By CHET BAUMGARTNER
Southern Wells school board members accepted the retirement of one of the district’s most veteran teachers Tuesday — and approved a new position meant to help the youngest students learn to read.
Superintendent Trent Lehman told board members during their regular meeting that John Fouts, the junior high science teacher, will retire at the end of this year, prompting board member Andrew Pursifull to note, “(He) will definitely be missed.”
Fouts taught for more than 30 years at Southern Wells and only at Southern Wells. During his tenure, he also coached girls’ basketball, football and junior varsity boys’ basketball.
During Tuesday’s meeting, board members also unanimously approved a new literacy coach position to help implement a state-supported reading initiative known as “Science of Reading.”
The state has promoted the initiative, which focuses on kindergarten through second-grade students, since the 2022-2023 school year. Through it, an “Indiana Literacy Cadre Coach” will work with teachers to implement “evidence-based literacy practices” to supplement a school’s curriculum, according to a state summary.
“We have excellent reading instruction now, and this is just a way to improve it,” Southern Wells Elementary Principal Kristen Wall said.
Wall also said the coach will analyze reading data.
Wall said she will attend two days of training in Indianapolis, and the person the district hires will attend a week-long training session. After that, the district will better determine specific strategies and instructional approaches.
Lehman said the state will allocate revenue to cover two-thirds of the person’s salary during the 2024-25 school year; the state will then cover one-third of that salary in the 2025-26 school year.
At board member Todd Fiechter’s suggestion, the board approved the position through this second year. Members will reconsider the position after that.
Among other business, board members Fiechter, Pursifull, Chad Roush and Delora Schneider:
• Recognized sophomore wrestler Jarin Frauhiger and the elementary and junior-high archery teams for their athletic accomplishments.
• Approved three fundraiser requests.
• Approved a donation from Peyton’s Northern to cover unpaid lunch accounts.
• Approved hiring Karen Bergdoll for the tech integration position.
• Approved several conference and field trip requests.
• Approved maternity leave for Cassie Moser at the beginning of the upcoming school year.
Board members will meet again at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, in the high school’s media center.
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