Mt. Vernon Board of School Trustees

Dr. Parker introduced the MVHS Gold Intensity Dance Team.  He congratulated them for winning the State Championship in POM.  A video was shown of their performance. Dr.Parker stated he was amazed and proud of them with their performance and all the hard work.  Mrs. Walls thanked them for representing MV so well.  She was excited for them and how their hard work paid off. 

Mrs Bond introduced student helper Cadyn Spoon, 7th grader to share the good news report. 

School Accolades & Notable Activities

• MV held a successful inaugural teacher recruitment event with an amazing turnout of 42 teachers who each received an interview and enjoyed a panel of teachers and students sharing their experiences at MV.
• Mt. Vernon High School girls basketball coach and assistant athletic director, Julie Shelton, will be recognized by the BIG EAST Conference Saturday as one of its BIG EAST Basketball Legends. Shelton is Butler’s all-time leading scorer with over 2,000 career points and the second-all-time leading scorer in the Horizon League. Shelton was a four-time, first-team all-league performer and named Midwestern Collegiate Conference Player of the Year in 1992-1993.
• FES 4th grade student, Doran Benett, recently won two writing competitions, with one being the prestigious regional “Favorite Indiana Governor” essay competition hosted by the Association of Indiana Counties. He will be joining us in April to read this essay. The second writing contest was through the Fortville American Legion’s “What do you think when you see our country’s flag” essay competition. Two students were deemed winners from each FES 4th grade class, and Doran was among the top 12 winning essays.
• MVHS Mandarin classes celebrated the Lunar New Year by having a parade through the hallways with music, costumes and dancing that represented the Asian culture.
• MVHS Mandarin classes recently had another exchange with their pen pals in Taiwan as they help to teach each other their native language. The pen pals have been communicating via mail, video presentations and even a live zoom at 8 p.m. EST!
• Congratulations to Ellery Minch on the MVHS girls basketball team for being selected to be part of the Indiana All-Star team.
• Congratulations to the MVHS Gold Intensity Dance Team who became Poms State Champions in the AA division.
• We are very proud of the MVHS Winter Guard for winning State with a very high score in the Class A Wishmeyer Division. MVHS band program instructors, Dr. Spangler and Mr. Ahearn, were recognized at the 2024 Arts Education Day at the State House for earning the ISSMA All-Music Award.
• Congratulations to the MVHS Indoor Percussion Ensemble for qualifying in the IPA State Finals.
• MVMS Dance Team placed 2nd in hip hop & 4th in poms at State.

Community Connections

• Congratulations to Mrs. Williams’ kindergarten class at MCE as their classroom donated the most shoes in the county through the “No Cold Feet Shoe Recycling Competition.” The 7,140 shoes collected throughout the county were given to the Changing Footprints organization to help those in need.
• MVCSC hosted the Youth Leadership Hancock County conference through Purdue Extension where students from all four county schools connected and enjoyed leadership training and learning more about community and economic development.
• MES second grade learned about the three states of matter with a presentation from Subzero Nitrogen Ice Cream and learned how different items react to liquid nitrogen, including how to make ice cream.

Noteworthy Media

•  The Greenfield Daily Reporter profiled several students when they featured a series of articles on Mt. Vernon High School’s CTE courses that are offered, including Criminal Justice, Aviation, Welding and Health Science.

Dr. Shipley introduced Lauren Adams, High Ability Grant Specialist and Mt Comfort Elementary School Teacher to provide an update on the High Ability Program.   Lauren Adams presented information from the broad based planning committee, numbers on enrollment, classroom activities held to promote high thinking and information from the fall audit.  The board thanked her for her time to share the information. 

Dr Shipley introduced Mr. Gray from the Hancock County Public Library.  Mr Gray introduced board member Tom Seng.  Mr Gray presented the history of funding for the library, expenditures, statistics on circulation, enrollment in programs and updates in the library.

Dr. Shipley introduced Ashtan Bennet from new Library Director from the Vernon Township Public Library.  She shared information on community engagement events, reviewed the new library card along with the different types of cards offered, highlighted teachers resources and shared information on the summer reading program.   The library has a new Friends of the Library volunteer committee if anyone is interested in joining.  She thanked the board for their time and allowing her to share their information. 

Dr. Shipley introduced Yin Lan Lin, MVHS Teacher.  She presented information on the Taiwan trip information for May 2025 for 11 days.  She shared the accommodations, cost, itinerary, chaperone information and iconic places that will be visited.  She is very excited to show students her where she is from and allow them to practice their Mandarin they are learning.   Mrs Freeman stated she thought the trip looked amazing. Mrs Britt asked about if seniors after they graduate will they be able to attend?   Seniors next year will be able to participate.   The Board thanked her for sharing her trip and her enthusiasm for the her students to experience this. 

