Tri-Township board unanimously approves Tri-Online virtual school, teacher stipend and administrative measures

Tri-Township Consolidated School Corporation’s Board of School Trustees met Aug. 26 in Wanatah and unanimously approved a package of administrative measures including the launch of a new virtual school, a one-time stipend for high-rated teachers, and several routine approvals.

The board voted to open Tri-Online, the district’s virtual school for the 2024–25 academic year, and adopted its academic calendar after motions by board members. Melanie Mills moved to approve the virtual school and calendar; Nick Poort seconded and the board recorded all ayes.

The meeting’s most notable financial action was approval of a one-time stipend of $1,725 for teachers who earned an evaluation rating of Effective or Highly Effective during 2023–24, payable on Sept. 6. Aaron Rust moved the stipend motion and Chad Howell seconded; the vote was unanimous.

Other approved items included acceptance of a donation from Kankakee Valley REMC of 25 backpacks and assorted school supplies to support students in need; approval of a memorandum of understanding with Westville Schools; submission of the Teacher Appreciation Grant (TAG); and approval of the Certified Employee Evaluation Plan for 2024–25. All motions were moved and seconded by board members and carried by unanimous vote.

The board also approved a NIPSCO quote to install a transformer to provide power to the track; the minutes record approval but do not specify the dollar amount or provide contract details. The student handbook’s communicable disease language was revised: an enumerated list (pink eye, strep throat, chicken pox, impetigo, lice, scabies) was replaced with a statement deferring exclusions to the Indiana State Department of Health.

Board President Tim Guse opened the meeting. Superintendent Dr. Moore reviewed budget materials during a public Budget Hearing; after the presentation, no questions were raised and the hearing was closed by unanimous vote. Dr. Moore also noted that the district’s new cell-phone policy "seems to be well received by staff and students." Principal McMahan highlighted August activities and curriculum changes, including new 8th-grade courses in Introduction to Transportation and Introduction to Computer Science and a year-long K–12 writing professional development program.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded in the minutes): Tri-Online opening and academic calendar (mover: Melanie Mills; second: Nick Poort; outcome: approved, unanimous), $1,725 teacher stipend (mover: Aaron Rust; second: Chad Howell; outcome: approved, unanimous), MOU with Westville Schools (mover: Aaron Rust; second: Melanie Mills; outcome: approved, unanimous), acceptance of 25 backpacks from Kankakee Valley REMC (mover: Aaron Rust; second: Melanie Mills; outcome: approved, unanimous), Certified Employee Evaluation Plan 2024–25 (mover: Melanie Mills; second: Chad Howell; outcome: approved, unanimous), TAG submission (mover: Aaron Rust; second: Melanie Mills; outcome: approved, unanimous), approval of NIPSCO transformer quote (mover: Aaron Rust; second: Chad Howell; outcome: approved, unanimous), student handbook communicable disease language change (mover: Melanie Mills; second: Chad Howell; outcome: approved, unanimous). The meeting adjourned by unanimous vote after a motion from Aaron Rust and a second from Nick Poort.

The minutes note several facility updates — restroom work in Wanatah delayed by shipment issues and LaCrosse locker rooms expected by the end of September — and that the district is in the early permitting stages for a track project. The minutes also mention ongoing assessment data collection (NWEA and STAR) expected to be completed by Labor Day. The minutes do not include detailed contract amounts or timelines for the NIPSCO work or the track project.