(BEDFORD) – The North Lawrence Community Schools School Board approved the 2020 budget Thursday night.
The budget for 2020 is $51,497, 837.
There were only two people to address the board during the public comment period.
John Rothschild, of Heltonville, asking if the budget for 2020 reflected any school closings and if there are school closing will that affect budget savings.
“The budget will be the same whether there will be any closings or not. The same amount will be coming in, and any savings will be directed to other areas of the budget,” says Superintendent Dr. Ty Mungle.
Denise Barnett, of Bedford, told the board she did not feel the closing of schools is beneficial to the community. She says the country schools are still needed. Barnett’s children all attended BNL and she now has several grandchildren attending.
In other business the
School Board members voted to join the Southern Wellness Trust ( JA Benefits) on the recommendation of the Health Committee.
Presently, there are ten other school corporations, and more than 800 members, who are a part of the Trust.
IU Health will serve as the plan administrator. A total of $800,000 has been paid into the trust.
Transportation
Duane Boady Transportation Director gave the board updates on the Verstrans Transportation software they recently purchased. Normally, it takes approximately six to nine months to get the system up and running. The system should be ready to go in about three months. Officials are ironing out a few addressing kinks.
Boady is still looking for three bus drivers. Boady is having to fill in and or is paying overtime to other drivers to cover the routes.
Facilities and Safety
Steve Ritter Facilities and Safety director is seeking bids to replace and upgrade the lighting in the Performing Arts Center. The project is in the 2020 budget. Bids are due on September 25.
Crews are working on cabinetry and repairs in the Arts Department at the BNL.
There are issues with the air quality at Oolitic Middle School and it is affecting the band and orchestra rooms. The issues have caused damage to some musical instruments. An engineer is being consulted to address the issue and determine what is needed to make the necessary repairs.
Ventilation in the Career Center around the welding area is also being evaluated. Corrections will be made to improve any issues.
In addition, the Administration Building is also dealing with some heating and air conditioning issues and they are looking into the issue.
Ritter also reports they are still needing a few custodians.
Handbook
The board approved and amended the high school handbook.
Now the valedictorian and salutatorian will be determined at the end of eight semesters instead of seven. The change is expected to produce a positive change in BNL’s attendance rate, graduation rate, and subsequently a better selection process for scholarships.
The 2020 graduation at BNL will be Friday, May 29 at 7 p.m.
Public Comment
In the public comment period, four individuals addressed the board with concerns.
John Rothchild questioned the board’s presentation of the budget, according to him last year’s budget meeting was a little more detailed and easier to find answers.
Board member Larry Arnold explaining how the changes to the state law made the presentation different this year.
“I believe the budget has been made easier, both for the corporation and the public. Use to, we could not move one budget line to another once the budget has been approved. This is no longer the case. The budget for the upcoming year is relatively the same without major increases to the budget,” stated Dr. Mungle following the meeting.
Anyone wanting to view the budget for the 2020 budget year can go to Gateway on the Indiana Government website.
Christopher Garcia and his mother Allicia addressed the board concerning students attending virtual schools and not being able to attend extracurricular activities of the North Lawrence Community Schools.
According to Dr. Mungle, the decision was made not to make any changes to the existing policy.
Garicia stated that other school corporations like Seymour and Bloomington allow those not enrolled in the school system to participate in sports and other afterschool programs and it is permitted under Indiana statute. Garicia went on to state that if her son was not allowed to take part she would pull her other two children out of the North Lawrence Community Schools costing them another $16,000 in decreased enrollment.
Alan Norman a bus driver for the school system wanted answers to issues he has with transporting a special needs child. The child has numerous behavioral and special needs and is in a five-point harness that only certain individuals can strap him in on the school bus. While transporting the student he comes out of the harness, acts out and is disruptive.
“I have a responsibility for the safety of the other children and I am needing guidance in addressing this issue,” he added.
According to Dr. Mungle, Joint Services is still working on finding a solution to the situation.
Denise Barnett also addressed the issues, she was having with her grandchild who has special needs.
