NEW MARKET — Two school calendar changes were emphasized Monday at the regular meeting of the South Montgomery School Board.
The first change was the addition of an eLearning Day on April 8, 2024, to accommodate the total solar eclipse that is expected in this region on that day.
The second change is to next year’s fall break schedule. It will now be Oct. 21-25, 2024. The move was made to align the district with other county school districts and the area’s vocational program.
Both calendar item changes were approved 6-0, with board member Kyle Blaydes absent, as part of the consent agenda.
Staff members and students from each of the district’s schools were recognized for the month of November. They are staff member and student, respectively, from Ladoga Elementary, Christine Keough and Andrew Byerly; from New Market Elementary, Sherri Madison and James Wurtsbaugh; from Walnut Elementary, Brian King and Hadley Dowell; from Southmont Junior High, Nicki Reimondo and Eli Hannum; and from Southmont High School, Kelsey Feese and Logan Link.
In personnel matters, the board approved the resignation of Arianna Wright, junior high science teacher, effective May 24, 2024; and the employment of Bobbi Harden, instructional aide at Southmont Jr. High School.
Also approved as part of the board’s consent agenda were stipends for the following: Dana Hunt, spring play assistant director, $750; Aaron Charles, corporate sponsorship stipend, $2,430; Jason Kelsey, junior high wrestling coach, $1,000; Mike Haslam, junior high wrestling coach, $1,000; Desson Hannum, winter weights program, $1,726.
The board’s consent agenda also included the approval of extra duty recommendations for the following: Kelley Hopkins, IHSAA sectional volleyball help, $40; Ashley Hammond, IHSAA sectional volleyball help, fall supervision, regional football help, $80; Kathryn Yoakum, IHSAA sectional volleyball help, fall supervision, regional football help, $350; Erin Blaydes, IHSAA sectional volleyball worker, IHSAA sectional football, IHSAA regional football, $255; Raymond Jones, IHSAA football and IHSAA regional football help, $120; Melissa Norman, IHSAA sectional volleyball, IHSAA sectional football, IHSAA regional football help, $160; Tiffany Collisi, IHSAA regional football help, $40; Deryk Benge, IHSAA sectional football help, $40; Jamie McCormick, IHSAA regional football help, $40; Cheryl Politz, IHSAA regional football help, $40; and Sharon Barr, IHSAA regional football help, $40.
In other consent agenda business, the board:
• Approved wrestling overnight trips for Dec. 8-9 at Calumet High School (varsity) and LaPorte High School (junior varsity); for Jan. 5-6, 2024, at Rochester High School for the Coaches Association Team State; for Jan. 19-20, 2024, at Culver Academies; for Feb. 9-10, 2024, for the IHSAA semi-state at New Castle High School; and for Feb. 16-17, 2024, for the IHSAA State Finals at Ford Center in Evansville.
• Rescinded the appointment of Trent Smaltz to the Ladoga-Clark Township Public Library Board and selected Jay Prosser to serve in that position.
• Accepted donations made to Southmont High School in the amount of $8,595.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 8, 2024, in the corporation board room at the administrative building.
