Adams Central board hires new high school principal, approves device purchase and authorizes transportation buys

The Adams Central Community Schools board on a May evening approved a set of personnel, technology and capital purchases and set follow-up work for June.

Superintendent Mr. McLear recommended and the board approved Mr. Mark Mish as the district’s new high school principal, with his contract to begin July 1. Mr. McLear told the board that Mish emerged from a competitive search and that references highlighted his ability to build relationships with students and staff. Mish, who said he tore a calf muscle the previous night and was using a mobility scooter, thanked the board and said he was “super excited” to join Adams Central and to begin building trust with students and staff.

The board also approved a $0.10 increase in student lunch prices to $2.50 for next year. Jessica, who presented the nutrition update, said the modest rise will “help us base our scratch cooking and continue to get healthy fruits and vegetables” and keeps Adams Central among the lowest lunch prices in the county.

On technology, the board approved a plan to transition grades 9–12 from iPads to a newly priced MacBook model for high school students, with devices and protective clamshell covers to be purchased from the education fund. Greg Snyder, who outlined the proposal, said the district will roll devices out to all high‑school grades at once, pursue a buyback for older iPads, and work through details of family purchase options. The board discussed warranty and insurance options at length; Mr. McNeal and Dawn noted cost differences and state guidance on charging families for fees. The board tabled a final decision on purchasing extended warranties and cases and asked administrators to return with a firm recommendation at the June meeting.

Transportation staff reported an aging fleet and received board permission to move forward with dealer confirmations and trade‑in assessments for one general‑purpose bus and one special‑needs bus to be paid from the capital (GO bond) fund. Dan Weber said many buses are roughly 17 years old and that replacing them is part of returning to the planned replacement schedule. The board also authorized Dan to acquire a replacement minivan with a maximum budget discussed in the meeting at $51,249, while allowing flexibility to secure a lower‑priced used vehicle if a timely opportunity arises.

Facilities work approved included a brief middle/high‑school office renovation to create space for a middle‑school principal and installation of wall padding in the elementary gym to improve student safety; both projects are expected to be funded from the GO bond and completed over the summer.

Other business: the board approved updated interdistrict agreements — an Area 18 CTE MOU to clarify membership and equipment disposition and an MOU with the Indiana University School of Social Work for graduate practicum placements — and accepted several personnel resignations while recommending hires for paraprofessional and assistant athletic director positions. Administrators reported end‑of‑year activities, testing windows, and upcoming graduation on June 7.

Votes at a glance - Agenda approved — motion carried (voice vote). - April 14 minutes approved — motion carried (voice vote). - Consent agenda (personnel and vouchers) approved — motion carried (voice vote). - Lunch price increase approved ($0.10 to $2.50) — motion carried (voice vote). - Appointment of Mr. Mark Mish as high school principal — motion carried (voice vote). - Approval of up to 10 additional paid workdays for Mish in June — motion carried (voice vote). - Area 18 CTE agreement (MOU) approved — motion carried (voice vote). - IU School of Social Work MOU approved — motion carried (voice vote). - High‑school device purchase (MacBooks and cases) approved; warranty decision tabled — device purchase motion carried (voice vote); warranty decision deferred to June. - Authorization to pursue bus procurement (one general, one special needs) — motion carried (voice vote). - Authorization to pursue minivan purchase up to cap — motion carried (voice vote). - Middle/high‑school office renovation and elementary gym wall padding approved — motions carried (voice votes).

What’s next: administrators will return in June with a recommendation on MacBook warranty and finalize vendor/trade‑in details for transportation and other capital items; the board scheduled its next meeting for June 9 at 7:00 p.m.

Quotes used in reporting were taken from the meeting transcript and are attributed to those speakers in the transcript.