North Clay School Board Holds Regular Meeting

Effingham, IL-(Effingham Radio)- The North Clay Board of Education met for their regular meeting last week and discussed the ongoing construction project.

Superintendent Price shared updates on the building project and stated that it is progressing well. Some of the progress over the past month includes: completion of steel decking, completed storage and gym entry concrete/masonry, setting of roof curbs and mechanical units, completed ag shop concrete pouring and progress on the metal stud framing. Work progressing throughout the month of November includes: completing roofing, mechanical/electrical/plumbing rough-in in the gym and ag shop, completing the metal stud install, completing the air barrier, begin on the window/storefront install, begin painting in the gym/locker rooms and begin the wall panel install.

The board also:

1. Hire Noah Barnard as Junior High Scholar Bowl Coach for the 24-25 school year, effective immediately. Approved 5-0
2. Hire Doug Phillips at 7th Grade Boys Junior High Basketball Coach for the 24-25 school year, effective immediately. Approved 5-0
3. Hire Dustin Spicer as full-time custodian for the 24-25 school year. Approved 5-0
4. Hire Marla Gillet as part-time custodian for the 24-25 school year. Approved 5-0
5. Hire Richard Grubaugh as interim head boys junior high basketball coach for the 24-25 school year. Approved 5-0
6. Hire Ben Farleigh as head boys junior high baseball coach for the 25-26 school year. Approved 5-0
7. Amend the administrative contract of Rich Grubaugh. Approved 4-1
8. Hire Chelsea Ruholl as Transportation Director for the 24-25 school year, effective January 1, 2025. Approved 5-0
9. Approve the posting of the Transportation Bus Maintenance Position. Approved 5-0
10. Provide the administration permission to hire non-certified staff, as needed. Approved 5-0

High School Principal Mrs. Sarah Newby, Elementary/Junior High School Principal Mr. Ben Borries and Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Mr. Richard Grubaugh
shared positive news for the district. They included:

North Clay Elementary/Junior High School

● Book Fair gross sales were $4,770 – Our library received $2,086 towards purchasing new books.
● Fall Literacy Night Success- 3 prize winners were drawn (Ruby Price, Easton Wendling and Ava Jones).
○ Gave away 2 Kindle E-Readers, 2 canvas library tote bags, 3 book lights, and 10 books).
○ Families enjoyed pumpkin tic-tac-toe, bean bag toss, candy corn ring toss, a paper bag scarecrow craft, Book Fair, a snack mix station, and a bilingual book read aloud.

● Oct. 28th – K – 8 Began after-school tutoring.
○ PTO Paragon Fundraiser began with a school presentation
○ Bus Safety Week – brought to you by our transportation department.
● November Junior Deputies – Sponsored by Sgt. Lewis and the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.
○ 2nd Grade – Blair Liggett & Ellie Gill, 3rd Grade – Beau Hosselton & Daniel Hall,
○ 4th Grade – Audrianna Staat & Neila Bunton
● Nov. 2nd – PTO – Mother/Son Event – Laser Tag
● A huge and heartfelt THANK YOU to all Veterans in our District and throughout the County!

● Nov. 7th – Veterans Day Program
○ Pre K Family Night – balloon animals, face painting, bounce houses
● Nov. 12th – PTO fundraiser ends – multiple giveaways throughout the fundraiser.
● Nov. 14th – 8th Grade Girls Basketball Night.

North Clay High School

● FCCLA held their annual bread fundraiser. This year they made 834 loaves of bread in 4 days!
● FCCLA members attended the Fall Conference at Carbondale on October 30th
● FCCLA members will attend a competitive events workshop on Friday, November 15th.
● FFA is wrapping up their meat/cheese and fruit fundraiser. It will be delivered in the next few weeks.
● Mrs. Romack attended a professional development day on SEL
● Ms. Guinabo went to Naperville to learn more about the Science Olympiad. This is helping lead our school to creating an Olympiad team that can compete at Belleville.
● FFA students harvested the FFA Plot on November 12th.
● The Video Editing will be attending Radio/TV Day at Wabash Valley College on November 21st
● Homecoming will be held on December 7th with the homecoming basketball game on December 6th
● FFA will host a pork burger sale on Friday, November 15th from 11-1.

FFA members have participated in several activities this month. Those activities include:

• Pork Burger Sales
• FFA Forestry CDE Competition: Team finished 7th Haven Cash placed 10th in individual
• District 5 Chapter Officer Leadership Training and Greenhand Workshop
• District 5 Horse Judging CDE: Team finished 14th out of 57 teams Alaina Worland placed 21st out of 220 competitors.
• Hosted 1st Chapter meeting of the year
• Section 23 Leadership Training School
• Section 23 Greenhand Quizbowl

Extra-Curricular Activities

● Brooke Koelm IHSA 2A Sectionals at OCC
● JH Girls BKB 8th Grade Night Thursday 11/14
● Meet the Cards Friday 11/15
● HS Boys BKB Cumberland Thanksgiving Tournament
● HS Girls BKB CH/BC Thanksgiving Tournament