Northeast School board meets
During its recent meeting, the Northeast Dubois County School Corporation board approved several field trips and welcomed a new staff member.
They approved education classes to attend the Ed Rising State Conference in Indianapolis on February 19, 2025 through February 20.
The board approved a request for FFA students to attend the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky, on Feb. 14, 2025. This annual out-of-state field trip requires board approval.
The board also green-lit a trip for BPA students to attend the state competition in Indianapolis from March 9-11, 2025. This overnight field trip is contingent on students qualifying for the event.
In a move to support the school’s growing Drama Club, the board approved a field trip to the Kentucky Arts Centre in Louisville on April 25, 2025, to see a production of “Romeo and Juliet.”
“We haven’t had a Drama Club for very long, so it’s exciting,” Superintendent Dr. Tara Rasche said.
The board also discussed recent repairs to the high school gym floors. Over Christmas break, a contractor returned to complete work that was originally paid for but not fully executed.
The contractor returned to reseal the floor, adding another protective coat. Board members sought clarification on whether this additional work incurred extra costs, with one member stating, “I just want to make sure we didn’t pay any more for what we were supposed to have done originally.”
In staffing news, the board approved hiring Angel Vogel as an assistant at Northeast Dubois Intermediate School.
The board also approved an agreement with the Lost River Career Cooperative, allowing high school students to attend classes in programs not offered by the Patoka Valley program.
“It’s a cooperative program. Obviously it’s similar to the Patoka Valley program, but they have some programs that Patoka doesn’t have and our students are able to take advantage of it,” Dr. Rasche explained.
In other business, the board acknowledged one retirement and two resignations. Christine Dorsam, a teacher at Northeast Dubois Intermediate School with 30 years of service, announced her retirement. Hallie Nesbitt and Macy Schneider, both assistants, submitted their resignations.
The board also introduced an Education Operation Transfer Savings Task Force, aimed at minimizing transfers from the Education Fund to the Operations Fund.
“We are committed to responsible financial stewardship by minimizing transfers from the Education Fund to the Operations Fund,” a board member stated, reading from the task force’s mission statement. “Our goal is to maximize resources dedicated to student learning, ensuring that educational programs, teacher support and academic initiatives remain our top priority.”
The meeting concluded with a recognition of January as School Board Appreciation Month, with board members thanked for their commitment to excellence and their impact on students, schools, and the community.
The next board meeting is scheduled for February, where they will adopt new state-mandated policies following their first reading at this meeting.
