[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6062388,"mediaKeyId","3278650-0a1320683abe783998db4234c52036af","parentId",3278650,"title","District officials report field, auditorium and bus upgrades; field house ready for June graduation","audioSeconds",829,"startMs",5170000,"endMs",5999000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3278650-0a1320683abe783998db4234c52036af&start=5170&end=5999","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3278650-0a1320683abe783998db4234c52036af/thumbnail_5170000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6062388/Indiana/District-officials-report-field-auditorium-and-bus-upgrades-field-house-ready-for-June-graduation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062388-17699efa5a9621cc25740a51320b8505/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146915&Signature=Cc3ZAdFhEuliISWR409uYoogKNqApF-RMdaJxKle-l4SyxIxoNQdZKX4bIoSvUTKU5ULiDPZdhzuNoIZl043yl-69EgPd~TwxayAtOt4XwCUJsgozoUg0al6Od~OfgAVIbcvtOGZ3~6P4wl4xbIh23-jeq-QIifH0F78nsq1wzIUffP0rE4e3FuOgZGvuKKDFTLgaAqyW7FIGBPctvpZJ6~boFmnYKc~kLpnqs63SOaEffs4hW9rORlczG9xe0g-IEtKo5RE0bmJ0Syj9rF9X3N0Un8bIhJzfioqIbb60A12YK4oqGZBFQHNwT1LG12vmwvN9-DHHOXuwuX7kK6Mog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","School Town of Munster","date","2025-05-12T12:57:27Z","article","The School Town of Munster’s director of operations updated the board on multiple facilities and equipment projects at the May 12, 2025, meeting, reporting completed field conversions, an upgraded field house for graduation, and incoming buses and kitchen equipment replacements.

Director Sean said the baseball-to-soccer field conversion is complete and that final grading and seeding finished the prior week; pending town approval, the district will expand storage and parking south of 305th Street. He said band and orchestra rooms in the fine-arts classroom renovation will be returned to the district in mid-June and that auditorium theater seats are scheduled for delivery June 30 with a target to reopen the theater in early August 2025.

Sean reported the new field house is finished and ready to host graduation indoors on June 1 at 1:00 p.m.; the scoreboard, audio system and bleachers are installed, with minor adjustments and acoustic tuning remaining. He said the new scoreboard supports video and expanded capabilities for advertisements and broadcasts.

On food-service equipment, Sean said Chartwells-generated cafeteria funds are slated to pay for a new combi oven at Eads and replacement serving lines there, along with table replacements at the high school. For transportation, he said three 72-passenger school buses arrived the week of the meeting and will be inspected by state police for immediate deployment; the district is still waiting on two 84-passenger buses expected later.

Sean also noted plans to replace bleachers at Wilbur Wright this summer and to recycle wireless equipment from the high school to improve the middle school’s connectivity. He said some projects remain subject to vendor lead times and town approvals.

Board members asked questions about tariffs, material costs and vendor pricing; Sean said vendors have sometimes incorporated tariff-related cost adjustments but many awarded bids have honored original contract pricing. No formal action was taken; these updates were presented for information and implementation planning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Town of Munster Board Meeting 5/12/25 6PM","oneSentenceSummary","District operations staff updated the board on completed and planned construction and equipment purchases, including a new multiuse field, field house improvements, auditorium renovations, new buses and cafeteria equipment replacements.","taxTitle","School Town of Munster, School Boards, Indiana","taxId",58177,"location","Indiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6062393,"Munster officials outline budget calendar and caution on revenue uncertainty",622,4528000,5150000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3278650-0a1320683abe783998db4234c52036af&start=4528&end=5150","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3278650-0a1320683abe783998db4234c52036af/thumbnail_4528000.jpg","/articles/6062393/Indiana/Munster-officials-outline-budget-calendar-and-caution-on-revenue-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062393-be42aa9a3dcefb87a7c7703b958795d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146915&Signature=E6YCh8LMOtYLuM324p6OV6j1v6B0d5yrODpL5EdobxrF25QxOyTyc0TgwJX0pN7U4XH~WyRX45ASID5U0pRBRE6OfqAl0C2r91l-we9nUdlvQL2xonqeW2Zi9l-kMoE1FyeUSOZuDpNW26NXYPWFTUBb2IG~AklBymvyL7dQlJRPGbsWCnecSGFeEJZ~AD77GlImbN8PCYqUb~9fIfwbxB-nhqLdMQAs6jTZyyowyj6R2nxbuUC~eaFN-YDr1YFGLlyE9MR9P-38X3dN6wd9poshrDMDjJseV0sDzSRWt0YRjCo9DWOHre~umCFbaP4vZ~qZCSrcJ4YjmjC9fsNTkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","School Town of Munster finance staff presented the district’s tentative budget calendar for 2026 and an update on revenue forecasting at the board’s May 12, 2025, meeting, telling trustees the district faces uncertainty in future tax draws and debt-bearing funds but remains conservative in planning.

