Board approves consent items, personnel changes, and multiple operational contracts; ratifies MEA tentative agreement

The School City of Mishawaka Board of School Trustees on Nov. 5 approved a slate of routine and operational items, including the consent agenda, personnel appointments, procurement actions and contracts, and ratified a tentative agreement with the Mishawaka Education Association for the 2025‑26 school year.

Board members adopted the meeting agenda at the start of the session and later approved the consent agenda, which included minutes, a payroll/bills request in the amount of $6,595,340.32, September bank reconciliation, surplus declarations, donations, overnight field trips and position descriptions.

In human resources business, the board approved a personnel report that recommended seven classified appointments and six extra‑duty assignments and recognized the retirement of longtime educator and administrator Mike Fisher.

The board approved a set of personnel and compensation documents: a revised 2025‑26 employee handbook including amended appendices affecting classified pay schedules and administrator salary ranges for 2025‑26. Administration said most eligible classified staff and eligible administrators will receive a 1.08% increase; administrator-range changes were made retroactive to July 1, 2025.

Operational approvals included permission to advertise an E‑Rate Category 1 bid (connectivity/Internet/WAN) to preserve E‑Rate reimbursement and incorporate additional facilities; approval of a service agreement with JPR Architects to prepare a conceptual plan and cost estimate (administration estimated the proposal at roughly $12,000) to address cafeteria and kitchen constraints at Emmons Elementary; approval of a contract with Inventory ID for a corporation‑wide asset inventory required by auditors; and authorization to issue a request for proposals for property and casualty brokerage services.

Multiple motions were carried by voice vote during the meeting. No recorded roll‑call tallies were provided in the meeting transcript.

Items approved (selected): - Adoption of meeting agenda — approved by voice vote. - Consent agenda (minutes; payroll/bills $6,595,340.32; reconciliation; surplus; donations; overnight trips; position descriptions) — approved. - Personnel report (7 classified appointments, 6 extra‑duty assignments; recognition of retirement) — approved. - Ratification of the 2025‑26 collective bargaining agreement with the Mishawaka Education Association — approved (details in separate article). - Revised 2025‑26 employee handbook and amended appendices B and C — approved. - Administrator salary ranges for 2025‑26 (retroactive to 07/01/2025) — approved. - Authorization to advertise E‑Rate Category 1 bid — approved. - Approval to contract with JPR Architects for schematic/concept work at Emmons — approved. - Approval of Inventory ID contract for asset inventory — approved. - Approval to issue an RFP for property and casualty brokerage services — approved.

The board also heard presentations and informational reports on Junior Achievement programs and out‑of‑district enrollment dates; the meeting ended with superintendent and public announcements.

Provenance (transcript evidence): topicintro: 00:20:43 "It is recommended that the board of school trustees approve the bill once in payroll in the amount of $6,595,340.32"; topfinish: 03:16:29 "These policies are presented tonight for our first reading."