“It is with a heavy heart that I present Jacob Rowe’s resignation as band director,” superintendent Branden Roeder told the board. He has accepted a position in northern Indiana closer to his parents.
There were nine applicants of which five were interviewed by Roeder, along with choir director Angie Wilson, Noel Bostic, and band booster Chuck Harrell.
Tyler Umpleby, a graduate of Elkhart High School, was hired after showing “a lot of energy.” He received music degree from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN. where he also marched for Vanderbilt University. He has been working for the Indianapolis Public Schools for one year and currently lives in Carmel.
Umpleby was approved as band director, band teacher and summer band work with plans to be on-hand for the annual Shiner Pride Car Show on Sunday, July 9th.
Also approved were Abby Friend and Jason Barth for head and assistant girls’ basketball along with Chris Jones as boys’ head basketball coach.
Paraprofessional aides hired included Susan Chase- general ed, Jennifer Holbrook- title I, and Emma Lamasters for pre-school. Susan Chase’s previous cafeteria position will be posted.
Janie Craig resigned as flag corps with former Shiner band member Jana McKinley approved as her replacement.
Cheer coaches have fundraising funds and were given approval to hire a choreographer and tumbling coach.
An additional year was approved to contracts for Patty Huff, Noel Bostic and superintendent Roeder.
NEOLA policies approved.
Teachers voted 7-5 to use Eureka books for K-5 math. Four teachers had used the books as a pilot program last year.
Retired teacher Renee Cole liked the idea of consistency compared to when various books were used in the past.
Roeder said math scores had flat lined and this should help scores.
Roeder presented three options regarding textbook fees. The first would have the parent pay the total cost which would have been significantly higher than last year. New devices will be in grades 3 through 8. Average cost $110.
The second school would divide cost of devices over fives years withe corporation picking up a cost of around $12,000.
The third option, had an average cost of $85 with the city would be the school divide by five and take care of IXL. Average $85.
Board president Cory Potts liked option three because of help from the community with referendum and the school has the money to be able to do.
After reviewing those three options, Roeder added a fourth which would have the cost capped as it was a year ago. He added that the school system is set up strategically to pick up the difference of any option.
Board member Gary Kinnett discussed the $90 maximum from last year and proposed to increase the cap to $95.
Board member Connie Smith made the motion for the capped fee which passed unanimously.
Roeder presented the school handbook for its first reading and highlighting changes.
The updated school calender was the first item while a new policy on Epi Pens was added, which would allow the school to have them available in case of emergency.
The handbook will explain dual credit, credit recovery and the definition to help parents and students understand how it works.
The middle school attendance policy is addressed along with some dress code clarifications. Among those is pants with tears above the knee would be allowed if shorts are worn underneath.
Junior and seniors would be allowed two college visits while sophomores will be allowed one excused absence for a college visit. The board agreed that preparing for college has to be considered earlier that junior or senior year.
Lunch prices will remain the same as last year including:breakfast $1.25; Lunch $2.55 grades K-2, $2.75 grades 3-12.
An overnight trip to the National FCCLA Convention was approved for senior Anna Uhlmansiek, her mom Shawna Uhlmansiek and sponsor Tresa Patz on July 2-7 in Nashville. Hotel and reservation expenses were approved. Uhlmansiek is the Indiana president of FCCLA.
In miscellaneous business, Roeder reported the school paid $20,373 in insurance for student devices including 92 broken (from chargers to keyboards to the device) with 68 issues the at high school, with most of those being screens, noted Roeder.
Next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 13th.