LINDEN — Staff at North Montgomery Community School Corp. will receive twice as much money in year-end stipends than originally approved thanks to an increase in state funding for K-12 schools.
The one-time stipends were increased to $2,000-$3,000, depending on job classification, following approval from the school board Monday. All returning staff members or employees who retired at the end of the academic year and rated highly effective or effective on their evaluations are eligible.
The stipends first received the board’s approval in January after administrators announced a surplus in the district’s education fund and requested the money be used for extra pay.
Following a 4.5% boost in school funding each of the next two years in the new state budget, the district asked the board to increase the stipend amounts.
“It’s a great thing to be able to do those things,” business and transportation director Jim McBee said, noting the challenges brought on by COVID-19.
Eligible staff members will receive the stipends in their June 4 paycheck.
In other business, the board approved the creation of a new after school program for the coming school year.
Charger KidZone will replace the program offered by Indianapolis-based company At Your School, which operated from Pleasant Hill Elementary. The district also has enough interest to offer the new program at Sugar Creek Elementary.
“They’re still going to have engaging activities, they’re going to help with homework, but it’s not like they’re sitting there having an extension of school. We surveyed our parents and we heard loud and clear that’s not what they wanted,” superintendent Dr. Colleen Moran said.
Participating families will be charged the same rate or lower for the new program based on need, Moran said.
The board also recognized retiring employees and staff members who’ve achieved year of service milestones.
Retirees include bus drivers Mike and Marilyn Cohee, Denise Hull and Sue Schenck; food service worker Sandy Bradshaw; high school French teacher Diane Fike; and Pleasant Hill teacher Joan Starnes.
Altogether, they represent 244 years of service to the district.
In personnel matters, the board approved the resignations of teachers Sarah McCord, middle school family and consumer science; Susan Evertts, high school math; Kathryn Hochstetler, Sugar Creek music; and Elizabeth Schafer, high school English.
Among the new teacher hires approved were Emily Tierney, middle school special education; Ashley Knuth, middle school family and consumer science; Dustin Gardner, high school Spanish; Matthew Ortman, high school math; Colleen Pingel, high school music/choral; and Taylor Dyson, Sommer 4th grade.
The board also approved the hiring of Joshua Cockerham as a high school counselor.
June’s board meeting will be held a week earlier than usual at 6 p.m. June 21 due to the regular date falling on moratorium week.
