The Effingham CUSD 40 Board of Education on March 3 approved routine financial items and several intergovernmental agreements, voted to fund a tuition‑reimbursement memorandum of agreement for a special‑education certification, and heard staff briefings on the district’s MTSS (multi‑tiered system of support), a modular classroom planned for South Side property and an expedited three‑year after‑school/summer grant the district must spend quickly.

The board unanimously or by large majorities approved a financial report showing a $28,811,722 net fund balance and recommended reimbursements and payments that included reimbursing an impressed account for $3,150.22 and approving payment of bills totaling $1,647,231.67. The board also approved intergovernmental agreements with Lakeland College to establish Laker Connect membership and with the Regional Office of Education (ROE) No. 3 to continue alternative education services; it approved a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for tuition reimbursement tied to an LBS1 special‑education certification for an employee, and it adopted a resolution expressing official intent to reimburse future capital expenditures from proceeds of a potential obligation (up to $5,000,000 as presented).

Why it matters: The MTSS work informs classroom interventions and can affect staffing and program priorities; the modular classroom is a near‑term capacity expansion expected on district property; and the state grant creates an immediate operational timeline because state rules require program delivery and spending within a narrow window.

MTSS presentation and data
Lauren Pals, identified in the meeting as the district’s MTSS/SEL director, summarized the district’s Multi‑Tiered System of Support, saying it “focuses on the whole child, identifies student struggles early so that, hopefully, we can intervene quickly.” Pals described MTSS tiers used by the district (Tier 1: roughly 80% of students; Tier 2: targeted intervention for about 10–15%; Tier 3: intensive support for about 5% or fewer) and explained the district uses NWEA MAP screening to assign students to tiers and to monitor progress.

Pals showed fall‑to‑winter screening comparisons for reading and math. She said reading remained at or above the 80% Tier‑1 target for last year and this year, while Tier‑3 counts rose slightly in the current year and will prompt targeted interventions. On math, she said winter screening had returned the district to roughly an 81% Tier‑1 level after a mid‑year dip. Pals stressed the role of teachers and interventionists in one‑on‑one help, foundational skill work (letter names/sounds, sight words for reading; fact fluency for math) and ongoing progress monitoring.

Modular classroom planned for South Side property
Superintendent Kurt (identified in the meeting as superintendent) updated the board on prior approval to proceed with modular classroom implementation on the district’s South Side property. He said the planned unit is approximately 70 by 70 feet and can house up to four classrooms or be configured for some specials. Estimated arrival to the property is in May; once the units are on site the vendor needs roughly 30 days to assemble and finish, and district staff are targeting July 1 as an operational deadline so the rooms would be ready before the school year if possible.

Kurt described site constraints that guided location selection: setbacks from Craig Street (the drive off which access will be staged), a 30‑foot distance requirement from existing buildings, removal of an existing fence and reconfiguration of the circle drive to create a safe west‑side entrance. He said work will require temporary power and a temporary sewage connection likely coming off Craig Street and that the structure will sit on driven concrete piers (he referenced “about 40 to 50 pillars” during the presentation). He also said the unit arrives in sections (four pieces) and that the district will have the option to extend the rental for a third year if needed.

21st‑Century‑style grant: rapid rollout
Kurt told the board the district has been notified it landed a multi‑year, three‑year after‑school/summer grant from the state of Illinois (described at the meeting as a “21st‑Century” style grant). He said he would not disclose dollar figures at the meeting but called the award “a lot of money” and stressed the grant’s timing constraints: much of the grant funding must be obligated quickly, and the district must have at least about 14 weeks of after‑school or summer programming in place within the grant’s initial period in order to meet the funding conditions. He said the district will move rapidly, advertising immediately for two co‑director positions if the board allows him to proceed with hiring.

Kurt said the grant is intended to expand after‑school and summer options without replacing existing community programs (for example, he specifically said the district does not intend to supplant a local park district’s summer offerings). He said the district anticipates partnering with community organizations and venue hosts, and that the grant requires the district to sustain any programming after three years without continued state support.

