Board approves contracts, property purchase resolution and school financing steps; hires announced

The Greater Clark County Schools Board of Trustees on Feb. 11 approved a series of routine and financing-related items, including contracts for substitute services and workers’ compensation administration, a resolution to finalize purchase of a parcel near the district’s new middle school, and lease-amendment documents that set public hearings for March 11 on separate elementary and middle-school financings.

Trustees accepted gifts totaling $6,635.59, approved a supplemental-pay resolution for specified future payments, awarded a workers’-compensation administration contract to PMA Management Corporation, and approved an award of substitute staffing services to Education Solutions Services (ESS). The ESS contract carries an administrative fee of 1.29% for teacher and care educators and is for a three-year period beginning July 1, 2025.

The board also approved a resolution to purchase property at 3718 Youth Sellersburg Road; the superintendent’s presentation said the purchase is adjacent to the new middle school and that because the seller was a government entity the board was not required to obtain appraisals under the cited state code. Board members approved the form of amendments to lease for the elementary and middle school financings; bond counsel said the amendments allow the district to begin net service payments when bonds are issued and recommended setting public hearings for the March 11 meeting.

The board authorized architect/consultant contracts with LMH for the Charlestown High School auditorium renovation and a planned soccer complex at the Pleasant Bridge Elementary site; the auditorium has not been substantially updated since the building was constructed, a presenter said. The meeting also included guests Bill Ihouston, principal of Charlestown High School, and Aaron Daniel, introduced as the new head football coach and strength-and-conditioning teacher; Daniel briefly addressed the board.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of agenda: motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote. - Approval of previous meeting minutes: motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote. - Consent agenda: motion by Mr. Freeman, second by Mr. Stank; approved by voice vote. - Gifts to buildings (total $6,635.59): motion to accept gifts; approved by voice vote. - Resolution for supplemental pay: motion by Ms. Jones, second by Ms. Mustaine; approved by voice vote. - PMA Management Corporation contract (workers’ compensation administration): motion and second on record; approved by voice vote. - ESS contract for substitute services (3-year term beginning 07/01/2025; administrative fee 1.29%): motion by Ms. Hutchinson, second by Mr. Jones; approved by voice vote. - Resolution to purchase property at 3718 Youth Sellersburg Road (adjacent to new middle school): motion and second on record; approved by voice vote. - Seamless-admission partnership with IUS (Indiana University Southeast): motion by Mr. Crumpton, second by Mr. Freeman; approved by voice vote. Presenters said eligible seniors who meet the stated criteria would be linked through registration for immediate acceptance to IUS. - Resolution approving form of amendment to lease for new elementary school financing (sets public hearing for March 11): motion by Mr. Jones, second by Mr. O’Stane; approved by voice vote. - Resolution approving form of amendment to lease for new middle school financing (sets public hearing for March 11): motion and second on record; approved by voice vote. - LMH contract for Charlestown High School auditorium and soccer-complex planning: motion and second on record; approved by voice vote.

What this means: The board approved several procurement and financing steps that move district facility projects and routine services forward. Bond counsel explained that adopting lease amendments now allows the district to begin payments aligned with bond issuance rather than waiting for construction completion, a timing decision meant to avoid interim borrowing costs.

The meeting included no formal board action responding to public comments made that evening; trustees moved through the consent and action agenda by voice votes and set public hearings for March 11 for the two lease-amendment items.