Published on June 23, 2025 8:48 pm
Last Updated on June 24, 2025 9:38 am
It appears it’s back to the drawing board for the Effingham Unit 40 Board of Education where a new Grades K-2 building is concerned.
The successful petition drive by local residents asking for a referendum on a bond issue to pay for the new school building led Superintendent Andy Johnson Monday to seek a special Board meeting for next week. Johnson said the Board can rescind an earlier motion to hold a bond referendum, or “go back to the drawing board” as far as what facilities to pursue.
Shannon McClurg of the “We the People” group said the vast majority of those who signed a petition “just want there to be a vote on the issue.”
The large majority, however, was an indicator that there is little taste for the referendum. Even if the question was placed on the ballot, the likelihood of passage seems small, at least the current plan.
The bond issue was designed to generate $38 million for the building project.
Anyone from the public has five days to challenge the results of the petition drive, but Johnson said he’s hopeful no one files a challenge, saying someone would be “wasting their time and our money.”
McClurg was thankful for the support of local residents for the petition drive, saying almost 3,000 signatures in less than a month is gratifying.
The school board also considered improvements at South Side School. The board added a third year to their agreement on the portable classrooms at South Side, and approved a $360,000 health and life safety amendment, and then to seek approval from the Regional Office of Education and the State Board of Education for parking lot expansion at South Side.
In personnel moves, the Board hired Michael Lambton as high school spring musical director, Morgan Pals as junior class sponsor, and Pam Koester as junior high cross country assistant coach. Blake Wesselman was approved as volunteer high school boys assistant basketball coach. Resignations were accepted from Elizabeth Short as flex teacher, Kristin Harvey as high school assistant softball coach, and Justin Hayes as JV boys baseball coach. Judy Wall’s retirement as a paraprofessional was accepted.
