East Central Reporter

Flora Community Unit School District 35 Board of Education met March 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Members Present: Wiley, Leib, Dunahee, Hatcher, Harris, Darrough Administration Present: Hackney, T. Pearce, Leonard, Pearce, Carder

Guests: None

Media: Beth Fancher

Call to Order: 5:30 p.m.

1. Motion Leib, seconded by Harris to approve the Consent Agenda: Minutes of the February 19, 2025 meeting; Bills, Activity Account Statements, Treasurer’s Report, IHSA membership for 2025-2026, Easement agreement between Flora CUSD #35 and the City of Flora, NHS trip to Evansville on April 4th. Roll call: Unanimous

RECOGNITION OF COMMENTS BY EMPLOYEES AND FROM THE PUBLIC Mr. Steber and band students spoke to Board, highlighted the band activities and thanked the Board. The 8th grade boys basketball was recognized for making to State tournament,

NEW BOARD BUSINESS

1. Motion Hatcher seconded by Dunahee, to approve school fees for the 2025-2026 school year. Roll Call: Wiley, yes; Harris, yes; Dunahee, yes; Darrough, yes; Hatcher, yes; Leib, yes.

2. Motion Harris seconded by Wiley, to approve the bid submitted by (Heartland Turf) for the work at the football field. Roll Call: Harris, yes; Hatcher, yes; Darrough, yes; Wiley, yes; Leib, yes; Dunahee, yes.

3. Motion Darrough seconded by Leib, to approve the proposal for CD investment rates submitted by (Flora Savings Bank). Roll Call: Hatcher, yes; Leib, yes; Dunahee, yes; Harris, yes; Darrough, yes; Wiley, yes.

4. Committee Reports: Superintendent Hackney reported that the athletic committee met on February 24th, City/Ballfield met on March 4th, and CAC will meet on April 2nd.

5. Administrator Reports:

Mrs. Pearce: Patriotic Program on 4/11 and 2nd grade trip on 4/25.

Mrs. Carder: 5th grade- Veterans walk on 4/7, 4/16 3rd grade to Zoo.

Mrs. Leonard: Track practice started last week, Scholastic Bowl has started and Volleyball regionals upcoming in Salem and getting ready for IAR/DARE day 4/25.

Mr. Pearce: Clue musical this weekend, Baseball and Softball games have started/ Tennis first match on ACT on 4/8 and Pre-Act on 4/9.

Hackney: Highlighted the teacher institute on March 7th where staff received AED/CPR training, the ROE State Scholar Banquet on March 6th,and the end of the 3rd quarter on March 14th.

6. Motion, Hatcher seconded by Dunahee, to re-employ first year teachers Reaghan Hale, Mallory Hodge, Madison Healy, Larissa Goodman, Taylor Borah, Madison Harrell, Corbin Roth, Gracie Carder, Ethan Steber, Amanda Noll, Bethany Lovett, Stacey Lusk, Miriam Young, Tracy Atwood, Robert Volz. Roll call: Leib yes; Wiley, yes; Hatcher, yes; Harris, yes; Darrough, yes; Dunahee, yes.

7. Motion, Wiley seconded by Leib, to re-employ second year teachers Melanie Shehorn, Rendell Flood, Sariah Forth, Jordyn Strange, Kelsey Ochs. Roll call: Dunahee, yes; Hatcher, yes; Darrough, yes; Wiley, yes; Leib, yes; Harris.

8. Motion, Harris seconded by Darrough, to re-employ third year teachers Paul Jennings, Dirk Hockman, Avery Williams, Samantha Payne, Mekenzie Troyer, Curtis Ochs, Tatiana Schlief, Kali Strong, Kari Thackrey. Roll call: Hatcher, yes; Dunahee, yes; Harris, yes; Leib, yes; Wiley, yes; Darrough, yes.

9. Motion, Hatcher seconded by Darrough, to re-employ full-time substitute Geb Borders. Roll Call: Wiley, yes; Hatcher, yes; Harris, yes; Leib, yes; Dunahee, yes; Darrough, yes.

