Published on June 22, 2026 6:42 pm
Last Updated on June 23, 2026 6:22 am
The Effingham Unit #40 Board of Education Monday approved a three-year contract with the Effingham Educational Support Professionals Association.
The contract is retroactive to the 2025-2026 school year and will also cover the coming two school years and will include 5% pay hikes each year as well as health benefits.
Also Monday, Superintendent Andy Johnson shared that enrollment for the coming year is at 2,045 students with an anticipated total enrollment of 2,300, about the same as the number at the close of the past school year. The Board also approved property/casualty, cyber, and worker’s compensation insurance coverage at a total cost of $505,490. That’s about $23,000 more, or 4% more than last year.
Board members spent just over $30,000 on transportation software devices. Johnson said the equipment will be available on every bus. He said regular drivers might not want to use the software, but said it will be there for those who do want to use it and will be there when substitute drivers need to take a route. The Board also extended a data agreement with Bendi Investments for the coming school year, and agreed to seek bids for preventive maintenance of HVAC equipment in all buildings.
The Board approved a final amended budget for the current fiscal year that includes $263,000 deficit in a budget of well over $30 million.
In personnel moves, the Unit 40 board took these actions:
EMPLOYMENT:
Barb Mueller ESY Bus Driver – Summer 2026
Jackie Jones 3 Hr. Cook at EJHS for the 2026-27 School Year
Julie Buckman 6 Hr. Cook at EJHS for the 2026-27 School Year
Marissa Levitt Health Care Supervisor for the 2026-27 School Year
Kaleena Knaus 5th Grade VB Coach for the 2026-27 School Year
Drew Deters HS Assistant Soccer Coach for the 2026-27 School Year
Madison Thompson HS Freshman Class Sponsor for the 2026-27 School Year
Jennifer Fouts Assistant Principal at CGS for the 2026-27 School Year
Leah Hanfland LBS1 Teacher at EHS for the 2026-27 School Year
Nathan Delks Mid-Day PreK Bus Driver
Dustin Draear AM & PM Bus Driver
Kelli Robertson AM & PM Special Needs Bus Driver
VOLUNTEERS:
John Winters HS Varsity Boys Asst. Basketball Coach for the 2026-27 School Year
Chad Harminson HS Bass Fishing Coach for the 2026-27 School Year
Joel Deters HS Bass Fishing Coach for the 2026-27 School Year
TRANSFER:
Adriana Monnet 6 Hr. Cook at EHS for the 2026-27 School Year
Donna Gadd 3 Hr. Cook at EHS for the 2026-27 School Year
Heath Rauch Head Custodian at CGS
RESIGNATION:
Quenten Austin HS Boys Track Coach
Garrett Wolfe 6th Grade Boys Basketball Coach
Kyle Bourgeois HS Varsity Assistant Baseball Coach
Bryan West Director of Transportation
Brigette Brown Teacher Assistant at LHECC
RETIREMENT:
Peggy Haarmann Warehouse – March 2027
Kurt Roberts EHS Principal – June 2029
Susan Kinkelaar Bus Driver – December 2026
