La Porte school board approves waiver, contracts and safety upgrades ahead of 2026–27 school year

The La Porte Community School Corporation board on July 20 approved a package of operational and contractual items designed to prepare the district for the 2026–27 school year, including a Department of Education educational flexibility waiver for Title I paraprofessionals, multiple partnership renewals and facility contracts, and safety and telecom upgrades.

The board approved a renewal of the district's educational flexibility waiver, which — if accepted by the Indiana Department of Education — allows the district to relax the federal Title I qualification that would otherwise require instructional paraprofessionals to hold a four‑year degree. "This is a renewal of one that we have done for many years," Superintendent Dr. Jen Wood said; the public hearing opened and closed with no speakers and the board passed the item by voice vote.

Board members ratified several partnership agreements and contracts. The board ratified a lease with Ivy Tech Community College to host Ivy Tech programming in the district's career and technical education center, including a new commercial driver’s license (CDL) training class that the district said will expand local workforce options. The board also approved annual Boys & Girls Club partnership contracts to resume after‑school programming at three district sites and a three‑year renewal with EES Innovation for instructional supports and professional video production services.

On procurement and safety, the board approved a low bid from Moss of $138,269.82 to install FOB access controls on targeted classroom doors and special education spaces. Dr. Oni said the project will be funded in part by Geoban and Medicaid reimbursement, reducing the impact on the operations fund. The board also authorized a phone system replacement (SIP and POTS/Centrix transition) with a total cost around $47,550; the board discussed an estimated monthly savings of $9,300, and the chair said the investment should pay for itself in roughly five months.

The board voted to accept the results of food‑service competitive bids procured via the NYSEK cooperative and approved textbooks for second‑year CTE classes (law enforcement, medical assisting) and a new personal finance course that the state requires for graduation.

The board also passed a resolution to reallocate a portion of the supplemental homestead credit under House Enrolled Act 1210 to mitigate the effect of recent property tax legislation on operations funding. Dr. Wood told the board the Department of Local Government Finance set the split (48 percent), and the board approved the recommended allocation.

What happens next: the district will implement the approved contracts and proceed to the second reading of updated NEOLA policies in August (AI and technology provisions were presented for first reading). The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Aug. 10 at 6 p.m., with an executive session planned at 4:30 p.m. that day.

Votes at a glance (outcomes recorded at the meeting): - DOE educational flexibility waiver: approved (voice vote). - Microsoft access easement (see separate article): approved (voice vote). - Ivy Tech lease ratification (CDL programming): approved (voice vote). - Boys & Girls Club annual contracts: approved (voice vote). - EES Innovation three‑year renewal: approved (voice vote). - Resolution to reallocate supplemental homestead credit (HEA 1210): approved (voice vote). - CTE and personal finance curriculum materials: approved (voice vote). - Food service bids (2026–27): approved (voice vote). - FOB access control contract (Moss, $138,269.82): approved (voice vote). - SIP/POTS replacement project (total ≈ $47,550): approved (voice vote).

The meeting also included routine summer updates from superintendent and staff and brief public comment praising the superintendent’s recognition of retiring educators.