Director of Financial Operations Bill Melby walked the board through the tentative dates for the budget workshop, public hearing and adoption. He said the calendar was scheduled to meet statutory notice requirements — including the 10-day intervals required between posting Form 3, holding a public hearing and adopting the budget — and that the board built extra leeway into the timeline.

On near- and long-term finances, Melby said the district will update revenue forecasts through 2031 in light of recent legislation and market volatility. He cautioned that an “early tax draw” for May is a “big question mark” and that the district does not yet know the final amount: “I have no idea where that number is going to come out,” he said. Melby said the district’s education fund has a relatively predictable revenue picture tied to average daily membership, but operations and referendum (debt-bearing) funds face larger uncertainty tied to parcel-by-parcel tax outcomes and broader market volatility.

Melby and other staff said the district’s prior financial decisions have positioned it to handle variability better than many peers, but they signaled projected declines in debt-bearing revenues over the coming years and noted modeling work in progress with consultant partners to refine long-term projections.

Board members asked for continued conservative planning and for more detailed parcel-level analysis as projections firm up. The board did not take formal action on the budget calendar during the informational presentation; the calendar was presented as tentative and subject to later motion when the board votes to advertise and hold the public hearing.","District finance staff presented a tentative 2026 budget calendar and updated revenue forecasts through 2031, warning of uncertainty in tax draws and debt-bearing funds despite planning steps the district has taken to manage risk.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6062398,"Munster board renews Chartwells food-service contract for 2025–26 school year",743,4354000,5097000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3278650-0a1320683abe783998db4234c52036af&start=4354&end=5097","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3278650-0a1320683abe783998db4234c52036af/thumbnail_4354000.jpg","/articles/6062398/Indiana/Munster-board-renews-Chartwells-food-service-contract-for-202526-school-year","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062398-28201be75769944f9d170730ee49fb44/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146915&Signature=P2q79MfcI0qFSCI1LrDESXToAgpVnBjFKlOFavTx11GeEsSWpWGMA0Cnr5I74fvwEtIrmBItzSh09Ovp9fKmiu-y4vzoVHaqO4Pgl8QqxU5tcbljZh7Bj-VZD0SIVx8Hj-a2xhxo-LtPSvzFIW5doOTGYPN-4fc~aK3a0nosFpJEauxdo14hlnCP0oc1k-gevJBXvsvMu9pfj-bt2EM9cnFMQ0Ap1-~DvPINGKB11FFpc50B~TkC1ZmaEXs1xrNWjCnzRVG1QVn5Mb0i1zt2tn1wQa3gsEuMiKqX5l7cRb5EiPLdt9DfFqiVD9YafcvNiYPdt5n63MUsuiSyBAnGlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School Town of Munster Board of School Trustees approved a one-year renewal of Chartwells’ food-service contract for the 2025–26 school year at its May 12, 2025, meeting, citing the vendor’s responsiveness to student feedback.

District staff said the corporation completed a request-for-proposal process in July 2023 and may opt to continue using Chartwells under the current procurement rules through a defined contract period. The administration recommended retaining Chartwells based on service received.

Superintendent Doctor Heller described a recent meeting arranged by the district in which elementary student members of the district’s student advisory council provided direct feedback to Chartwells about menu items. “Chartwells was very responsive. They brought in some new menu items, they were considering adding to the menu to get the students to taste test it and provide feedback,” Heller said. The board and administration presented the session as evidence of vendor engagement with students.

The motion to approve the Chartwells renewal was made and seconded during the meeting; the board voted in favor without recorded dissent.

Administrators also noted that school food-service revenues can support cafeteria improvements. The district plans to use food-service funds for equipment upgrades in some schools, and Chartwells’ ongoing role was framed as part of that operational planning.

