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Board approves a package of operational items including substitute pay increases, insurance rates, course adoptions, and contracts
Summary
Trustees approved multiple routine operational items: a retroactive permanent flex substitute pay increase ($125/day with permit; $135/day for licensed teachers), 2% medical premium increase for 2025, new dental/vision provider with a one‑year rate guarantee, course adoptions at Portage High School, authorization to use Hahn Auctioneers to sell 12 retired buses, and several software/service contracts.
At its meeting the Portage Township Schools Board of Trustees approved a bundle of operational items and routine business items, including pay and benefits adjustments, course adoptions and vendor agreements.
Substitute pay: The board approved recategorizing certain positions as 'permanent flex substitute teachers' (five‑day assignments) and a retroactive daily rate increase to $125 per day for those with a substitute teaching permit and $135 per day for those holding an Indiana teaching license. Administration said there are eight such positions districtwide at secondary schools and that incumbents are currently employed; trustees discussed recruitment and retention concerns.
Insurance rates: The board approved a 2% increase to medical premiums for 2025 (Portage Township Schools is self‑insured with Anthem as third‑party administrator). Administration recommended MetLife as the dental and vision provider with a one‑year rate guarantee (administration read a guarantee period in the packet; see audit note on date inconsistency below).
Course adoptions and extracurriculars: Trustees approved several new or revised high‑school courses (including Modern War and Conflict of the 21st Century, Computing Foundations for the Digital Age, Principles of Teaching, Theater production and ensemble options, Jazz Strings and Jazz Orchestra, and a Digital Design Capstone).
Surplus buses and vendor contracts: Transportation was authorized to use Hahn Auctioneers to auction 12 retired PTS buses (8 standard, 4 special‑purpose) at a 10% commission. The board also approved a slate of software and service subscriptions across funds (phone licensing/maintenance, translation services, curriculum platforms, diagnostic software for bus mechanics, and athletics web services) as read into the record.
All items were moved, seconded and approved by roll call during the meeting.
