Nearly one-third of Effingham High School’s graduating seniors were offered a scholarship toward their college education, the Unit 40 Board of Education learned Monday. The board reviewed the results of the 2009 exit survey for Effingham High School and learned 41 of 131 seniors, or 32 percent, who completed the survey were offered a scholarship toward their college education. The 41 seniors were offered a combined total of $871,580 in scholarships.

After graduation, 55 percent of the graduating seniors plan to attend a junior college with half of them going to Lake Land College, Mattoon, 36 percent are going to a four-year college or university, 5 percent are headed to the military and 3 percent are going to the workforce.

“The kids are doing well when it comes to being competitive for scholarships. We have a lot of kids who are going to the junior college first. A lot of them are doing it to proceed in their career, not just as a half step to a four-year university,” Clasby said.

In personnel moves, the board employed Jill Kistner as Effingham High School girls junior varsity basketball coach and Becky Dust and Becky Wilson as co-sponsors of the Effingham Junior High School Student Council.

Board members also granted maternity leave requests to Central Cross Cat teacher Christine Killion and Edgewood Grade School second-grade teacher Andrea Kinder and a one-year leave of absence to South Side School special education teacher Danielle Peyton.

The board also accepted resignations from Debra Bellm as social worker, Stephanie Uebinger as high school girls junior varsity basketball coach, Jill Kistner as high school girls sophomore basketball coach and Patricia Dial as a three-hour cook at the junior high school.

Angie Faller can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or angie.faller@effinghamdailynews.com.