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A hands-on lesson
kayak secondary1
Russ Hillman is building this 14-feet long kayak in his classroom. - photo by Photo by Calli Arnold

Russ Hillman is building his eighth kayak with his architectural drawing and design class at the Effingham Career Academy to show them that if they can draw it, they can build it.

This incarnation is two weeks away from completion, and Hillman intends to test it himself at Baker’s Pond in Springfield. The kayak is 14 feet long, made from plywood and the materials cost $150.

His past kayaks have been raffled, burnt and/or stored.

Hillman said he got the idea to build kayaks from similar high school build competitions and has plans for his students to draft and build a motor boat.

Effingham School Board Approves $203M budget with Potential Property Tax Increase
2026 budget
This chart illustrates how the Effingham County School District’s $203 million general fund is allocated for fiscal year 2026, including spending on salaries, benefits, transportation, health services, and safety and security. (Courtesy of Effingham School District)
The Effingham County Board of Education approved a $203 million fiscal year 2026 budget Thursday night, reflecting an 11% increase over last year. The rise is largely due to an $8 million spike in health and retirement benefit costs for employees. To help cover the shortfall, the district may raise the property tax millage rate, potentially increasing homeowners’ taxes by up to 12 percent.
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