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Board approves 2026 officers, contracts and routine business in 6–0 votes
Summary
At its reorganization meeting the Spencer‑Owen Community Schools board unanimously approved a full slate of officers, set member compensation and approved routine contracts, purchases and personnel items; all formal motions recorded as passing 6–0.
The Spencer‑Owen Community Schools Board of Trustees on the evening of its reorganization meeting approved a full slate of officers and a series of routine administrative actions, each by unanimous 6–0 votes.
Board member Liz Bixler nominated a slate of officers — Derek Morgan for president, Dina Stickels for vice president, Liz Bixler for secretary and Rick Smeltzer for secretary pro tem — and the nomination carried after a second and voice vote. "Derek Morgan for president, Dina Stickels for vice president, me, Liz Bixler for secretary, and Rick for secretary pro tem," Bixler said when making the nomination.
Why it matters: The votes set the board's leadership and clear the way for administration work in 2026. Several of the items approved affect district operations and finances: the board set member per diems (maintaining $150 for regular meetings and $75 for other meetings) and approved bonding, contracts, and purchases funded from bond proceeds.
What the board approved: The record shows the board moved and approved the following, each by a 6–0 vote: - Election of the 2026 officer slate nominated by Liz Bixler (motion seconded). - Setting board member compensation and maintaining per diems at $150 for regular meetings, $75 for other meetings (mover: speaker 7; seconded; motion passed 6–0). - Reappointment of district legal counsel (Ferguson Law) with a modest rate increase for 2026. - Appointment of Annette Brown as corporation treasurer and Toby Slicer as deputy treasurer for 2026. - Approval of fidelity/bond amounts for treasurers and building ECA treasurers (corporation treasurer and deputy treasurer bonded at $100,000; high school and middle school at $50,000; elementary treasurers at $25,000). - Appointment of April Walker as executive secretary for 2026. - Designation of the ISBA legislative liaison (Derek Morgan), Owen County Redevelopment Commission ex officio (Mark Rogers), and the town redevelopment ex officio role to remain with the superintendent. - Approval of the 2026 meeting calendar and start time (7:00 p.m.), with the July meeting moved to avoid the county fair. - Acceptance of 2026 conflict of interest forms for public record. - Approval of the consent agenda (financial reports, claims, and minutes). - Approval of overnight student travel for wrestling sectional and state competitions. - Renewal of the district HVAC maintenance agreement with HFI for 2026–27. - Authorization to implement Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers for vendor payments. - Approval of a master affiliation agreement with the Trustees of Indiana University to host clinical placements (speech‑language pathology practicum students). - Purchase of a John Deere 4,052 R tractor using bond proceeds for transportation and facility work. - Acceptance of two monetary donations: $1,000 from Whitetails Unlimited (high school archery) and $4,500 from Jefferson Baptist Church (Backpack Buddies). - Acceptance of personnel recommendations for resignations, leaves and employment (items A–C).
Board process and votes: Most motions were presented by the superintendent and moved and seconded by board members; the minutes record each formal vote as passing with a tally of 6 in favor and 0 opposed. Where individual vote names are not recorded, the outcome is noted in the meeting record as 6–0.
Next steps: These actions take effect as noted in the meeting record; several (contracts, purchases, and personnel actions) will move to administrative implementation.
The board adjourned after a short agenda and set its next meeting for the 22nd.
