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Board approves consent agenda, personnel moves, rubrics and handbook changes
Summary
The Blackford County Schools board approved the consent agenda (claims and a $210,000 transfer), multiple personnel changes, teacher‑effectiveness rubrics, updates to the employee manual (confidentiality and absence reporting) and student handbook revisions (valedictorian tie rules and a backpacks policy). Several items were approved by unanimous recorded votes of 3–0.
The Blackford County Schools board approved a package of routine and substantive items at Monday’s meeting, including the consent agenda, personnel recommendations, teacher‑evaluation instruments, updates to the employee manual and changes to the junior/senior high handbook.
The consent agenda included minutes from the May 19 meeting, vendor claims totaling $1,629,941.86 and a proposed resolution to transfer $210,000 from the education fund to the operations fund. The board moved, seconded and approved the consent agenda; the chair announced the motion carried 3–0.
Under personnel, the board approved hires for the JROTC program, naming Major David Granger and Master Sergeant Matthew Williams as candidates; the packet notes that Matthew Williams is expected to begin Oct. 1. The personnel report also recorded several retirements and was approved by the board (motion carries 3–0).
Board members discussed and approved a district‑specific teacher effectiveness rubric and a separate special‑education rubric. The changes add language on pacing and a refined description of “productive struggle,” and teachers from all three schools participated in drafting the tools, the board was told.
The 2026–2027 employee manual was updated to add an explicit statement that employees must follow board policies and to include a confidentiality section in the hourly/support staff manual. The manual also puts absence‑reporting expectations in writing (document absences in Skyward/TrueTime/Wilson) and sets progressive notice steps when employees move into unpaid leave (a verbal notice for the first unpaid day, written notice when absences amount to about two unpaid days, and possible termination after further unpaid days while allowing administrator discretion). Board members emphasized balancing clear expectations with grace for individual circumstances; the manual changes were approved 3–0.
The junior/senior high handbook now formalizes the district’s practice for valedictorian/salutatorian ties: students tied to three decimal places in GPA will be named co‑valedictorians or co‑salutatorians. The board also approved a change to restrict backpacks or large bags for grades 7–12 to reduce tripping hazards and improve classroom movement; exceptions such as small pencil pouches or Trapper Keepers were discussed and administrators will hold grade‑level meetings before school starts to show acceptable examples.
The board accepted the resignation of Assistant Principal Chaz Gabriel and approved a set of internal reassignments intended to fill leadership roles with existing staff, including potential moves for Kelly Rubel and new responsibilities for Sarah Price and the preschool director (recorded in the packet). All personnel and handbook items were approved by unanimous board votes of 3–0.
The board also completed the second reading of several policies brought forward at the prior meeting; with no substantive changes, the second readings carried by voice vote.
