By CHET BAUMGARTNER
Southern Wells Community Schools board members unanimously approved textbook fees for the 2023-2024 school year, but this year, parents won’t pay them.
Instead, the state has allocated $160 million — or an estimated $158.11 per student — in state revenue to cover the costs.
Based off that estimate and current enrollment figures, Southern Wells board members approved submitting about $132,000 in expenses to the state.
Once schools statewide submit official enrollment numbers in October, the state will calculate an official amount per student and then determine the amount each school receives.
If Southern Wells doesn’t receive enough to cover its actual expenses, the district will need to cover the difference through its Education Fund, which covers all education-related expenses, such as teachers’ salaries, Superintendent Trent Lehman said.
Before this year’s General Assembly, Indiana and six other states didn’t allocate revenue to cover textbook fees, but after the state revenue forecast predicted higher-than-expected income for Indiana, legislators decided to use part of this excess in tax revenue to cover the costs.
In other business, board members Chad Roush, Delora Schneider, Todd Fiechter and Andrew Pursifull:
• Accepted a $235,000 donation from the Don Wood Foundation for teacher Doug Hunt’s design and technology classroom (see photo on Page 2).
• Approved multiple donations, most of which covered expenses for the elementary school archery team’s trip to national and world competitions.
• Declared several items, including two buses, as surplus, which allows the district to dispose of them in some way.
• Approved several classified personnel matters, including retirements and resignations.
• Learned that the high school will hold its 2024 graduation at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, June 2. Lehman said the school surveyed parents, and they chose the day. The majority of parents also voted to hold ceremonies outside again.
Board members will meet again at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, in the high school’s media center.
baumofchet@outlook.com
