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 of bills totaling $901,754.42 (motion by Steve; second by Erica; unanimous roll call recorded).

A multi-item facilities package was approved after committee recommendation. The package included authorization to expend up to $350,000 for a two- to three-year rental agreement for modular classrooms at Southside (the administration said bids will include two- and three-year rental pricing and that renting is substantially less costly than purchasing), and directions to solicit bids for renovations and replacements at several sites: a central library update, replacement of multiple parking lots (including Effingham High School and Central), sports-complex parking, central gym floor renovation and bleachers, repair of the North Side fence at West Side School (committee estimated approximately $100,000 pending bids), an update to the junior-high baseball field (estimated about $160,000), and replacement of a pond fence at Central (estimated about $25,000). The board approved those facility recommendations by roll call (motion by Erica; second by Desha/Tisha; unanimous roll call recorded).

The board approved additional, discrete items that appeared on the consent and new-business portions of the agenda: an amendment to the Aug. 8, 2024 memorandum of understanding with the Effingham Classroom Teachers Association (ECTA) to add a second junior-high B team volleyball coach (motion by Erica; second recorded; unanimous roll call), approval to purchase shop hand tools, a SawStop table saw and a laser cutter for Effingham High School with an estimated cost of about $16,300 to be purchased and then submitted for reimbursement through the regional vocational group (EFIS/EFIS office) (motion by Steve; second by Erica; unanimous roll call), and approval for a contractor-funded blacktop repair at Westside School (tenant to pay, district approval to allow work; estimated cost $31,529) with board approval to proceed (motion by Erica; second by Steve; roll called and recorded).

The board approved a short-term Workman Center membership program offered to Unit 40 employees beginning Feb. 1 through June (dates as presented). Under the approved terms the district will pay up to $20 per month toward an employee individual membership (employee portion approximately $5 per month) or up to $20 per month toward a family membership (employee portion approximately $21 per month). The administration told the board it surveyed staff before Christmas, received 268 responses and estimated roughly 200 individuals or families might participate; the board was told the district will attempt to pay costs from a teacher-vacancy grant if possible and evaluate continuation after the trial period (motion by Erica; second by Steve; unanimous roll call recorded).

Finally, the board approved offering AP Computer Science Principles at Effingham High School; the course will be coded as both AP and CTE and is intended to provide an additional AP opportunity for students (motion by [recorded mover]; second by Erica; roll called and approved).

Votes at a glance: all motions recorded in the transcript were approved by roll call with affirmative votes recorded for Jane (Hughes), Chad, Desha/Tisha, Steve and Erica.

The board moved to a closed session after the open meeting concluded. Several student and community recognitions were presented earlier in the meeting (Illinois State Scholars, a cross-country state qualifier) but were ceremonial and not part of the formal actions summarized above.

Why it matters: the approved waiver changes instructional-year scheduling for staff development, while the facility approvals and rental modular classrooms respond to space needs after the district's recent sales-tax vote did not pass; the membership program and equipment purchases affect staff supports and high-school career-technical offerings.

What remains: the administration said several facility items will move to bidding and that funding options will be discussed at future meetings; several cost figures cited in the meeting were estimates pending bids or grant approvals.