The Plymouth School Board held two short meetings on July 11.
The first was an Additional Appropriation Hearing concerning the $2 million projects to repair or renovate all but one school building in the corporation.
According to Superintendent Andy Hartley the projects included paving, site work, lighting, and HVAC work.
The board considered the additional appropriation resolution and the final bond resolution in a 4-0 vote of approval.
Board President Todd Samuelson was absent from the meeting.
The hearing lasted for only five minutes.
The regular meeting lasted only 20 minutes.
The board members present voted unanimously to continue to use The Pilot News for legal advertising. They will be publishing the Annual Financial Report in August that goes through the end of 2016. The report must also be sent to the Indiana Department of Education.
By unanimous vote, the contract with SJRMC was approved. The hospital provides seven RN’s and two health aides to service the various schools. According to Business Manager Kanda Tinley, the contract has an increase of $6,000 over the previous contract. Tinley explained that, among other expenses, the medical center gives raises to their staff.
A revision to the Classified Staff Conditions of Employment now includes a 25 cent per hour increase in pay for those who demonstrate fluency in Spanish. Hartley said those classified employees who are able to demonstrate fluency in the future would be subject to the increase as well.
Although the name of the provider for residential services for students, the board did consider an agreement. It was noted that students in residential placement do receive educational benefits.
Changes to the corporation’s meal charging procedures eliminate giving students who do not have sufficient funds in their meal account a full USDA approved meal and not receive an alternative lunch.
Hartley said if there are large unpaid balances, an administrator will contact the parent or guardian rather than informing the student.
New state level rulings by the 2017 Indiana General Assembly will now require distribution of Teacher Appreciation Grant monies to provide for a 25 percent difference between teachers who have been rated highly effective and those named effective.
School corporations receive the grant funds in December of each year and must disburse them to teachers within the same month.
School corporations can designate what percentage they put in their board policies, but must notify the state by September 15.
Hartley said they will be discussing the percentage with the PEA (Plymouth Education Association) before making a final decision.
The next regularly scheduled board meeting will be August 1.
Carol Anders Correspondent
