Administrative roles established

As consolidation goes forward, how many administrators does Jay Schools need?

Board member Chris Snow would like to trim the roster by one.

Superintendent Jeremy Gulley counters that Jay School Corporation now has the best administrator-to-student ratio in east central Indiana.

Snow’s objections came as the board considered administrator contracts as part of its consent agenda.

Faced with approving administrative positions, Snow indicated he believed that some shuffling could result in a net reduction of one by eliminating the need to add a future position for an assistant principal at the elementary level.

“I don’t see (reduction in administrative positions) in the data now,” said Gulley.

He said his analysis shows Jay Schools with one administrative position for every 184-plus students, the best administrator-student ratio in east central Indiana.

“We have the lowest percentage of operating expenses in the region,” said Gulley. “We put more money in the classroom than any other district around us. … These numbers are stunning. … Key programs will be at risk if we cut too deeply.”

Board members agreed.

Phil Ford, Jason Phillips, Krista Muhlenkamp, Donna Geesaman, Mike Shannon and Ron Laux voted in favor of administrative contracts for Trent Paxson as assistant superintendent, Annie VanHorn as special education director, Chad Dodd as principal at Jay County Junior/Senior High, Steve Boozier as athletics director/ assistant principal at JCHS, Mike Crull as assistant principal for curriculum at JCHS, Andrew Schmit as assistant principal for grades 7 and 8, James Myers as dean of students for grades nine through 12, Jeff Davis as principal of Westlawn Elementary, Ben Dues as principal of Bloomfield Elementary, Erica Tomano as principal of East Jay Elementary, Julie Gregg as principal of East Elementary and Rex Pinkerton as principal of Redkey Elementary. All those contracts are through June 30, 2021

Snow dissented, though he noted that he was not dissenting about any of the other items on the board’s consent agenda.

He also dissented as the board approved on a 6-1 vote contract extensions for administrators in a memorandum of understanding to the end of the 2020-2021 school year. Gulley had asked the board to extend the contracts to 2022, but that suggestion did not receive board support.

And Snow dissented on language changes in the memorandum of understanding for all administrative positions.

The board was unanimous in establishing contracts through June 30, 2021, for business manager Tarinna Morris, director of transportation Melissa Stephen, director of technology Mark Root and director of maintenance and facilities Mark Myers.

On a 7-0 vote, board members approved coach’s extracurricular pay of $9,315 for boys’ basketball coach Chris Krieg and girls’ basketball coach Kirk Comer.

But Snow was joined by Geesaman in opposing the same 3.5% pay increase — in accordance with the contract with the Jay Classroom Teachers Association — for football coach Tim Millspaugh.

“With the type of season we’ve had, even though it’s a small raise, I don’t think the community would see that as a good thing,” said Snow.

In other business, the board:

•Unanimously approved a resolution transferring ownership of the former Pennville Elementary School building to Pennville Community Center Inc.

“They do have a plan for the building,” board attorney Phil Frantz said.

“I think it’s a good model for the future,” said Gulley, noting that the Judge Haynes Elementary building will have to be disposed of at some point.

•Unanimously approved a school district safety plan. While that plan has been discussed in broad terms, its details remain confidential for reasons of school security.

•Heard a presentation on Jay Schools participation in the Rural Early College Network.

•Were told that the school corporation should have a cash balance in the education fund of $2,394,741, surpassing the board’s goal of $2.1 million.

•Unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with support staff that includes a 3.5% pay increase effective in January.

•Approved — on a 6-1 vote with Shannon dissenting — a fuel budgeting program through the Indiana Bond Bank recommended by business manager Tarinna Morris. “I don’t like the bond bank,” said Shannon.

•Approved unanimously changes in the junior and senior high school curriculum guide.

•Accepted a $70,578.76 Title IV grant for the Every Student Succeeds program.

•Accepted a donation of $988.77 from the Dunkirk Kiwanis Club for programs at Westlawn Elementary and a donation of $1,000 from the Psi Iota Xi Literature/Literacy Fund, initiated by the Gamma Alpha chapter of Portland.

•Hired Michael Kohl and Scott Smith as bus drivers.

•Accepted the resignations of guidance secretary Brandy Shannon and physical education teacher Abby Champ.

•Approved leaves of absence for music teacher Rachel Arnold, fifth grade teacher Kayla Nietfeld, nurse Nancy Berry and instructional assistants Donna Glassford and Beth Dues.

•Approved extracurricular assignments for Amanda Specht as Best Buddies sponsor, Zach Fullenkamp as assistant boys golf coach and Debra Losch as sixth grade girls basketball coach at West Jay.

•Authorized field trips by the JCHS E-Sports Team and the JCHS Drama Club.

•Approved a school bus request by Jay County Girl Scouts.