MSD of Steuben County Board approves teacher pact, 2026 budget and multiple resolutions

MSD of Steuben County Board of Trustees on Oct. 21 approved a package of routine and policy items, including a tentative collective bargaining agreement with teachers, the district's 2026 budget adoption forms, bus and capital project plans, and several administrative resolutions.

The measures were front-loaded at the start of the board's regular business meeting and were approved by roll call. All recorded roll-call votes in the public record were 6–0 in favor.

Votes at a glance

- Tentative teachers collective bargaining agreement: Motion to approve the tentative agreement carried (roll call: Mr. Archibald, Mr. Beard, Mrs. Maggert, Mr. Poor, Mr. Ridenour, Mr. Surrey — all “yes”; outcome: approved). The agreement was described in public comment by teacher bargaining representatives as “employee friendly” and subject to formal ratification by the teachers’ bargaining unit. The transcript records the association’s public remarks in support of the negotiated terms.

- 2026 budget adoption (Form 4) and associated resolutions: Motion to adopt the 2026 budget forms for submission to Gateway/DLGF carried (6–0). Administrators said the forms intentionally advertise higher debt-service levies to preserve flexibility during bond closing; the DLGF review period (including the 1782 notice) will allow the district to lower levies and rates before those figures become final.

- Bus replacement five-year plan (2026–2030): Approved (6–0). Administration noted typical vehicle delivery lead times (12–16 months) and that the district retained one ordered bus while returning another because of legislative/funding uncertainty related to Senate-enrolled Act 1.

- Capital projects plan (2026–2028) and capital project resolutions: Approved (6–0). Signatures and vote boxes on the DLGF/Gateway forms were noted as required for final submission.

- Resolution authorizing potential transfer from the Education Fund to Operations (up to 15%): Approved (6–0). District representatives said the board had not transferred education-operational funds in recent years and that the resolution preserves an option only if needed; the 2026 budget adopted in Form 2 assumes $0 for such a transfer.

- Transfer of appropriations / year-end balancing resolution: Approved (6–0). Administrators explained the procedural purpose is to move amounts between line items within a fund to reflect actual expenditures and avoid showing overspent line items.

- Appropriations reduction resolution (to align 2025 appropriations to actual expenditures before DLGF review): Approved (6–0). Officials explained the reduction can lower the cash balances and therefore lower levies during the DLGF 1782 process.

- Parenting/caregiver module (added to Angola High School health curriculum, paid from Title IV funds): Approved (6–0). The module is 8 days of instruction plus 2 project days and will be added in second semester; superintendent’s office said Title grants are managed through the state for the current year.

- School improvement plans (Angola High School, Angola Middle School, Pleasant Lake Montessori, Carlin Park, Henry Park, Ryan Park): Approved as presented (6–0). Plans include goals for ILEARN, SAT/PSAT, iRead-3 and attendance, with action steps and side-by-side year-by-year results.

- Ivy Tech dual-credit Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Approved (6–0). The MOU lists dual-credit courses and approved faculty and supports the Indiana College Core and dual-credit opportunities to students (exhibit lists included in the packet).

- Safe Hiring Solutions: approval to implement National DCS checks and add arrest-data reporting through the vendor (nominal per-applicant fees described): Approved (6–0). Administration said the national DCS service would run out-of-state DCS reports for applicants who have lived outside Indiana and that the vendor’s arrest-data product provides near-real-time arrest records; quoted incremental costs were $5.95 (National DCS) and $2.50 (arrest data) per applicant.

- Teacher-evaluation changes (annual performance evaluation plan revisions): Approved (6–0). The board authorized fewer scripted observations for continuing teachers and increased support/observation frequency for first- and second-year teachers and provisional-license holders.

- Adjunct posting for an Angola Middle School ELA vacancy (allow adjunct posting in addition to licensing posting): Approved (6–0). Administrators noted adjunct postings allow hiring experienced instructors while candidates work toward full licensure; adjuncts are rehired annually unless a fully licensed, equally or more qualified candidate is selected.

Other routine votes

- Approval of Sept. 16 regular meeting minutes and appropriations hearing minutes: Approved (6–0).

- Approval of claims: Approved (6–0).

- Personnel considerations (including approval to permit a student teacher to also sub): Approved (6–0).

Context and next steps

Administrators said they will upload budget forms to the state Gateway system for DLGF review; the DLGF may modify levies and rates during the statutory review and issue a 1782 notice that the district will have 10 days to respond to. Several items approved tonight (budget-related resolutions and signatures) are procedural steps required by that state process. The tentative teacher agreement remains subject to formal ratification by the teachers' bargaining unit prior to final adoption.

Quote from the public record

"This milestone is a direct result of the continued effort on both sides of the table to find common ground," Jim Savage, vice president and bargaining chair for the Anguilla Classroom Teachers Association, said of the tentative agreement.

Note: All recorded roll-call votes included in the public transcript were unanimous (6–0).