]NEW MARKET — The Southmont Schools board of trustees approved the 2023 budget on Monday.
Within the budget adoption came the approval for the 2023 bus replacement plan, 2023 capital projects plan, and the 2023 transfer of funds from the education fund to the operations fund.
The board also approved a general obligation bond resolution in the amount of $4 million that will primarily fund a new furniture project. This plan comes without an expected tax-rate increase.
The board also approved the NEOLA board policies updates, and approved the 2022-23 master agreement ratification. Within the master agreement ratification, comes an average salary increase of $3,300 for Southmont teachers.
“We are very, very proud of what the teachers do,” first-year Southmont Schools superintendent Dr. Chad Cripe said of the new master agreement. “I feel like we cleaned up a lot of language. We added some things for teachers that I think will be a big help as far as tuition reimbursement, an extra stipend for dual-credit classes, and I think the process went very well.”
Southmont Junior High Principal Brooke Busenbark presented a plan to change the schedule for sixth-grade students at the beginning of the second trimester in November. The proposed plan comes after an increase in class sizes. The average size so far this year is 28-29 students. Most notably, the change would increase students’ time in math, and make adjustments to the reading and social studies/science schedules, while still maintaining state requirements for each course.
“Right now there are class sizes sitting at 30, and the classrooms are smaller and the furniture is larger,” Busenbark said. “So there’s not a lot of movement that can happen. Kids are having to stay in a seated position.”
The change, which was approved by the board, will re-adjust class sizes to an average of 23 students in the second trimester. Busenbark will have a pair of parent discussions this month to help relay the change and answer questions. Busenbark and staff are also committed to helping make the transition as smooth as possible for the students.
Southmont Schools also recognized student and staff members of the month at Monday’s monthly meeting. They are: Hallie Rhoads, Walnut student of the month; Tina Swisher, Walnut staff member of the month; Bennett Grimes, Ladoga student of the month; Christine Keough, Ladoga staff member of the month; Jordanna Troutman, New Market student of the month; Bob Browning, New Market staff member of the month; Dean McGaughey, junior high student of the month; Rick Overfield, junior high staff member of the month; Gabe Little, high school student of the month; Avery Hannum, high school student of the month; and Caitlynn Tennison, high school staff member of the month.
The consent agenda was also approved and included approval for the following personnel changes: resignation of Amy Johnson, special education teacher at New Market, effective Sept. 30; hiring of Stevi Cornelius, special education teacher at New Market; Jennifer Snook, internal transfer from art teacher at New Market to sixth-grade general education teacher; hiring of Mary Allen, instructional aide at Southmont High School; hiring of Sherry Baird, instructional aide at Walnut Elementary;
Also approved were stipends or volunteer status for the following: Josh Mansfield, sixth grade boys basketball coach, $1,021; Jason Swick, volunteer sixth grade boys basketball coach; Andy Stetler, seventh grade boys basketball coach, $1,750; Travis Bowen, volunteer seventh grade boys basketball coach; Dave Williamson, eighth grade boys basketball coach, $1,750; Bob Hodges, volunteer eighth grade boys basketball coach; Jake Frederick, sixth grade girls basketball coach, $1,053; Stephanie Kennedy, seventh grade girls basketball coach, $1,698; Matt Priebe, volunteer seventh grade girls basketball coach; Matt Williams, eighth grade girls basketball coach, $1,750; Angie Williams, volunteer eighth grade girls basketball coach; Jason Cottrell, junior high swim coach, $1,500; Jamie Welliever, varsity wrestling coach, $5,000; Rick Overfield, varsity assistant wrestling coach, $1,940; Jake Turner, varsity boys basketball coach, $6,127; Dan Chadd, varsity boys basketball assistant coach, $2,910; Grace Lowe, varsity gymnastics coach, $3,139; Maddie Shaver, varsity gymnastics assistant coach, $1,334; Dan Burkman, varsity girls basketball coach, $6,316; Morgan Ross, varsity assistant girls basketball co-coach, $1,933; Jeff Cochran, varsity assistant girls basketball co-coach, $1,933; Stephanie Kennedy, varsity assistant girls basketball co-coach, $1,933; Dan McCormick, varsity boys swimming coach, $2,639; Mercedes McCormick, varsity girls swimming coach, $2,639; and Rebekah Thomas, varsity assistant swimming coach, $1,334.
The board also approved a trip for Southmont High School FFA members to Washington Township Middle/High School in Valparaiso on Oct. 14-15; and donations made to Southmont High School in the amount of $2,238 and to Ladoga Elementary in the amount of $150.
