Illinois / School Boards / Effingham CUSD 40
Southside Elementary staff told the board that K–2 MAP testing and targeted interventions produced notable gains (reading from 74% to 94% in one measure), and said the school’s designation rose from "commendable" to "exemplary" under the state’s redesigned accountability categories.
Illinois / School Boards / Effingham CUSD 40
The board voted to table a proposed financial partnership with an academy and to table moving the Summer Bridge program into the 21st Century grant, approved a student disciplinary resolution (student 2026-11), amended the 2025–26 calendar to reflect two emergency days, and approved administrative contracts and salaries.
Illinois / School Boards / Effingham CUSD 40
The Effingham CUSD 40 Board approved the district financial report (reimbursing the imprest account $3,270.39 and paying $1,131,987.25 in bills), the consent agenda of minutes and student activities, and several routine personnel and contract items during its meeting.
Illinois / School Boards / Effingham CUSD 40
The Effingham CUSD 40 board voted to keep closed-session minutes closed and destroy recordings made before July 2024, approved the personnel list, and authorized a memorandum of understanding to add a bass‑fishing extracurricular at EJHS for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years with expenses shared by the sports backers for two years.
Illinois / School Boards / Effingham CUSD 40
Central Grade School principals reported winter NWEA MAP results showing schoolwide winter math 85.49% and reading 83.52% (grades 3–5), described RTI supports (Lexia, IXL, small groups) and outlined PTO-funded enrichment and STEM activities.
Illinois / School Boards / Effingham CUSD 40
The Effingham CUSD 40 Board approved a district Artificial Intelligence plan to begin with the 2026–27 school year, outlining teacher-led use for younger students, restrictions on AI for final grading, an approval process for new tools and privacy safeguards referencing SOPA, FERPA and COPPA.
Illinois / School Boards / Effingham CUSD 40
Board heard a financial report showing a 5.37% increase in fund balance to $31,855,199.05 and operating funds up 2.59% to $26,904,753.65; motions to reimburse an impressed account and pay $251,399.38 in bills, and to approve the consent agenda (including an Arrow Pest Control contract), were approved by the board.
Illinois / School Boards / Effingham CUSD 40
BLD Architects presented the districts 10-year Health Life Safety survey, identifying asbestos-containing mastic beneath the junior-high gym floor that would require full abatement (estimated roughly $1.2 million) and other facility needs including masonry, missing fire devices and potential HVAC replacements. The board will approve the report and pursue state HLS funding.
Illinois / School Boards / Effingham CUSD 40
The Effingham CUSD 40 board adopted the 2025 tax levy (presented as a slight rate decrease), approved the monthly financial report and payment of bills, adopted several policy updates, and authorized a maintenance-grant application for a perimeter fence at Southside Elementary (estimated $80,000–$105,000). Board entered closed session on personnel matters.
Illinois / School Boards / Effingham CUSD 40
District staff presented the 2025 Illinois report card showing a 4‑year graduation rate of about 88.8% (rounded to 89%), gains in grades 3–8 ELA (51% proficient) and math (39.1% proficient), growth measures up from last year, and continued attention to English‑language‑learner staffing and interventions.