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MSD Steuben County board adopts policy updates, personnel moves, wage and grant approvals
Summary
The board approved a slate of routine business: minutes and claims, personnel considerations, multiple policy adoptions and first‑reads, a 30¢ food‑service wage increase, a paraprofessional training waiver, an $18,000 grant application, adjunct teacher appointment and a Trine University donation; most votes were unanimous.
At its July 21 meeting, the MSD Steuben County Board of Trustees handled a broad package of routine business and policy updates, approving minutes and claims, personnel items, two second‑reading policy adoptions, several first readings, a small wage increase for food service managers, a paraprofessional waiver and approvals of grant and personnel items.
Clerical and routine items: The board approved minutes from the June 16 regular meeting and June 15 and 23 executive sessions, and approved claims as presented. Personnel considerations (retirements, terminations, appointments and reassignments) were presented by district staff and approved by the board.
Policy actions: The board adopted policy 5015 (driver license/permit restriction) and policy 5013 (reimbursable meal access) on second reading after staff described updates. Several policies were presented on first reading—1322 (relations with community and special interest groups), 5118 (educational records), access to public records, and 1411 (police relations)—with legal references to Indiana Code and US Code included in the packet for the record. The board also updated the parent/student technology acceptable use policy (5200) to allow parents to request additional filtering or lockdown hours for district‑issued devices; that change was adopted at the meeting.
Wages, waivers and hires: The board approved a $0.30 hourly wage increase for food service managers to correct pay discrepancies and remain competitive with nearby districts. Doctor Raylou requested approval to apply for an $18,000 DECO Foundation grant to support a Lighthouse team’s service projects, an indoor calm space, veterans' program support and care‑closet supplies; the board authorized staff to apply for and accept the grant. The board approved a paraprofessional waiver allowing locally created training in place of the ParaPro exam or two years of college credit for instructional assistants, citing public feedback gathered via a Google Forms survey. Bradley Stovitsky was approved as an adjunct science teacher at Angola High School while completing licensure requirements, and the board accepted a donation from Trine University to support literacy efforts (packet noted an incremental $500 over last year’s amount).
Votes at a glance: minutes (approved 6-0); claims (approved 6-0); personnel considerations (approved 6-0); policy 5015 (adopted 6-0); policy 5013 (adopted 6-0); policy 5200 (adopted 6-0); paraprofessional waiver (approved 6-0); DECO Foundation grant application approval (approved 6-0); adjunct teacher appointment (approved 6-0); Trine University donation (accepted 6-0); food service wage increase (approved 6-0).
Board members and district staff framed the meeting as routine business with emphasis on operational readiness for the school year starting in early August; no contested votes or formal amendments were recorded.