Board members thanked Chartwells for partnering with the district and for taking student feedback into account; no substantive changes to the contract were described at the meeting.","After describing student advisory feedback sessions with the vendor, the School Town of Munster board approved a one-year renewal with Chartwells for school food service for 2025–26, citing responsiveness to student input.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6062403,"Munster board approves termination of counselor Julia Atkinson after investigation and public comment",169,4132000,4301000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3278650-0a1320683abe783998db4234c52036af&start=4132&end=4301","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3278650-0a1320683abe783998db4234c52036af/thumbnail_4132000.jpg","/articles/6062403/Indiana/Munster-board-approves-termination-of-counselor-Julia-Atkinson-after-investigation-and-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062403-28148e99b53e9f99d8157b8bd6754c56/orig.mp4?Expires=1771146915&Signature=oTDqpwFjpeA10Mx~bk2PTacM3G5CeJdplQ7-tWdewSmj40KKIsjRpHcm-FWPSNHDOapz93ixCBum8JMK-glOGATpzX8K9j~tfxVXiEtdzv-hXRtDhBkZnAGqBWmafjna1NtIlXbkT8~aGIchvfiuOs6bGdIgqbikRXWRPNMBjRx3oGP-XfSLBMJmoRc0XT0sD0pDU7pYEuMUV1ftLxdZqT2x7X7KSLSZV9PYgiYYj1GEBA3MhEewOJo0dz2GeJjpeG~dPx0C4CEcWo7XgiwfwTPj5~Z84QzbqwM4O1LNHAhRPRaoqCtKQSsVOEsKBV2oF3am~CZ3Erf2UNw-1tWsSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School Town of Munster Board of School Trustees voted to approve the contract cancellation and termination of Wilbur Wright Middle School counselor Julia (Julie) Atkinson during its May 12, 2025, meeting, following public testimony and a district investigation.

The vote formalized an administration recommendation to end Atkinson’s contract. Ingrid Schwartz Wolf moved to approve the contract cancellation; John Castro seconded. John Castro, Amy Cinder and Ingrid Schwartz Wolf voted yes; Kristen Smith voted no. The motion passed.

The decision came after multiple public speakers addressed the board. Atkinson, who identified herself as a licensed school counselor, told the board she had been a student advocate for 17 years and denied violating laws or district policy: “I did not violate any laws or policies.” She said she consulted with a licensed social worker with “prior parental consent” about a student in crisis and challenged an administrator’s statements about what constitutes a FERPA violation.

Atkinson’s husband, Ben Atkinson, told the board he had been placed on paid administrative leave since Jan. 10 and described the personal and professional toll of that leave: “The psychological and physical effects I’ve experienced during this forced social isolation have been profound.” Several parents and community members urged the board not to certify her termination, praising Atkinson’s work with students and describing her as “irreplaceable.”

Superintendent Doctor Heller told the board the primary work on the district’s investigation into the structured learning program had been completed and that investigators Missus Berger and Missus Yost had nearly finished meetings with parents. Heller said further discussions and decisions with staff would continue in the coming weeks as the district finalizes findings.

The termination vote followed the board’s routine consideration of its consent agenda. The administration presented the contract cancellation as a separate personnel item, and the board conducted a roll-call vote on the recommendation. The administration’s motion language read in the meeting was: “the administration recommends the contract cancellation termination of Julia Atkinson as displayed on the screen and presented.”

Public commenters included parents and colleagues who described Atkinson’s caseload and work, and who contested the district’s characterization of her conduct. Atkinson told the board she had been accused of violating FERPA and confidentiality but said no administrator had been able to specify what provision of FERPA she had violated when asked at the meeting. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act is a federal law that controls access to student education records.

The superintendent reiterated that the investigation was comprehensive and that district staff would take time to finalize decisions based on its findings. The board did not announce further personnel actions at the meeting.

The board’s action immediately removes Atkinson from her contract; additional administrative actions, appeals, or next steps were not specified at the meeting.","The School Town of Munster Board of School Trustees voted to cancel the contract of Wilbur Wright counselor Julia Atkinson after the administration recommended termination; the decision followed public testimony both supporting Atkinson and defending district investigatory processes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District officials report field, auditorium and bus upgrades; field house ready for June graduation

Munster officials outline budget calendar and caution on revenue uncertainty

Munster board renews Chartwells food-service contract for 2025–26 school year

Munster board approves termination of counselor Julia Atkinson after investigation and public comment