Posted on October 23, 2023 at 8:31 pm
Last updated on October 23, 2023 at 20:31
Written by Greg Sapp
(DAMIEN SCHLITT OF BLDD ARCHITECTS SHARED FACILITY SCENERY INFORMATION WITH THE BOARD MONDAY NIGHT)
On Monday, Effingham Unit 40 school board members looked at four scenarios related to the district’s facilities.
The options are based on a common goal determined by focus groups that have met over the past few months to plan a central Pre-K through Grade 5 facility.
Damien Schlitt of BLDD Architects presented the options.
SCENARIO 1: a new preschool to 2nd grade building; use the middle school for grades 3-5 and house the Little Hearts Early Childhood Center on the South Side: a cost of $64 million
SCENARIO 2: Two new buildings, one housing K-2, the other for grades 3-5: $92 million
SCENARIO 3: A new Pre-K-1 building, Grade 2-4 housing at Central, and Grade 5-8 housing at the Middle School: $70 million cost
SCENARIO 4: A new 6th-8th grade building, pre-K through 2nd grade housing at Central and 3-5 grade housing at the high school, cost $79 million
Schlitt said existing facilities were evaluated first. He said, “most of the buildings are in very good condition to begin with.” He added, however, that if the status quo remains, the District will be looking at $19 million in repairs over the next 10 years. Meanwhile, removing older installations would save money on maintenance.
Schlitt said Scenario 2 should reject the idea of a K-5 building, as it would house almost 1,000 students.
Unit 40 Superintendent Andrew Johnson said planning is necessary, saying, “We need to have a vision of where we’re going as a district.”
No decisions were made Monday night; The information is there for input from board members, teachers and other district and community employees.
Also Monday, the Board amended the lease agreement with Tri-Barr Investments to take over mowing, snow removal and maintenance duties for the building that now houses the Little Hearts Early Education Center. The decision will reduce the monthly lease payment for Unit 40 to $2,875 from $3,300. It was also agreed to submit an application for a $50,000 maintenance grant that could be used to help pay for electronic canopies on the middle school and high school building. The district would match the grant amount.
Council members approved Jesse Patnaude and Katie Harper as directors of the Effingham Unit 40 Foundation; extend the district’s mowing contract with Herrmann Mowing; and agreed to seek bids for a new and a used backhoe.
The Board approved a tentative fiscal year tax rate that anticipated a 12% increase in the school district’s equalized assessment and heard and saw a report from Lake Land College’s Chris Strohl and Bonnie Moore on a Teens program w/ Tools collaborated with the district and the university this past summer. 48 high school students participated in the program that introduced students to everything from rockets to welding to wind turbines. The goal is for some students to want to pursue a career that involves working with their hands and giving them a taste of what it’s all about.
The Board also recognized member Jane Willenborg as a Distinguished Leader of the Illinois School Boards Association Board. The award recognizes Willenborg for his years of service on the Board, but also for his service to the IASB at senior levels.
(UNIT 40 SUPERINTENDENT ANDY JOHNSON PRESENTS JANE WILLENBORG WITH IASB BOARD’S DISTINGUISHED LEADER AWARD)