New Hires:
- Kirsten Clawson – 3rd Grade Instructor for Springville Elementary effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Adam Capes – Resource Instructor for Brownstown Middle School effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Deidra Garines – Bedford Middle School Resource Instructor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Julia Gullotti – NLCS Elementary Art Instructor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Danielle Pruett – Instructor for Shawswick Elementary School effective 2019-20 academic year. (Emergency Permit)
- Sarah Smith – 7th Grade ELA Instructor for Oolitic Middle School effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- James Tritle – ED Instructor for Parkview effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Sub Contracts:
- Rick Wagers – Contracted with NLCS as a Substitute Elementary P.E. Instructor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Sarah Wellman, Contracted with NLCS as a Substitute ElementaryMusic Instructor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Transfers:
- Kathy Aldridge – Transferring from Lincoln Title 1 Facilitator to OMS 8th Grade Science effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Michelle Luck – Transferring from Elementary Art Instructor to BNL Art Instructor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Support Staff
- Shelley Brim – Transferring from BNL as a 28-hour Instructional Assistant to Monitoring Star-Plus 40 hour Instructional Assistant.
- Emily Carter – Transferring Lincoln Elementary Recess Monitor to Permanent ED Instructional Assistant effective for the academic year.
- Courtney LeRoy – Transferring from OMS Instructional Assistant to Stalker Elementary Instructional Assistant effective September 11, 2019 for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Matthew Nikirk – Transfering from NLCS Custodian at BNL to PVI effective September 9, 2019.
- Noel Ramey – Transferring from BNL Cook to BMS Cook effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Charlie Titche – Transferring from Heltonville Instructional Aide to Gateway Academy as Instructional Aide effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Administrative:
- Tamara Davis – NLCS Data Technician effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Mackenzie Warner – BNL Counseling Administrative Assistant effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Joint Services:
- Megan Clemons – Dollens Elementary, Joint Services Permanent Resource Instructional Assistant effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Hillary Hedge – BMS, Joint Services Permanent Moderate Disability Instructional Assistant effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Peyton Storms – BNL, Joint Services Temporary Mild/Moderate Disability Instructional Assistant effective for the 2019-20 academic ear.
Instructional:
- Katelyn Gibbens – OMS Study Hall Aide effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Jeana Godsey – Heltonville Elementary Title 1 Instructional Asst. effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Bobbette Magers – Heltonville Elementary Title 1 Instructional Asst. effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Natalie Pemberton – Parkview Preschool Instructional Assistant effective with the 2019-20 academic year.
Maintenance:
- Cody Miller – Part-time NLCS Custodian effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Rex Porter – NLCS Custodian effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Patricia Winegar – NLCS Custodian for the 2019-20 academic year.
Title 1:
- Rachel Carter – Lincoln Elementary Title I Facilitator effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Kristen New – Parkview Title I Facilitator effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Transportation:
- Briana Guinn – Transportation Bus Monitor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Extra-Curricular:
Dollens:
- Dave Couch – Dollens Elementary Girls Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Danny Gillespie – Dollens Elementary Boys Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Rita Jenkins – Dollens Elementary Yearbook Sponsor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Taylor Lackey – Dollens Cheer Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Fayetteville:
- Jerri Corbin – Recommended as Fayetteville Elementary Yearbook Sponsor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Brittany Kern – Fayetteville Elementary Girls Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Dustin Kern – Fayetteville Elementary Boys Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Heltonville:
- Drew Bailey – HES Math Bowl Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Crystal Fisher – HES STEAM Coordinator and Robotics Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Sarah Johnson – HES Student Council Sponsor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Scott Lewis – HES Boys Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year. Pending background check.
- Kristen McKnight – HES Girls Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year. Pending background check.
Lincoln:
- Anna Gates – Recommended as Lincoln Elementary Girls Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Karen Johnson – Lincoln Elementary Robotics Coach effective for
- the 2019-20 academic year.
