By GLEN WERLING
During a nuts and bolts meeting Tuesday evening, members of the Northern Wells Community School Board approved of setting parameters for students transferring from another school corporation to Northern Wells in 2022.
There are no limits on the numbers of students who may transfer to Northern Wells from other schools. Superintendent Mike Springer explained that the only limit that he could think of regarding numbers would be at Lancaster and Ossian elementary schools. If one of those two schools reaches its maximum enrollment capacity in any grade and someone still wishes to transfer their child to Northern Wells, that parent may be told that instead of Ossian, their student will be going to Lancaster or instead of Lancaster their student may be going to Ossian. Enrollment will dictate where the child will be sent.
The period covered is Jan. 12 through Dec. 21.
Springer said that the school corporation is also working on making the transfer agreement an electronic process.
In other business, the board members approved on first reading 20 new policies that will replace 71 outdated policies.
The policies are 2300, disclosure of students lists; 2400, administration rules and regulations; 2401, board review of rules and regulations; 2500, responsible care standards for school-age child care programs; 2730, possession of firearms on school property; 2740, Stop the Bleed program (dealing with procedures to stop bleeding in students and staff); 3002, Title IX complaint procedures; 3010, criminal history checks for applicants and contractors; 3011, criminal history checks for employees; 3020, sexual harassment grievance procedure; 3055, telework; 3110, drug-free workplace; 3120, training and health precautions for communicable diseases; 3230, suicide prevention and awareness; 3310, staff dress code; 3330, social media use by employees; 3350, staff participation in political activities; 3540, teacher appreciation grants; 3910, alcohol and controlled substance testing policy for employees holding commercial driver’s licenses.
Board president Corey Krug and member Angie Topp had questions about policy change 2402 regarding granting the superintendent authority to implement action within the school corporation should an emergency occur for which there is no policy addressing the circumstances of the emergency.
Both Krug and Topp observed that the policies of the corporation are pretty thorough and neither could think of any emergency in which there is no policy that doesn’t address it.
Policy recommendation 2402 was dropped.
All of the policies are available for viewing in further detail on the school corporation’s website.
The board members also approved of several personnel matters.
Tracey Clevinger was terminated from her position as Ossian Elementary special education assistant.
Dee Blair resigned as custodian.
Kevin Baird will be serving as an assistant softball coach.
Tim Wilson, Norwell Middle School principal, was granted personal leave.
At Ossian Elementary, Lyndsey Bailey will be the long-term substitute teacher, and Meghann Powers, Patty Atkins, Janelle Valenti, and Monica Huffman will be serving as mentor teachers while Carlee Turner will serve as a special education assistant.
Brandon Birch was added as a maintenance worker.
The board accepted a $900 anonymous donation to the girls basketball program and they approved an overnight trip by the high school percussion team to Indiana State University in Terre Haute April 1-2 to the Indiana Percussion Association state finals.
The board members also recognized two Norwell High School cheerleaders, Emma Roembke and Reghan Plunkett, who were honored with Universal Cheerleaders Association All-America status earned at the UCA cheer camp last summer. Both girls were able to participate in a cheer routine with other All-American cheerleaders at the Vrbo Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Krug also congratulated the girls swim team on winning the sectional championship. The team hadn’t won a sectional since 2010.
Springer also informed the board members that only one student in the entire school corporation is currently quarantined with COVID-19.
The meeting was preceded by an executive session to discuss an individual over whom the school board has jurisdiction to receive information concerning the individual’s alleged misconduct and to discuss, before a determination, the individual’s status as an employee, a student, or an independent contractor.
glenw@news-banner.com
