Published on June 25, 2025 10:22 am
Last Updated on June 25, 2025 10:22 am
Effingham Unit 40 school board members heard at this week’s meeting that Little Hearts Early Childhood Center has received Gold Circle recognition from ExceleRate Illinois, a statewide quality recognition and improvement system.
Unit 40 Superintendent Andy Johnson said Denise Pitcher and Becky Mesnard are now overseeing the Little Hearts operation with the departure of Jennifer Fox for Olney. Johnson said the District is trying to make the staff at Little Hearts “a part of us.”
The school board recognized members of the Effingham Junior High School track team that had success this season even at the State level. Some of the athletes and Coaches Nancy Ervin and Becky Quandt were on hand. Millie has a photo of those present for the recognition on the Sports page of our website.
The Board named Zoe Bridges a Unit 40 Foundation director; heard that enrollment is at 2,327; renewed the annual software program; and renewed property/casualty, cyber, and workers comp insurance coverages. Assistant Superintendent Kelsey Baker said all of the same companies were the low bidders on the coverages. Board members also awarded various commodity bids, and approved the consolidated district plan, which saw drops in both Title I and Title II funding after changes at the Federal level.
The Board also approved an amendment and one-year extension to a consultant agreement with Bendi Investments that offers the District “help with anything data-wise”, according to Johnson. Also approved was the contracts with school security officers for the coming school year. The same number of security officers will be utilized as last year.
