Doan's Last Meeting as Unit 40 Superintendent

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Published on June 27 2022 8:13 pm
Last Updated on June 28 2022 6:47 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Monday night's meeting of the Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education was the final meeting for retiring Superintendent Mark Doan.

Andy Johnson will assume the superintendent's post as of July 1.

When asked what he will most remember with pride about his 11 years with the district, Doan said people assume dealing with COVID, but he said that's not the case. He said he is most pleased with how the district addressed the cuts in state funding during former Governor Bruce Rauner's battles with the General Assembly. 

Doan said many districts made significant cuts in programs and personnel, but he said Unit 40 instead decided against such moves. He said that was a joint effort by the Board, the administration and the staff.

The other item Doan pointed to with pride is the work that has been done to address district facilities. That work is in the home stretch with work still needing completed at South Side School to complete the process.

Doan said the process of retiring will take some time. He said you've done something for more than 30 years, and then you're not doing it, and that takes some adjustment. He admitted to driving to the office when he was on vacation earlier this month, and said he will have to stop that.

Doan said he and wife Sharon plan to remain in the district. He said they will "live quietly on the west side of the district" and watch what progress occurs.

Speaking of projects and progress, Assistant Superintendent Jason Fox reported on work going on this summer. Fox said work at South Side is going well, and that paint and carpet work at the Early Learning Center is moving along. He said that patching and painting work at the junior high is going well and that the asphalt work in the rear of the building could be done in another week.

Work on the pavement at Central is going slow since the base on which surface work was to take place is crumbling. Fox also said a lack of drainage is slowing progress on a parking lot at East Side Preschool. New padding in the gym at the junior high is progressing, and Fox said the turf field project and installation of a new videoboard is going well.

The Board approved property/casualty insurance renewal at a cost of $474,438. Fox said that's much higher than in the past, but said two major events caused the increase; the $86,000 damage done at South Side when a man drove a vehicle through the playground using someone else's vehicle while uninsured, and another more than $20,000 in damage done when three vandals broke into school buses behind the junior high and tore up the vehicles.

Board members also approved staying with Blue Cross-Blue Shield for health coverage after a major increase. Fox explained that during the height of COVID that people put off claims and procedures, and are now pursuing those things. Doan pointed out that even with this year's increase, the average increase over the past five years has been 1.65%. 

The Board approved the consolidated district plan, which as Director of Curriculum Michelle Beck pointed out illustates how Federal grant funds are utilized.

In personnel moves, the Unit 40 board hired Lorrie Siler and Kate Pagel as food service personnel; Kae Hoyt as extended school year occupational therapist assistant; Erica McNeely and Chelsea Garcia as English as Second Language teachers; Sonny Uptmor as a four-hour bus driver; Carolyn Karnes as food service personnel; Amanda Probst as a nurse paraprofessional; and Aspen Krietemeyer, Catlyn Sawyer and Sarah Ueleke as paraprofessionals.

Morgan Pals was granted a leave of absence, and Kerri Krischel's retirement as paraprofessional was accepted.

Resignations were accepted from Julie Flack as high school Student Council sponsor, Rawle Persaud and Teresa Riley as custodians, Natalie Stortzum as junior high cheer coach, and Marlene Ruholl as food service personnel.

Several appointments were approved, including Norene Ault as freshman class sponsor, Jackie Haarmann as Pep Club sponsor, Megan Tylka as Student Council sponsor at the high school, Sidney Webster as high school assistant volleyball coach, Jeht Wendt as boys fresh/soph basketball coach, and Jeff Tonn as volunteer boys basketball coach.

The Board also adjusted the technology support position job desrciption to include videoboard technician tasks.