10. Motion, Harris seconded by Leib, that the Board adopt the Resolution Reference the Dismissal of a Professional Educator Licensed (PEL) Employee for Kristen Duke as presented and that the superintendent be authorized and directed to deliver or cause to be delivered the Notice to the employees as specified in the Resolution. Roll Call: Darrough, yes; Wiley, yes; Leib, yes; Dunahee, yes; Harris, yes; Hatcher, yes.

11. Motion, Wiley seconded by Dunahee, that the Board adopt the Resolution Reference the Dismissal of a Professional Educator Licensed (PEL) Employee for Angela Vincent as presented and that the superintendent be authorized and directed to deliver or cause to be delivered the Notice to the employees as specified in the Resolution. Roll Call: Leib, yes; Darrough, yes; Wiley, yes; Hatcher, yes; Dunahee, yes; Harris, yes.

12. Motion, Hatcher seconded by Wiley, that the Board adopt the Resolution Reference the Dismissal of a Professional Educator Licensed (PEL) Employee for Carrie Durre as presented and that the superintendent be authorized and directed to deliver or cause to be delivered the Notice to the employees as specified in the Resolution. Roll Call: Harris, yes; Leib, yes; Wiley, yes; Hatcher, yes; Dunahee, yes; Darrough, yes.

13. Motion, Leib seconded by Harris, that the Board adopt the Resolution Reference the Dismissal of a Professional Educator Licensed (PEL) Employee for Jaryn Allen as presented and that the superintendent be authorized and directed to deliver or cause to be delivered the Notice to the employees as specified in the Resolution. Roll Call: Darrough yes; Hatcher, yes; Wiley, yes; Dunahee, yes; Leib, yes; Harris, yes.

14. Motion, Wiley seconded by Darrough, that the Board adopt the Resolution Reference the Dismissal of a Professional Educator Licensed (PEL) Employee for Keah Hartman as presented and that the superintendent be authorized and directed to deliver or cause to be delivered the Notice to the employees as specified in the Resolution. Roll Call: Harris, yes; Hatcher, yes; Dunahee, yes; Darrough, yes; Leib, yes; Wiley, yes.

15. Motion Dunahee seconded by Harris to re-employ fourth year teachers April Bryan, Rebecca Odle. Roll call: Wiley, yes; Hatcher, yes; Leib, yes; Harris, yes; Darrough, yes; Dunahee, yes.

16. Motion Leib seconded by Darrough, to re-employ part-time teachers John Upton, Lori Shehorn. Roll call: Wiley, yes; Darrough, yes; Hatcher, yes; Leib, yes; Harris yes; Dunahee, yes.

17. Motion Hatcher, seconded by Dunahee, to approve the extended contracts for Terry Branch-10 days; Dirk Hockman-10 days; Mekenzie Troyer-10 days; Kelli Massie-10 days; Rebecca Hertenstine-5 days; Miriam Young-5 days; and Corbin Roth, Kim Scarborough, Alana Johnson, and Kaylee Flood on an as needed basis. Roll call: Wiley, yes; Hatcher, yes; Leib, yes; Harris, yes; Darrough, yes; Dunahee, yes.

18. Motion Wiley seconded by Harris, to re-employ Heather Durre as Technology Coordinator, Tonya Behnke as Special Education Coordinator, Frank Lusk as Transportation Director/Mechanic, and Chet Allen as Maintenance Director with salaries as presented. Roll call: Leib, yes; Darrough, yes; Hatcher, yes; Wiley, yes; Dunahee, yes; Harris, yes.

19. Motion, Leib seconded by to re-employ Julie Pearce, Leslie Carder, Amy Leonard, Toby Pearce, Bob McNeely with salaries as presented. Roll call: Hatcher, yes; Leib, yes; Harris, yes; Darrough, yes; Wiley, yes; Dunahee, yes.

