New Prairie board approves $1.6 million Apple lease, bus purchases and multiple facility and personnel items

The New Prairie United School Corporation board on Monday approved a series of unanimous votes covering technology, transportation, facilities and personnel.

The board approved an Apple lease purchase agreement for $1,618,290 to acquire iPads for kindergarten through grade 5, iPads with keyboards for grades 6–8 and laptops for grades 9–12 on a four‑year program, a motion that passed 5–0. The board also approved device-insurance rates for 2026–27 at $40 per device for K–8 and $50 per device for high school students.

On transportation the board awarded a $894,653 contract for five replacement buses to IC Bus Company after receiving competing bids from Blue Bird and Thomas, and approved a separate purchase of one activity bus at $109,356 through CIESC Cooperative Purchasing. Board documents say the bus purchases will be funded with the 2026 bond proceeds and interest from the rainy day fund. Both motions passed 5–0.

Facilities and equipment votes included approval of parking-lot construction and maintenance at the high school, middle school and central office by Reith‑Riley Construction Company for $239,935, and a New Prairie Middle School flooring project with Floor Stores of America Inc. at $158,310; the board also approved a $37,925 purchase of a truck lift for the transportation department from Amgo Hydraulics. Each item carried a 5–0 voice vote.

Personnel and administrative actions approved included the appointment of Timothy Pedley as Prairie View Elementary administrator on a two‑year contract beginning July 1, 2026; the board welcomed Pedley, who said he had been principal at Bristol Elementary in Elkhart Community Schools and was "thrilled to be joining New Prairie." The board also accepted several consent‑agenda personnel items and recognized the appointment of Ryan Curlis as the new girls varsity basketball coach and Shawna Tool as top assistant. All personnel actions passed 5–0.

The board approved donations totaling several thousand dollars: a $7,190 grant from Project AWARE for school mental health and wellness, $5,000 from Amazon for social‑emotional learning supplies, $1,514 from Amazon for CPR/AED equipment and $500 to the high‑school robotics team from Grimco and Die. The motion to accept donations passed 5–0.

Other business included adoption of the second reading of updated board policy 5136 (personal communication devices), approval to close grade 12 to transfer students for the 2026–27 school year, authorization of overnight field trips for FFA livestock evaluation (May 1–2, 2026, Boone County Fairgrounds) and high‑school choir (May 22–23, 2026, Cedar Point), and approval of the 2026–27 student and athletic handbooks. Each of those motions passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance

- Accept donations (Action A): approved 5–0 (donations listed in agenda) - Prairie View Elementary administrator — Timothy Pedley (Action B): approved 5–0 - Close grade 12 to transfer students for 2026–27 (Action C): approved 5–0 - Policy 5136 (personal communication devices), second reading (Action D): approved 5–0 - Parking lot construction and maintenance — Reith‑Riley (Action E): $239,935 approved 5–0 - Truck lift — Amgo Hydraulics (Action F): $37,925 approved 5–0 - Middle school flooring — Floor Stores of America Inc. (Action G): $158,310 approved 5–0 - MACE Insurance Trust representative — Justin Holmquest (Action H): approved 5–0 - Apple Lease Purchase Agreement (Action I): $1,618,290 approved 5–0 - Technology device insurance rates (Action J): $40 K–8 / $50 HS approved 5–0 - Overnight field trips (Action K): approved 5–0 - Bus replacement plan — IC Bus Company (Action L): $894,653 approved 5–0 - Activity bus purchase (Action M): $109,356 approved 5–0 - 2026–27 handbooks (Action N): approved 5–0

Board members said the May meeting time and venue will change to 5 p.m. at the high school’s newly remodeled Think Big space; the next meeting is scheduled for May 18. The meeting adjourned after board comments.