Published: November 26, 2008 12:32 pm            

Unit 40 restricts Sunday events

Coaches in Unit 40 School District will no longer be able to continually schedule practices on Sundays. Unit 40 School Board adopted a set of guidelines Monday restricting the scheduling of events on Sundays.

However, in the event of tournaments, coaches may be able to schedule a practice on Sunday, but not without approval.

Superintendent Dan Clasby recommended the guidelines following a discussion at the October board meeting after Clasby received a call from a parent who was upset a coach had scheduled numerous Sunday practices.

“The scheduling of events on a Sunday may be allowed on a limited basis. Approval for the scheduling of an event can only be granted by the building principal in whose building the event would take place. Districtwide events, such as fund-raisers and graduation, must be approved by the superintendent/board of education,” Clasby wrote in his recommendation.

The guidelines also state the following should be taken into consideration when reviewing the scheduling of Sunday events: the necessity of scheduling such an event on Sunday, the potential of scheduling conflicts with church and community events, the impact on students and their families, the importance of the reason for scheduling on a Sunday, and under no circumstances should approval be granted for multiple scheduling carte blanche.

In his research, Clasby found extracurricular events other than practices are sometimes held on Sundays, such as band competitions, graduation, plays and fund-raisers.

“Historically in most Christian communities, Sunday is a day of worship. In this society, that’s not necessarily followed, and if you look at other faiths, Saturday may be a holy day,” Clasby said.

Board member Tom Purcell thanked Clasby for “slowing us down” from the “complete knee-jerk reaction” the board had at the October board meeting, when some members called for a complete ban on all Sunday events.

Board members David Worman and Galen Altman voted no on the measure. Altman has previously said he favored a total ban on all events on Sundays.

In other business, the board:

• Approved an evaluation for a new roof at South Side School. Business Director Dean Keller said the roof has been experiencing leaks in the 1989 addition. Repairs have been ordered, however, the wet insulation will need to be replaced as well.

• Approved a motion to allow the Sportsbackers to continue work on a proposed restroom facility at the Effingham High School athletic complex. Superintendent Dan Clasby said the Sportsbackers have raised between $60,000 and $80,000, but they will have to cover all the costs of the construction of the facility themselves. The district would take over ownership and maintenance of the building after it is completed. The next step is for the school’s architect to complete a study on the costs of building the facility.

• Learned Effingham High School art teacher Charlie Huber was nominated for Indiana State University’s Influential Teacher Recognition Program by a former student. Incoming freshmen could nominate an educator who has changed them, challenged them or helped them along the path toward intellectual growth.

• Renewed workers’ compensation insurance for $168,461, a $7,846 decrease from last year.

• Approved a one-year contract with Odysseyware for $20,000. Odysseyware will replace Novanet, a program currently used for the after-school program at Effingham Junior High School and online education at Effingham High School. The switch will save the district around $30,000.

• Heard from Business Director Dean Keller fund balances are up 12.9 percent over last year, and revenues in the Education Fund are down 20.75 percent over last year.

• Appointed Jim Siner as a member of Unit 40’s Educational Foundation.

• Approved the following fund-raisers: the Family and Consumer Science Club selling candy canes in December to raise money for a field trip, Effingham Junior High School band and chorus selling magazines to raise money for the music program, Mustang Outreach collecting money at the junior high school to send holiday care packages to soldiers, and Central Grade School mentoring students selling ornaments to raise money for the mentoring program.

• Approved an online banking agreement allowing the Sportsbackers to conduct online banking at Midland States Bank.

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