Southwest Dubois County School Corp meeting Feb. 28

The principals of the four schools in Southwest Dubois County School Corporation presented their teacher in-service training schedules to the school board Thursday night.

This was in response to a proposed amendment to school policy made by board members Chris Neu and Michael Broeker last month to limit in-service training to one day a week .

According to the schedules from the principals, the high school and middle school averages two days a week for scheduled training sessions and meetings, while the elementary schools average four days a week. These sessions typically occur in the morning prior to class.

All four principals reiterated they completely support teachers missing in-service training to meet with students.

Cheryl Stanton, Title I Director, Test Coordinator, and Curriculum Coordinator, attributed the improvements of the school corporation’s performance in recent years to the training the teachers and staff have been receiving.

Neu proposed the school back off of the training to determine if it was the true source of the improvement.
No action was taken on this at the meeting.

-The board also approved the contract, pay and benefits for a new superintendent. It is a three-year contract with a yearly salary of $105,000 with benefits.

Superintendent Terry Enlow has announced he will retire after the completion of the renovation project at Southridge High School and Middle School which is scheduled to be completed by April 12. A dedication is tentatively scheduled for April 14.

According to Enlow students are back in most classrooms at this time except for the band room. They are currently waiting for furniture for that room.

The school board has not made a decision on the next superintendent but a special public meeting is scheduled for March 7 at 6:30 p.m. to choose Enlow’s replacement.

-Assistant Superintendent Chad Schenck told the school board the transportation expenditures are up about $11,000 over last year due to increased diesel prices and the addition of a bus route. The contract with bus drivers splits the fuel cost between the bus owners/operators and the school corporation, so owners/operators are feeling the pinch as well.

-Enlow also informed the board changes to school policy regarding part-time employees will be necessary due to the increased health coverage required by the Affordable Care Act. Part-time employees that go over 30 hours will be eligible for healthcare benefits according to the new law.

According to Enlow, the school’s actions need to be announced to employees by June 1 and be in place by the start of the new school year.

Enlow explained he was concerned about part-time employees at the school that were also coaches. Although these coaches are paid a flat rate for their service, the new law requires schools consider the time these coaches spend working with their teams as well as the time they spend in classrooms to determine their insurance eligibility.

Enlow stated the board needed to create a policy to record coaches hours due to the burden of proof being placed on the school, not the employees, to prove how much time a coach spent with their team.