By HOLLY GASKILL
In their last meeting of 2022, the Southern Wells Community Schools board members approved a full-week fall break for the next school year.
The change came in the draft of the school’s 2023-24 calendar. As a trade-off, the school year will start a few days earlier on Wednesday, Aug. 9. The first teacher day will be Monday, Aug. 7.
According to Superintendant Trent Lehman, this change was preferred by over 60 percent of district families who had participated in a survey.
The meeting was the first Lehman has led, and the last for eight-year members Aaron Westfall and Kevin Scott.
Officially one month into the role, Lehman said he’s been warmly welcomed by the community. He stated he hopes to cultivate a collaborative and supportive environment and will continue to prioritize providing opportunities for the community to meet him.
In their final comments, Both Westfall and Scott said they had been honored to serve the community and looked forward to seeing the continued work of the school board.
“I feel like we’re leaving Southern Wells a better place, and I appreciate the opportunity to represent Liberty Township and serve the administration, teachers and principals,” Westfall said. “It’s been an honor and privilege.”
New members Andrew Pursifull and Delora Schneider will join returning members Chad Rousch and Todd Fiechter at the board’s first meeting in 2023 on Jan. 10.
In other updates, the board recognized the recent successes of the Business Professionals of America and FFA clubs.
From the BPA, ten students have advanced from the regional to the state competition. The competitions assess workplace skills in areas like accounting, administration procedures and interview skills. In total, the team received 15 medals for these competitions.
Ten members of FFA also represented Southern Wells at the national competition. Their agriculture sales team represented all of Indiana and placed tenth nationally in the competition. The students also had the opportunity to learn from different speakers and workshops about business and personal development.
“I look around the room here, and I can’t help but think the future is right here in this community with the leaders being built here at Southern Wells,” Scott said. “I can’t thank the teachers and staff enough for what they’re doing with these kids.”
The board also completed the following business:
• A 4 percent hourly raise was approved for all classified staff.
• Multiple donations were accepted by the board members — $1,000 from Geenix Solar and Paddlefish Solar, $500 from Kreig Oswalt and United Rentals for an athletic scholarship, $550 from Bruce and Twila Herr from the 5K proceeds for cross country, $500 from an anonymous donor for negative lunch balances. Additionally, they accepted $50 from DeWeese Softwater and Appliance, $500 from the First Bank of Berne for prom and $100 from the Oswalt family for prom, and $300 from Leas Electric, $140 from Coons Show Lambs and $200 from Binegar Farms for archery scholarships.
• Resignations were accepted from high school secretary Jayme Biberstein, head football coach Mike Roder and instructional aides Aleigha Zoda and Breanna Penrod. The board later approved Kendra Steffen as a substitute for Penrod and Alyssa Toland as a substitute for Zoda.
• The board also approved the employment recommendations of Diane Rockwell as high school math teacher, Madison Bolinger as full-time instruction aide, Ian Nesbitt-MacDonald as technology support assistant, as well as Joanne Michuda to cover the maternity leave of Alyssa Osborn and Lanette Mason and Alyssa Roush to cover the maternity leave of the school nurse, Taylor Hamilton. The recommendations of Evan Huffman as varsity baseball head coach and Whitney Powell as varsity volleyball head coach were also approved by the board.
• The board approved a renewal of their liability insurance and policies regarding cell phone stipends for applicable employees and student meal charges on its first reading.
holly@news-banner.com
