NEW MARKET — The Southmont Board of School Trustees met Monday and recognized student and staff members.
Special recognition was given to the Business Professionals of America club at the high school. Teacher sponsor Mallory Kessler and students Ethan Harden and Alex Garcia recently attended the BPA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California. Students competed in a variety of contests and were successful. Both students won many awards and received national honors.
The FFA also received special notice as they returned from the FFA National Chapter Award competition at Purdue University. Their numerous successes will be featured at the next meeting.
Many staff changes also were approved. Those changes included the retirement of Tony Gonczarow and Elizabeth Binch. Trustee Julie Hess offered special recognition to Gonczarow and the many students’ lives he has touched through his dedication to teaching, science camps and coaching.
The board also approved resignations for Brittany Cooper, Amanda Ellenberger, Lee Ann Thompson, Rick Overfield, Diane Lowe, Alexa Quinton, Katie Lashsley and Taylor Sims.
New hires for the next school year were presented and comprised of Beata Steiner, Cayla Dennis, Anita Harden, Laura Cripe, Brian Turner, Tyler Davis, Hope Lighty, Cadence Nichols, Hillary Endicott and Emma Harrison.
The board unanimously approved a contract for Hendricks Sports Medicine to provide an athletic trainer.
Significant changes to the transportation department were presented, as the corporation is moving from a contractual to a corporation agreement with drivers for the 2023-24 school year. Those drivers moving from a contract to a corporate deal will be grandfathered into a $190 rate and remain at that rate until the corporate rate reaches said amount. Corporate rate drivers will receive an increase to $ 125 from $100. The board vote was 6-0, with trustee Hutson abstaining.
The superintendent’s report discussed changes to the school calendar for the next two years and will allow Good Friday to be a non-working day. Mike Tricker, director of operations, presented the many summer renovation projects happening at the schools and the importance of timing to those projects. He was congratulated and thanked for a gainful bus auction, resulting in $36,000 to the transportation fund.
The board’s next meeting is June 12 at the corporation office.
