learning Center, and Shelby Farnham as a three-hour cashier at the high school.

Resignations were accepted from Kelsey Kiefer as a cafeteria monitor, Jennifer Kirk as high school head track coach, and Josh Robison as 8th grade Scholastic Bowl coach. The Board approved the release from employment of Tasha Johnson as a custodian, Shelly Klein as a cashier, and Kori Faber as a cafeteria monitor.

Leaves of absence were granted Courtney Mathews, Mindy McCollum-Boswell, Lisa Miller, Rick Schmidt, April Karpus-Weddle, Lisa Abbott, Michaela McClure, and Larry Micenheimer.

Tracie Riley was appointed the high school Fall Play Director and the high school Drama Club sponsor. The Board accepted the retirement of district bookkeeper Ellen Broom as of the end of the current school year.