The Brown County Schools Board of Trustees approved the following July 15:

• The amended COVID-19 return-to-school plan.
• A substitute pay rate proposal. A non-certified substitute will earn $70 for a full day and $50 for a half day. Certified substitute teachers will earn $80 or $60. Retired certified teachers will earn $100 or $80. Pay rates also exist for long-term non-certified and certified teachers. Paraprofessional substitutes will earn $11.25 per hour.
• Adopting updates to the following NEOLA policies: Purpose; employment of the superintendent; controversial issues; employment of professional staff; employment of support staff; nursing mothers; leaves of absence; determination of legal settlement and eligibility for enrollment of students without legal settlement in the corporation, proof of Indiana residency; promotion, placement and retention; required ADM counts for the purpose of state funding and verification of residency for membership; electronic monitoring and recording; property inventory; accounting system for capital assets; staff use of personal communication devices; food service program; and bus drivers and cellular telephone use. A motion was made to table the “controversial issues” update, which will be read during the next school board meeting once board members have a chance to go over the update and make any changes they deem necessary. A motion was also approved to add an additional female compliance officer when necessary.
• The first reading of two NEOLA special updates for emergency and electronic meetings and nondiscrimination and anti-harassment; meetings during declared disaster emergencies; emergency and electronic meetings; wellness; nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity; nondiscrimination based on genetic information of the employee; prohibition against disability discrimination in employment; anti-harassment; prohibition against discrimination based on disability; and prohibition against disability discrimination in employment.
• A recommendation to accept transfer students from outside of the district. This must be done annually.
• Separating Brown County Schools custodian Lisa Mowery, effective July 14. This was not a termination.
• Separating Brown County Middle School teacher Hannah Davis, effective at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 school year. This was not a termination.
• Appointing BCS bus driver Mark Winters, effective July 7.
• Appointing Helmsburg Elementary School preschool teacher Christina Hanson, full-time with benefits, $16 per hour, 7.25 hours per day, effective Aug. 2. She is a replacement for Brandi Lunsford.
• Appointing Sprunica Elementary School preschool teacher Catherine Baum-Newlin, full time with benefits, $18 per hour, 7.25 hours per day, 184 days per year, effective Aug. 2.
• Appointing SES mentor teacher Becky Higgins, $4,500 stipend, effective Aug. 2. This is a new position.
• Appointing HES preschool paraprofessional Taylor Seacat, $11.25 per hour, full-time with benefits, 7.25 hours per day, 182 days per year, effective Aug. 2. This is a new position.
• Appointing BCMS assistant cross-country coach Daniel Smith, split position, $639 stipend, effective Aug. 2. He is a replacement for Ian McCabe.
• Appointing BCMS assistant cross-country coach Amanda Austin, split position, $620.50 stipend, effective Aug. 2. She is a replacement for Ian McCabe.
• Appointing HES specialized instructional paraprofessional Leigh Fricke, $12 per hour, 7.5 hours per day, full-time with benefits, 182 days per year, effective Aug. 2. She is a replacement for Amy Kakavecos.
• Appointing BCMS Civics and Personal Finance teacher Courtney Atak, bachelor’s level D, $40,625 with three years of experience, effective Aug. 2. She is a replacement for Rachel Martin.