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MSD of New Durham Township School Board approves Rainy Day Fund, virtual e-learning and personnel moves
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting the MSD of New Durham Township School Board approved a resolution to establish a Rainy Day Fund, authorized use of virtual e-learning days, accepted donations totaling $3,400, and approved multiple personnel appointments and leaves. No public comments were recorded.
Karen Jedrysek, board vice president, called the MSD of New Durham Township School Board meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2026. The board approved a series of routine administrative items, including a resolution to establish a Rainy Day Fund, authorization to use virtual e-learning days, several personnel actions, and acceptance of donations.
The most consequential action was passage of a resolution to create and govern a Rainy Day Fund intended to hold reserves for future unplanned needs. Wayne Hodge, a board member, moved approval of the resolution and Lynn Wilson, identified in the minutes as the superintendent, seconded the motion; the minutes record that the motion carried. The minutes do not include the resolution text or specific funding amounts for the new fund.
The board authorized the district to use virtual e-learning days as a mechanism for continuity of instruction during events that would otherwise close buildings. Karen Jedrysek moved to approve that authorization and Lynn Wilson seconded; the motion carried. The minutes do not specify conditions or limits for implementation beyond the authorization vote.
On personnel, the board approved resignations (Brittney Reed, Grant Watterson and Heather Goodman) and subsequent recommendations including reassigning Brittney Reed as a long-term substitute, hiring Holly Ellis as co-sponsor for the Westville Reads Club and Brain Boosters, appointing Laura Miller as a co-sponsor for High Ability programming, and hiring Anthony Pilarski and Emily Patterson as head coaches for boys' varsity baseball and girls' varsity track, respectively. The board also approved leaves for Patty Kreighbaum and Kelly Long. Wayne Hodge moved the personnel packet; Karen Jedrysek seconded and the motion carried.
The board approved a professional leave request for Toni Biancardi to attend the DECA State Career Development Conference and separately approved the associated student field trip to that conference. The board also accepted two donations: $2,400 to Westville Little School from Not Your Grandma's Style Quilting and $1,000 to Westville High School from Organizational Development Solutions Inc. Lynn Wilson moved to accept the donations and Wayne Hodge seconded; both motions carried.
Superintendent Lynn Wilson provided routine district updates noting School Board Appreciation Month and a summary of state-level activity, mentioning two items under consideration in the legislature: a bill on in-school cell phone restrictions (referred to as Senate Bill 78 in the minutes) and proposals for parent controls on district devices. The minutes also record a brief solar update that production matched last year and that staff (Mr. Cole) is coordinating with NIPSCO, Performance and Fronis on operations.
The board approved the Dec. 10, 2025 meeting minutes and the district financial reports; motions were made and seconded as recorded in the minutes and carried (the minutes do not list vote tallies or detailed financial amounts). There were no public comments recorded. The meeting adjourned at 6:34 p.m.; the next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Media Center. The minutes identify Lynn Wilson as superintendent in the attendance list and show a signature line reading "Lynn Wilson, Secretary," an internal discrepancy recorded in the minutes.
