By HOLLY GASKILL
Renovation work is nearly complete at Ossian Elementary School, Principal Theresa Casto reported Tuesday.
During the board of trustees meeting for Norwell Community Schools, Casto said crews were still working on flooring near the front office and cafeteria but teachers can start moving back into their rooms on Monday.
Board member Traci Neuenschwander asked if the move-in process would take a long time, and Casto said it would largely depend on the teacher’s preferences for their room. That said, each teacher will encounter a fair amount of construction dust.
“Even though the custodians and maintenance staff have worked hard, (the dust) is just a daily deal,” Casto said.
The first August meeting, Aug. 13, will be preceded by an open house of the building for the community. All are welcome to attend.
Also on Tuesday, the board reviewed options for OES pick-up traffic in light of the bridge work on State Road 1 between 900N and Wood Creek Drive. The road is down to one lane for the construction and is often backed up for several blocks — board member Gene Donaghy advised he’s known it to be backed up to Heyerly’s Bakery. The construction is expected to continue through October.
In discussion with several bus drivers and Casto, Superintendent Mike Springer said it seemed most apt to avoid parents entering and exiting through S.R. 1 due to the existing congestion. The board agreed on the second presented option, which has parents coming in on Metts Street, picking up along the north side of the building, and exiting onto Melching Drive. Buses will pick up on the west side of the building.
However, the board members recognized that it would be an ongoing item, especially as they plan to coordinate some help with the Ossian police. Neuenschwander noted that the school would want to pay close attention to bikers and walkers at dismissal with more cars in the neighborhoods as well.
The board also learned that a four-way stop will be added to Norwell Road and U.S. 224, potentially before the school year starts. Multiple board members expressed that this was a welcomed addition but had some hesitation.
“I cannot believe it,” board member Angie Topp joked. “I will believe it when I see it — after all these years.”
“I’m real concerned about it,” added Donaghy, who said it would be a significant adjustment for traffic. “But then again, as long as there’s enough notice (on the road).”
“(It’s) definitely a step in the right direction,” concluded Springer.
Alongside this, the board approved a new structure for transportation leadership in light of the retirement of former transportation director Stephanie Rohr. “Stephanie had been doing this job for 29 years … we’re not just going to flip a switch and have it be completely seamless, no learning curves after someone doing it for 29 years,” Springer advised. “We plan on doing it really well, right? But there’s going to be some hiccups, and hopefully, we get some grace with families and with people as we work through changes.”
Jenny Nes, executive secretary, will act as transportation secretary, coordinating communication with drivers, cancellations and delays, and scheduling. In light of these added responsibilities, the board approved a job posting for a district secretary to assume some of Nes’ former responsibilities.
Bus drivers Ami Crow and Lisa Hanni will be route coordinators. “It’s a pretty natural transition to have some of our more experienced drivers do this,” Springer said. They will receive a supplemental pay of $30 hourly.
Superintendent Mike Springer will continue to act as the authority for cancellations and delays but will be more active in facilitating bus driver training and administrative needs. Human resources secretary Courtney Springer will also fulfill human resources needs for the drivers.
Although the driving staff are managing their routes, the board discussed needing more drivers, particularly for extracurricular activities. Crow and Hanni advised they could advertise for an ECA driver specifically and host interest sessions.
Crow and Hanni said some people assume that driving a bus is difficult, but they’ve found it easier than other large vehicles. To this, Neuenschwander said her grandfather drove a bus and enthusiastically expressed her interest in taking it for a spin.
The district is also restructuring its technology department in light of the retirement of former technology director Jeff Miller. The board approved hiring Byron Gerber as technology director and Matt Brenner as technology integration specialist.
NWCS is also advertising a special education and preschool secretary in light of the growing demands of the district’s, as of July 1, fully independent special education services. Superintendent Mike Springer advised that the district only needs one more physical therapist for a complete special education staff.
The board also unanimously approved the following:
• A contract renewal for Assistant Superintendent Anna Murphy through 2027. Also, the board approved contract raises for Norwell Middle School Principal Andrew Enderle, OES Assistant Principal Matt Taylor and Lancaster Elementary School Assistant Principal Adam McAfee.
• Resignations of former NHS teaching assistant Sue Elzey, sixth grade science teacher Kristan Graft, sixth grade special education teacher Kelli Slentz, LES Bobcat Care assistant Mallory Falls, OES third grade teacher Anna Perkins and Samantha Betz from food service.
• Recommendations to hire Kaylee Leary as NMS Language Arts teacher, Kaeli Eberle as a LES kindergarten teacher, Crystal Hippensteel as NMS seventh grade math teacher, Emilie Webster as OES art teacher, Megan Wilson as NHS girls’ tennis head coach, Mckenna Delaney as OES teaching assistant, Alicia Hollman as LES teaching assistant, Brande Bolinger as NMS teaching assistant, and Emily Sebring and Rachael Miller for NHS food service.
• Agreements with The Bowen Center for additional counseling services, the University of Indianapolis for nursing educational services, and Bridging The Blind Gap for orientation and mobility services.
• Donations from Rod Williams, Inc. and Herff Jones, $1993.75 for high school graduation honors medallions.
• An overnight field trip for the NHS show choir to travel out-of-state to the “Heart of America – Nashville” national competition from Feb. 27-March 2.
Board member Chad Kline was not present Tuesday. The board will meet next at 5:30 p.m. on July 23 at the administrative office.
holly@news-banner.com