- Trevor Rynders – Recommended as Lincoln Elementary Boys Basketball Coach for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Lydia Weber – Recommended as Lincoln Dance Team Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Parkview:
- Rachel Boshears – PVP Robotics Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- James Couch – PVI Girls Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Justin Dodd – PVI Boys Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Trevor Fitzhugh – PVI Spell Bowl Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Jeremy Gilbert – Recommended as PVI Volunteer Co-Coach Boys Basketball effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Connie McDaniel – PVI Robotics Sponsor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Ali Pirnat – PVI Dance Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Mykyle Pinnick – PVI Math Bowl Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Shawswick:
- Kyle Dalton – Shawswick Elementary Boys Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Adam Walker – Shawswick Elementary Girls Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Springville:
- Jared Graves – Springville Elementary Boys Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Stalker:
- Duane Brown – Stalker Elementary Student Council Sponsor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Corey Hudson – Stalker Elementary Boys/Girls Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Hallie Kissinger – Stalker Elementary Dance Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Brian Young – Stalker Elementary Math Bowl Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Carrie Young – Stalker Elementary Spell Bowl Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Bedford Middle School:
- Hilary Gilbert – Recommended as Volunteer Dance Coach for BMS effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Elizabeth Rubacha – BMS Dance Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Oolitic Middle School:
- Ashlie Kimmel – Recommended as Co-Yearbook Sponsor for OMS effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Kristin Messmore – OMS 6th Girls Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Amy Nikirk – Recommended as Co-Yearbook Sponsor for OMS effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Alisha Brooke Ratliff – OMS 7th Grade Girls Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Shawswick Middle School:
- Kristiane Baumgart – SMS Yearbook Sponsor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Stacey Moore – SMS Student Council Sponsor effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Bretta Myers – SMS Cheer Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Danielle Pruett – SMS Grades 6/7/8 Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Bedford Middle School:
- Gary Ray – Recommended as a Middle School Head Football Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Sean Steele – Recommended as an Assistant Middle School Football Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Bedford North Lawrence High School:
- Jaclyn Dufresne – Recommended as BNL Girls Soccer Assistant Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Tianna Inman – Recommended as BNL Dance Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year
Resignation:
- Kristiane Baumgart – Resigning as SES Girls Basketball Coach effective as of September 5, 2019.
- Krista Blevins – Resigning as Cheer Coach for Shawswick Middle School effective August 7th, 2019.
- Kaylynn Cavins – Resigning as Co-Yearbook and Co-STEAM effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Jessica Courtney – Resigning as an Art Instructor for BNL effective August 27, 2019.
- Larry Deckard – Resigning as Contracted Bus Driver effective September 4, 2019.
- Deidra Loesch – Resigning as Assistant Swimming Coach for BNL effective September 17, 2019.
- Sara Eppenbaugh – Resigning as Instructor for Shawswick Elementary school effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Kim Gillespie – Resigning as Administrative Assistant for the BNL Scholarship Foundation effective September 12, 2019.
- Abbygail Grider – Resigning as NLCS Custodian effective August 22, 2019.
- Becky Humphrey – Resigning as Instructional Assistant for Springville effective July 24, 2019.
- Kandi Jones – Resigning as Bus Driver for NLCS effective Friday, August 30, 2019.
- Elizabeth Millar – Resigning as LPN for Stalker Elementary effective August 22, 2019.
- Rick Mitchell – Resigning as NLCS Custodian as of August 19, 2019.
- Michelle Pierce – Resigning as NLCS bus monitor effective Friday, September 6, 2019.
- Alisha Brooke Ratliff – Resigning as OMS 6th Grade Girls Basketball Coach effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Jeaneen Sons – Resigned as PVP Temporary Resource Instructional Assistant effective with the 2019-20 academic year.
- Penny Taylor – Resigning NLCS Bus Route effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Donald West – Resigning at BNLHS effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
- Robert Wood – Resigning as Stalker Elementary Student Council effective for the 2019-20 academic year.
Retirements:
- Roger Allen – Retiring as Skilled Maintenance for NLCS effective September 27, 2019.
- Tony “Rocky” Fleetwood – Retiring as Custodian for NLCS effective October 1st, 2019.
Informational:
- Cindy Crump – Subbing for Kenneth Murphy at OMS for a day to day medical leave.
- Rebecca Harding – Requesting Personal leave effective September 9, 2019, tentative return October 22, 2019.
