Whitko trustees approve Neola policy updates, clarify contract-approval authority under $50,000

On second and final reading the Whitko Community School Corp. board approved updated school-board policies in Neola volume 36 number 1 after trustees sought clarification on contract-approval language and compliance-officer designation.

During discussion a trustee asked who may award contracts listed in the policy as allowable without board approval for single items or groups under $50,000. The superintendent, Dr. Eddington, confirmed that the superintendent is the person authorized under that policy language, saying, "Yes. It is." Trustees requested that the policy be amended to fill the blank with "superintendent" and to explicitly include the director of special services (or the high-school principal where appropriate) as a named compliance officer in related handbooks and public-facing materials.

The board voted to approve the Neola volume 36 number 1 policies as presented; trustees noted staff will return with an amended policy item to include the director of special services. The board also discussed the superintendent’s contract timeline and referenced that the 2023 state board of accounts audit found the contract in compliance; trustees confirmed the superintendent contract runs July through June rather than on a calendar-year basis.

Board members said they will publish clarifying language in the policy and student handbooks so the public understands who serves as the compliance officer and who can award contracts under the specified dollar threshold. The policy amendment will return for action at a future board meeting.