By HOLLY GASKILL
Norwell Community Schools will issue a $3.3 million bond toward multiple renovation and replacement items across its buildings.
The bond funds are budgeted to address over 30 items across the district, from replacing buses to buying wayfinding signage at Ossian Elementary School. The board of trustees had approved a series of resolutions regarding the bond at their last board meeting, Aug. 27. Tuesday was the second and final hearing on the matter.
Tuesday was also a hearing on the 2025 budget, slated for adoption on Oct. 15.
Notably, the district’s assessed value has made several large jumps in recent years. According to data presented Tuesday, the district’s assessed value was $818 million in 2021 and is estimated to be $1.25 billion in 2025.
The tax levy remains roughly the same — $9.4 million — but the district has retained the same overall tax rate by raising its debt service rate, which allows the district to address capital projects. Southern Wells Community Schools and the Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District have also issued similar bonds in the last month due to increased assessed value.
While the district would have the option to lower the tax rate, Springer felt it was more “responsible budgeting” to maintain consistency over the years. He added, “(Debt service) is your only funding mechanism to get things (building projects) done.”
Board members Angie Topp and Corey Krug also stated they felt it was important to remain consistent. “I think where people get a little fuzzy on this is that certified assessed value isn’t something we control — the only thing we control is that tax rate,” Topp said.
“I talked to 37 separate taxpaying households in northern Wells,” Krug shared. “One said they would like it (the tax rate) to drop, one was indifferent and the other 35 said (they) like keeping the tax rate the same because then (they) can go talk to the assessor together … If we keep doing the proper things (with our building), and Norwell continues the upward trajectory, AVs hopefully do go up, because we become a place where a lot of people want to move.”
That said, Springer recognized that future expiring debt and continuing trends in property values will require the district to consider its options in the future, where it may make sense to lower the tax rate. “That needs to be a community discussion, and I hope we get a lot of people in the community continuing to come to (board meetings and strategic planning),” he added.
The overall tax rate, as discussed on Tuesday, was 0.9547. However, Springer said this would actually be 0.8967 — the district’s rate the previous two years — after revision from the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.
No one from the public gave comments during the bond or budget hearings.
Also during the meeting, Springer recognized the recent efforts of the “Minibus Brigade,” a group of coaches and teachers who have helped fill the gap in bus drivers for the district. Springer said driver hires will soon be certified and ready to take over their routes, but that the group has been a special blessing to the district in the meantime.
“I think this goes across our district — a lot of good attitudes, a lot of good cooperation,” Springer said. “Our high school is really special. These guys, not just the five that are here, but as a staff, they jump in, they help, they adapt. It’s a really good culture and environment.”
Later, the board approved a pay increase from $16 to $20 per hour for extracurricular activity bus drivers.
The board also approved a 2025-26 calendar, with school starting on Aug. 13 and ending on May 28 and graduation on June 7. A survey of families showed a near split between having the Wednesday before Thanksgiving or the Friday before spring break off; the Wednesday off had stronger favor with staff and was approved by the board. Breaks also aligned with those scheduled by SWCS and BHMSD.
Additionally, the board approved moving a late start date from April 9 to Feb. 12.
In other updates, the board:
• Accepted employment recommendations 4-0 for Gage Schuckman as volunteer wrestling coach for the high school, Deanna Elzey and Debra Brickly as part-time Lancaster Elementary School kindergarten teachers, and Amanda Hammelman-Thomas as a teaching assistant at Norwell Middle School. Board members Topp, Krug, Gene Donaghy and Traci Neuenschwander were in favor, and Chad Kline was absent.
• Approved pay increases for the treasurer Linda Lenwell and human resources coordinator Courtney Springer, recommended by financial services director Deb Adams.
• Approved a roughly $13,000 contract with Frontline Education. Assistant Superintendent Anna Murphy said this software is already being used by the district, but the new contract allows staff access to over 15,000 professional development lessons ranging from required training on sexual harassment to further education on classroom management methods. The district previously used Vector Solutions for $4,500, but Muphy said Frontline was far more beneficial.
• Approved field trip requests for FFA to go to the state soils judging contest and for the fourth grade at Ossian Elementary School to travel to Sauder Village in Archbold, Ohio.
The board will meet next at 5:30 p.m. at the NHS auditorium and a “Meet the Candidate” forum will follow at approximately 6:30 p.m. District residents will vote on two open seats in the November election — Todd Nash, Ossian, is running for the Jefferson Township seat currently held by Donaghy, and Cathie Peterson, Craigville, and Jeremiah Tomlin, Bluffton, are running for the Lancaster Township currently held by Topp.
holly@news-banner.com
