Effingham CUSD 40 board approves 5-day professional development waiver, facility projects and staff benefits

The Effingham CUSD 40 Board of Education on an evening meeting approved a five-year professional development waiver that would allow the district to schedule five full days of staff professional development with no student attendance, and approved a package of facility projects, equipment purchases, personnel-staffing adjustments and a short-term employee wellness benefit.

The waiver of the School Code provision was presented during the meeting as a multi-year request to move from the district's current mix of four full days and two half days to five full staff development days to expand training opportunities and accommodate families’ child-care needs. The board voted to approve the waiver by roll call (motion by Steve; second by Erica); the vote as recorded on the transcript was unanimous: Jane (yes), Chad (yes), Desha/Tisha (yes), Steve (yes), Erica (yes).

Board members also approved the district financial actions the board's finance presenter recommended. The transcript shows the district reported a net fund balance of $30,230,504 (a 2.67% increase over the prior year) and operating funds of $28,958,660 (a 2.46% increase). For the month the district reported local revenue of $388,631, state revenue of $690,428 and federal revenue of $412,012. The board approved reimbursing the impressed account in the amount of $3,328.62 and payment…