School board approves series of staff changes
The Brown County Schools Board of Trustees approved the following April 5:
Changing the retirement date for Brown County Career Resource Center Adult Education Coordinator Sue Dillon from June 20 to June 30.
The use of Brown County Schools bus for BETA to travel to Hope for Hearts Horse Farm in northern Brown County on April 17 and to Indiana University Korean Night on April 7. All expenses will be paid for by BETA.
The retirement notice of Brown County Junior High School English teacher Brad Baughman at the end of this school year.
The retirement notice of Brown County High School head custodian Linda Baker, effective June 15.
The retirement notice of Brown County Intermediate School paraprofessional Vickie Beach at the end of this school year.
Separating Sprunica Elementary School science teacher Karen Kirby at the end of this school year. This was not a termination.
Separating BCJHS math teacher Payton Goett at the end of this school year. This was not a termination.
Separating BCHS girls soccer assistant coach Sophie Riebl, effective April 2. This was not a termination.
Separating BCHS girls’ varsity basketball assistant coach Sasha Robinson, effective March 28. This was not a termination.
Appointing BCHS night custodian Penny McGuire, part-time without benefits, $11.25 per hour, not to exceed 28 hours per week, effective March 26. She is a replacement for Thomas Bartlett.
Appointing BCHS intense intervention paraprofessional Lacinda Handt, full-time with benefits, $11.25 per hour, effective April 2. She is a replacement for Andi Carter.
Appointing BCHS social studies and Plato teacher John Berning, full-time with benefits, $41,200 plus $1,119.80 for five extra contract days, level B-5, 189 days per year, effective Aug. 6. This is a new position. Berning also was hired as the BCHS varsity boys basketball coach, $6,206 stipend, effective 2018-2019 season, as a replacement for Chuck Hutchins.
Transferring BCJHS substitute cafeteria staff Angela Arnold to part-time cafeteria staff without benefits, $10.25 per hour, not to exceed 27.5 hours per week, effective March 28. She is a replacement for Amanda Lasley.
Transferring ROI Ready Schools Coordinator Christy Wrightsman to director of the CRC, 215 days per year, $92,500 per year, effective July 1.
Calendar approved for 2019-20 school year
At the request of the Brown County Education Association, the Brown County Schools Board of Trustees unanimously approved the calendar for the 2019-20 school year April 5.
Students will start school in 2019 on Aug. 7, with teachers stepping back into the school buildings Aug. 5.
Fall break will run from Oct. 7 to 11. The second nine-week grading period will start when students return Oct. 14.
Thanksgiving break will last three days, Nov. 27-29. Winter break will be two weeks beginning Dec. 23, with students returning on Jan. 6 to start the third nine-week grading period.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day will remain snow make-up days Jan. 20 and Feb. 17.
Spring break will be for one week starting March 16, and students will return March 23, the start of the fourth nine weeks.
The last day of school is scheduled for May 21, with a teacher work day May 22, which will also be a snow make-up day for students if needed.
More snow make-up days are built in at the end of the school year running from May 26 to June 5.
Brown County High School commencement will be the evening of June 5.
Superintendent Laura Hammack said the teachers association asked for the board to approve a calendar for two years out so that families can plan future vacations and appointments.
Locations announced for summer lunch program
Children will have the opportunity to get a free lunch at four locations this summer.
The Brown County Schools Board of Trustees unanimously approved the summer lunch program at their meeting April 5. The program will start June 4.
Brown County Schools Food Service Director Jason Kirchhofer said lunches will be available at the Brown County YMCA, Forest Hills Apartments, Brown County Intermediate School and Brown County High School.
The sites at the YMCA and high school will be open to the public. At the intermediate school and Forest Hills Apartments sites, lunches will be provided only to students enrolled in summer programming at BCIS or living at the apartments.
The meals, which are free to anyone younger than 18, are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Meals are prepared and sponsored by the Brown County Schools food service department. No application or proof of income is required to receive a meal. Children don’t have to be students in Brown County to receive a free meal; the only requirement is showing up.
Adults also can eat at the sites. Last year, it cost $3.10 for adults to eat.
In 2017, 4,537 meals were served over the summer. Kirchhofer said his goal this year is to serve 4,764, which is a 5 percent increase. In 2014, the first year of the program, only 1,920 meals were served.
Kirchhofer said Forest Hills Apartments location is going to take time to grow interest. “Sometimes we’ll have 15 (kids), sometimes we’ll have two. It really just depends,” he said.
One of the struggles the program faces at the apartment complex is that parents often work or are away from the home during the day, and they tell their children not leave the apartment for safety reasons, Kirchhofer said.
“That’s always a challenge for us, because we want them to come out and have a meal so they don’t have to eat the food in the house. They can actually get the free meal. I think that’s some of our struggle,” he said.
He said works with staff at the apartment complex to market the program, but he can’t send flyers directly to addresses.
Kirchhofer said he was open to suggestions on how to serve more children there. “Numbers are great, but more importantly, kids’ bellies are full. That’s what we’re here to do,” he said.
Superintendent Laura Hammack suggested families living at Forest Hills sign up to have sack meals delivered to the apartments. Kirchhofer said that would require more labor, but that he believed the food service department could pull it off.
“We can talk more, be creative and come up with solutions,” Hammack said.
