MSD Martinsville trustees elect Heather Staggs president; board names treasurer and counsel, superintendent previews possible weather delay

Heather Staggs was elected president of the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville Board of Trustees during the board’s organizational meeting, and trustees also approved appointments for district treasurer and board counsel for the 2025 calendar year. Superintendent Boland advised the board on procedures for a possible weather-related change to a two-hour delay for the next school day.

The votes and appointments formalize the board’s leadership for the year. The meeting included swearing-in of newly elected trustees, nominations and seconding of officers, and a superintendent comment about communication and timing for any change from a two-hour delay to a school closure.

Trustees performed swearing-in for incoming members early in the meeting. Multiple new or returning trustees recited the oath of office that references service to the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville and to the State of Indiana. “I, Jackie Deckard. Solemnly swear. That I will support the constitution,” was recorded as part of the oath sequence. The oath statements indicated terms running through Dec. 31, 2028.

During the organization portion, a motion and second were called to elect Heather Staggs as president; members voted by voice and the motion carried. The board then nominated and approved Luke Jackson as vice president and Dan Conway as secretary by similar motions and voice vote.

The board approved a motion to appoint Whitney Kuzmael as district treasurer for the calendar year 2025. The board also approved the appointment of Jonathan (John) Mays of Bose, McKinney & Evans as board counsel for calendar year 2025. Each appointment was made by motion, second and voice vote; meeting minutes recorded the actions as approved.

Superintendent Boland provided operational guidance about a weather-related two-hour delay planned for the next school day, telling the board that staff will begin road checks early and that the district will make any change from a delay to a full closure by 5:30 a.m. if conditions require it. “Safety is the number 1 priority for us, and we'll make that call at 5:30 if it's going to change from 2 hour delay to a day out,” Boland said. He noted that county weather-condition designations (referred to in the meeting as color levels) affect the district’s ability to hold in-person instruction and that the district will follow county directives.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, approved by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: - Elect Heather Staggs as board president — motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote (recorded as "Aye"; opposed: none recorded). - Elect Luke Jackson as vice president — motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote. - Elect Dan Conway as secretary — motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote. - Appoint Whitney Kuzmael as district treasurer for calendar year 2025 — motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote. - Appoint Jonathan (John) Mays, Bose, McKinney & Evans, as board counsel for calendar year 2025 — motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote. - Motion to adjourn — approved by voice vote.

No contested roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript; approvals were recorded by voice as "Aye" and announced as carried.

The board did not take policy votes or adopt ordinances at this meeting; actions were organizational and procedural.

Looking ahead, Superintendent Boland said the district will monitor road and county conditions overnight and notify families if the two-hour delay is changed to a full closure, with a decision window around 5:30 a.m.