Effingham CUSD 40 approves assistant principal hire, multiple job postings and to host psychologist intern for 2025-26

The Effingham CUSD 40 Board of Education approved a series of personnel actions, including the hiring of Lauren Pals as central grade school assistant principal, authorization to advertise several new positions, and approval to host a paid psychology intern from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) for the 2025-26 school year.

The board approved the district personnel list on a motion by Board member Andrew, seconded by Board member Erica; recorded votes in favor were Andrew, Jill, Chad, Dasha, Steve and Erica. The board then approved a contract to hire Lauren Pals as central grade school assistant principal. The assistant principal contract is an 11-month position beginning July 1, 2025, for a three-year term ending June 30, 2028; motion by Board member Chad, seconded by Board member Erica, carried on a roll-call vote in which Chad, Dasha, Steve, Erica, Andrew and Jill voted yes.

Board members authorized posting and advertisement of several positions: a finalized job description for an Effingham High School (EHS) strength and conditioning director (to be returned to the board for approval at the next meeting), advertising for two co-directors for the district’s 21st Century grant program to start immediately, and advertisements for an additional math interventionist and an additional school psychologist. A motion to approve those job descriptions and to advertise the positions was entered by the board (mover recorded as Board member Bridal, seconded by Board member Chad) and passed on roll call with recorded yes votes.

The board also approved hosting or hiring a paid psychologist intern from SIUE for the 2025-26 school year. The intern was named on the record as Taylor Ferguson; the board discussed and recorded an annual stipend of $25,000 for the position. The motion to host/hire the intern was made by Board member Steve, seconded by Board member Andrew Ropaul, and passed on roll-call with recorded yes votes from Steve, Erica, Andrew, Jill, Chad and Dasha.

After completing the personnel business the board moved to adjourn; a motion by Andrew, seconded by Erica, passed on roll-call.

The transcript identifies Erin Spicer as the incoming central grade school principal (effective with the 2025-26 school year), and notes that Lauren Pals served as the district’s MTSS SEL director for the 2024-25 school year prior to this hire. The record indicates the board will finalize the EHS strength and conditioning director job description at a future meeting and that the 21st Century co-director positions are to be posted immediately.