By DAVE SCHULTZ
The Southern Wells school board will retain its membership in the Indiana School Boards Association and the district’s enrollment is up slightly from the fall, but two board members ended Tuesday night’s meeting with a couple of interesting announcements.
Board members Kevin Scott and Aaron Westfall told those in attendance that they would not be seeking another term on the board this year. Scott represents Chester Township on the board and Westfall represents Liberty Township.
Scott went first. “I’d encourage anyone who would be interested to run for school board,” he said. “My seat is up this year and I do not intend to run for re-election.
“It’s been a good experience,” he continued, addressing the 30 or so people in attendance. “There’s been some tough times, but I do believe you will enjoy your time.”
Then Westfall added his announcement. “Liberty Township will be open as well,” he said. “I am not running for re-election.”
Scott has children at Southern Wells and wants to have time for them. Westfall said he believes that two terms is enough to serve on the board.
Scott’s and Westfall’s announcements mean the board will have a 50 percent turnover when it convenes in 2023. Todd Fiechter and Chad Roush’s seats will not come up for election until 2024.
As to the ISBA funds, Fiechter said at the end of the board’s January meeting that he wanted to know how much of the district’s $2,750 in dues to the state organization goes to support the national organization.
A controversial request to the Biden administration from the National School Boards Association in September asked for “federal assistant to stop threats and acts of violence against public schoolchildren, public school board members, and other public school district officials.” Some school board meetings have escalated into confrontation across the nation as parents and others have protested curriculum matters at those meetings.
At the board’s request, Superintendent Brian Sloan inquired of the state organization how much of its dues money would flow to the national association. Sloan reported the amount was $20.63 annually — .0009 percent of the $21,000 in overall dues the state sends on to the national organization.
He also reported on a conversation he’d had with ISBA Executive Director Terry Spradlin and the organization’s senior counsel, Julie Stevens, in which they said that the letter sent out by the national organization was not condoned by the ISBA. That letter was sent out by an interim director with little input from NSBA members.
They also offered to refund the $20.63 to Southern Wells “if it would help maintain (SWCS’) membership.”
After that explanation, a motion was made to approve the claims at the meeting, which included the $2,750 for ISBA membership. The motion was approved 3-0, with Scott, Westfall, and Fiechter all voting in favor. (Roush was not present Tuesday night.)
As to enrollment, Sloan reported to the board that Southern Wells Community Schools’ enrollment on Feb. 1 was 851, up from the fall average daily membership of 848. Sloan said the district could take heart in that number, because “it’s not uncommon to drop in the spring,” he said.
Fiechter noted the enrollment was 452 for the elementary school and 389 in the junior/senior high school. He asked Sloan for what that breakdown has been in past years, and Sloan said he would provide it.
The next meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 7. Sloan said that one of the school board members — he did not say which one — had asked to change the date of the meeting because of a schedule conflict. The meeting had been scheduled for March 15 after the three members present voted in favor.
daves@news-banner.com
