By HOLLY GASKILL
With a draw among four members, the Southern Wells Community Schools board initially concluded its 2023 organization meeting without a president or vice president.
Each returning member was nominated by a newly sworn in member — Todd Fiechter was nominated by Andrew Pursifull and Chad Roush was nominated by Delora Schneider. Both motions were seconded by the person nominated, and a vote concluded the same division.
Superintendent Trent Lehman moved forward with the other organization items, then asked the board to take a brief recess to consult legal counsel about the draw.
At that time, Fiechter and Roush personally resolved the tie. Ultimately, the board unanimously supported Fiechter as president and Roush as vice president. In an earlier vote, Schneider was made secretary and Pursifull was appointed as the liaison to the Indiana School Board Association.
The board members will also serve on various school committees — Roush and Pursifull on the safety committee, Schneider on the wellness committee, Roush and Fiechter on the negotiations committee, and Schneider and Pursifull on the high ability committee.
They then appointed Lora Warner as treasurer, Shirley Klowetter as deputy treasurer, Robin Collins as elementary school extra-curricular treasurer, and Monica Edgeman as high school extra-curricular treasurer and lunch program treasurer. The board also chose Timothy Shelley to provide legal services.
Additionally, they unanimously voted against Lehman’s proposed raise of the board stipend from $1,500 to $1,700.
The organizational meeting was immediately followed by the financial meeting, where the board was updated on the financial standing of the district.
Overall, the district is deemed fiscally healthy by the Indiana Department of Education. However, Lehman highlighted the emergency fund of the school, which has diminished over several years. Lehman noted the district should work toward having the equivalent of 25 percent of its budget in emergency funds.
The board then followed with its January meeting agenda, during which it approved a contract with Apex Services for budget management assistance. Although the approval was unanimous, Fiechter noted the board should review this service regularly and consider discontinuing it if it were not proportionally beneficial to its fees. To this point, Lehman said the district could withdraw from the contract with 30 days notice.
Also during the meeting, the board:
• Approved Sunday, June 4, for commencement services. The graduation ceremony will be held on the football field, weather permitting.
• Accepted donations from Wiley and Pam Mooneyhan for the Business Professionals of America club, Family Ford of Bluffton for the flood damage deductible and from Youth for Christ. The school also received gifts from Prezels, Inc., McBride Brothers, Pennville Lodge 212, Prible Ag Products, and Heath Bros Ag LLC for archery sponsorships.
• Approved the following meeting dates for 2023 — Feb. 21, March 14, May 16, June 20, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 10, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19.
holly@news-banner.com
