MSD Steuben County board approves personnel moves, multiple policies and year-end payment authority

The Metropolitan School District of Steuben County Board of Trustees met in a regular December session and approved a range of routine and statutory items, including personnel actions, several policy adoptions prompted by recent legislation, and an end-of-year payment resolution to allow staff to pay vendors before the next meeting.

Board action on consent items began with approval of minutes and payment of claims. The board then approved personnel items in the packet, including the appointment of Ori Mogler as a seventh-grade mathematics teacher at the middle school. The superintendent presented additional resignations, one termination, appointments and reassignments; the board approved those personnel considerations.

On policy matters, the board adopted an updated collection policy (3324), a nepotism policy (4030) aligned to Indiana guidance, a statutorily revised habitual truant policy (4322) that implements the state’s definition of habitual truant (11 or more unexcused absences), and a homebound instruction policy (5350) that specifies documentation and licensed-teacher requirements for students with physical disabilities or significant health problems. All were approved on second reading.

The board also approved a revised teacher appreciation grant policy (4114). According to the presenter, "The allocation that we received was actually $87,000 that only covers stipends for 16 of our teachers," meaning the district can award $5,000 stipends to 16 mentor teachers under the program. The presenter said the district faced roughly a $6,000 shortfall because benefits tied to the stipends were not budgeted; the district intends to cover that shortfall from an existing professional development grant to ensure the stipends are paid.

The board authorized the Early Learning Center to apply for and accept listed grants (totaling not more than $20,000 across the listed opportunities) and voted to accept an annual donation from Johnny's Giving Pump of $696 into the district foundation account. The board also adopted the standard end-of-year payment resolution so staff may pay bills arriving before the January meeting so vendors can close their books by Dec. 31.

The board approved negotiated salary increases for secretaries, custodial staff, administrators and selected classified and certified employees as presented. The board approved the 2029–2030 school calendar with one change (moving graduation to May 31).

Superintendent’s updates included winter-weather delay and cancellation protocols, outreach channels (local TV, radio, Facebook and PowerSchool email/text), and community activities such as school Christmas card winners and fundraising acknowledgments. The board closed the meeting with member communications, including a remembrance for longtime district employee Steve Anstead, and then adjourned.

Votes at a glance: minutes (approved), claims (approved), hire: Ori Mogler (approved), personnel considerations (approved), collection policy 3324 (approved), nepotism policy 4030 (approved), teacher appreciation policy 4114 (approved), habitual truant policy 4322 (approved), homebound instruction policy 5350 (approved), 2029–2030 calendar (approved), course retake policy 5129 (first reading, no vote), Johnny's Giving Pump donation $696 (accepted), ELC grant application authority (authorized), end-of-year payment resolution (adopted), salary increases (approved).

Next step: the board will report year-end payments and any additional bills at its January meeting (reorganization meeting scheduled for Jan. 13 at 6:00 p.m. at the Floyd McCutcheon Administration Center).