Agreements and other business
- Lakeland College (Laker Connect). The board voted to approve a two‑year intergovernmental agreement with Lakeland College (Laker Connect membership). Under the agreement presented, Lakeland will not charge district tuition for dual‑credit courses that are identified as part of a Lakeland pathway; the district currently charges students a modest per‑semester dual‑credit fee (described in the packet as $25 per semester) and staff said approval would allow the district to remove or reduce that student fee for qualifying classes. Tessa Wiles was identified as Lakeland’s dual‑credit coordinator; district staff said Lakeland will also provide advising and professional development tied to faculty who deliver dual credit.

- ROE No. 3 (alternative education). The board approved the annual intergovernmental agreement with ROE No. 3 to continue services for alternative education programs (TriStar and Aspire were named).

- Facility‑use agreement with the city (tabled). The superintendent presented a draft facility‑use intergovernmental agreement with the City of Effingham for emergency use of district facilities. The superintendent recommended additional review and the board agreed to table action to allow further review of the draft language and operational implications.

- MOA for tuition reimbursement. The board approved a memorandum of agreement for tuition reimbursement to support an LBS1 special‑education certification for Carla Greenwood (MOA negotiated among the board, ECTA and IEA as presented).

- Resolution of official intent for capital reimbursement. The board adopted a resolution expressing official intent to reimburse certain capital expenditures from the proceeds of a future obligation (the resolution authorized an amount “up to $5,000,000” as presented; no bond sale was scheduled at the meeting).

Votes at a glance
- Financial report (reimburse impressed account $3,150.22; payment of bills $1,647,231.67): motion by Andrew, second by Steve; roll call recorded in the meeting: Joe: Yes; Jane: No; Chad: Yes; Dasha: Yes; Steve: Yes; Erica: Yes; Andrew: Yes. Outcome: approved.
- Consent agenda (minutes, cafeteria report, fundraisers, field trips, donation to Central School): motion by Erica, second by Steve; roll call recorded: Jane: No; Chad: Yes; Steve: Yes; Erica: Yes; Andrew: Yes; Joe: Yes. Outcome: approved.
- Lakeland College intergovernmental agreement (Laker Connect membership, two‑year): motion by Chad, second by Andrew; roll call: Chad: Yes; Beshia: Yes; Steve: Yes; Erica: Yes; Andrew: Yes; Jill: Yes. Outcome: approved.
- ROE No. 3 intergovernmental agreement (alternative education programs): motion by Erica, second by Steve; roll call: Tasha: Yes; Steve: Yes; Erica: Yes; Andrew: Yes; Jill: Yes; Jane: Yes. Outcome: approved.
- MOA tuition reimbursement (Carla Greenwood, LBS1): motion by (recorded as) Bridal, second by Steve; roll call: Steve: Yes; Erica: Yes; Andrew: Yes; Jill: Yes; Jane: No; Chad: Yes; Dasha: Yes. Outcome: approved.
- Resolution regarding capital reimbursement (up to $5,000,000): motion by Chad, second by Erica; roll call: Erica: Yes; Andrew: Yes; Jill: Yes; Jane (Mel): Yes; Chad: Yes; Sasha: Yes; Steve: Yes. Outcome: approved.
- Enter closed session (personnel, student discipline, probable litigation): motion by Andrew, second by Steve; roll call: all present members voted Yes. Outcome: approved; board entered closed session.

Discussion, direction and next steps
Board members asked clarifying questions about MTSS screening thresholds, how students move between tiers and what interventions will be prioritized for Tier‑2 and Tier‑3 students; staff said progress monitoring and teacher‑driven interventions are central to the approach. On the modular classroom, staff said they will coordinate utilities, underlying pier installation and site fencing changes, and report back to the facilities committee with final site plans, estimated costs and a recommended vendor timeline. On the state grant, the superintendent asked the board to authorize immediate advertising for two co‑director positions and signaled a possible special board meeting within the next week to approve contracts and staffing needed to meet grant start‑up timelines.

What the board did not do: the facility‑use agreement with the city was tabled for further legal and operational review; no final decision on bond issuance or capital project scope was made at the meeting.

Taper: Board packets include detailed fund‑balance reports and the IGA/contract documents referenced above; staff said they will circulate final modular‑site drawings and grant budget details once available.