CERTIFIED RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Kimberly D’Angelo, MVMS FACS Teacher
2. Justin Goff, MVHS FTE 1.25 Certified Recommendation
3. Andrew Seabold, MVHS FTE 1.25 Certified Recommendation
4.  Megan Holbrook, MCE 5th Grade Temporary Hire February 14 to April 14, 2024
5. Lillian Martin, MCE Kindergarten Temporary Hire March 25 to May 24, 2024

CERTIFIED RESIGNATIONS/RETIREMENT

1. Phil Deardorff, MVHS Teacher
2. Laurie Gwaltney, MVMS Teacher
3. Jill Schuyler, MVMS Teacher

CLASSIFIED RECOMMENDATIONS CLASSIFIED RECOMMENDATIONS .

1. Kara Fisher, MES School Nurse
2. Grace Yantes, MES SPED Instructional Assistant
3. Patience Prysock, MMP Instructional Assistant
4.  Melissa Baginenski, MCE Nurse Assistant
5.  Linda Smith, MVMS Attendance Secretary
6.  Chadly Asher, FES, Custodian
7. Beverly Jones, MCE, Custodian
8. Brianna Hernandes, MMP Instructional Assistant
9. Brittany Oney, MES SPED IA & SPED maternity leave
10. Rachelle Wilkes, All buildings, Cafeteria Sub
11. Pay increase for SRO’s & Security
12. Jennifer Crays, Administration Finance Assistant
13. Teara Rogers, Administration Custodian
14. Nygree Ogletree, MCE Custodian
15. Brookelyn Stanley, MVHS High Intensity IA

CLASSIFIED RESIGNATIONS/RETIREMENT

1.  Dontrell Conner, MCE Instructional Assistant
2. Erin Jordan, MES Nurse Assistant
3.  Austin Friedman, MVHS Custodian
4. Erin Cress, Administration Instructional Assistant
5. Angela Avers, MVHS Permanent Substitute
6. Lawrence Riggs, MVHS Custodian
7. Danielle Risher, FES Food Service
8. Svetlana Ledbetter, FES Food Service
9. Jarod Martin, MVHS Custodian
10. Hope Feltes, MCE Custodian
11. Susan White, MCE Food Service

CLASSIFIED CHANGE OF ASSIGNMENT

1. Laurie Bush, MCE Full Time Title 1 to Part Time Title 1 Aide
2. Katelynn Costa, MCE Food Service Prep/Server to Food Service Prep/Dishwasher
3. Michelle Perr, Administration Food Service Prep Cook to Food Service Manager
4. Julie Vandergrift, Transportation Bus Driver to Transportation Routing Coordinator and Special Education Liaison
5. Krista Turpin, MVMS Attendance Secretary to Administrative Assistant
6. Alexander Bouvier, Administration Custodian to Head Custodian
7. Brittany Clark, MVHS Prep Cook to Cashier
8. Heather Archer, FES Prep Cook to Main Cook
9. Hannah Baldwin, MES Sped IA to Building Sub

ECA RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Josh Miller, MVMS Team Lead
2.  Tanya Khokhar, MVMS Girls Tennis Coach
3. Greg Brewer, MVHS Assistant Girls Track Coach

ECA RESIGNATIONS

1. Sarah Glazner, MVHS Department Chair

LEAVES

1. Mary Harris, MCE IA extending FMLA through May 24, 2024
2. Denise Cooley-Goolsby, MV Administration, FMLA leave (March 25, to May 6, 2024)
3. Kamillia Williams, MMP Instructional IA, Medical Leave effective March 5, 2024
4. John Reifel, FES teacher, Medical Leave (March 25th to April 26, 2024)
5. Lindsey Calvert, MVMS Instructional IA, Medical Leave (March 5 to May 24, 2024)
6. Teresa Cook, MCE Instructional IA, Medical Leave (March 19 to May 24, 2024)

Mr. Smedley shared the calendars.  The  2023-24 was revised to update the April 8th Solar Eclipse E-Learning Day and show April 10 as a regular school day.   The new 2025-26 school year was presented.   A teacher work day from the beginning of the year was moved to the start of second semester, teachers will work a day prior to students return second semester.   Mrs. Walls made a motion to approve both calendars as presented. Mr. Edwards seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

Mr Elkins presented the letter of recommendation for middle school parking and maintenance work from  Millennium Contract.   Mrs Freeman made a  motion to approve the bid. Mrs. Walls seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0