20. Motion Wiley seconded by Dunahee, to re-employ the following non-certified teaching assistants for the 2025-2026 school year: Chrissy Taylor, Rebecca Larch, Deirdre Klein, Wanda Schewe, Tammy Martin, Lauren Buchanan, Emily Blackwell, Diana Patterson, Amy Kitley, Holly Britton, Tammy Howe, Holly Burrow, Emma Taylor, Megan Hancock, Kristi Richards, Terah Waterman, Ashlyn Keller, Rashelle Brooker, Angela Wicke, Whitney Cox, Sabrina Freeman, Lauren Lehman, Jennifer Burrow, Emma Kitley, Becky Woods, Debbie Coble, Kimberly Welty, Nikki Masters, Angelina Hemrich, Lori Callahan. Roll call: Wiley, yes; Hatcher, yes; Leib, yes; Harris, yes; Darrough, yes; Dunahee, yes.

21. Motion Hatcher, seconded by Darrough, to adopt the resolution approving the honorable release of Pre-K Coordinator/Parent Educator Emily Glassford, Pre K PI Supervisor/Parent Educator Natalie Kizzire, Pre-K Parent Educator Kelsey Honeyman, Pre-K Parent Educator Bristol Burroughs. Roll call: Harris, yes; Wiley, yes; Dunahee, yes; Darrough, yes; Leib, yes; Hatcher, yes.

22. Motion Leib seconded by Harris, to approve the non-contract/non-certified wages for 2025-2026 as presented. Roll Call: Hatcher, yes; Wiley, yes; Harris, yes; Dunahee, yes; Darrough, yes; Leib, yes.

23. Motion Leib seconded by Harris, to approve the superintendent contract for Joel Hackney as presented. Roll Call: Wiley, yes; Hatcher, yes; Leib, yes; Harris, yes; Darrough, yes; Dunahee, yes.

24. Motion Darrough seconded by, to employ Robin Price as full-time custodian sub effective March 10, 2025. Roll Call: Leib, yes; Hatcher, yes; Darrough, yes; Harris, yes; Wiley, yes; Dunahee, yes.

25. Motion Hatcher seconded by Dunahee, to accept the resignation submitted by Brooke O’Donnell as Pep Club Sponsor effective the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Roll Call: Leib, yes; Harris, yes; Wiley, yes; Darrough, yes; Dunahee, yes; Hatcher, yes.

26. Motion Leib seconded by Wiley, to accept the resignation submitted by Sarah Stevens as junior high teacher effective the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Roll Call: Dunahee, yes; Hatcher, yes; Harris, yes; Wiley, yes; Darrough, yes; Leib, yes.

27. Motion Hatcher seconded by Harris, to accept the resignation submitted by Mandy Thomson and Anna Maloy as high school basketball/competitive cheerleading sponsors. Roll Call: Darrough, yes; Harris, yes; Leib, yes; Hatcher, yes; Dunahee, yes; Wiley, yes.

28. Motion Wiley seconded by Dunahee, to accept the resignation submitted by Josh Fox as head high school girls’ basketball coach. Roll Call: Wiley, yes; Hatcher, yes; Leib, yes; Harris, yes; Darrough, yes; Dunahee, yes.

29. Motion Dunahee seconded by Darrough to employ Maggie Woomer as MTSS teacher at Flora High School for the 25-26 school year contingent on obtaining proper licensure. Roll Call: Leib, yes; Darrough, yes; Hatcher, yes; Wiley yes; Harris, yes; Dunahee, yes.

30. Motion Hatcher seconded by Wiley, to employ Alex Beckham as physical education teacher for the 25-26 school year. Roll Call: Harris, yes; Dunahee, yes; Wiley, yes; Hatcher, yes; Leib, yes; Dunahee, yes.

31. Motion Leib seconded by Hatcher, to approve Felicia Fopay as high school basketball/competitive cheer coach for the 2025-2026 season. Roll Call: Dunahee, yes; Harris, yes; Wiley, yes; Leib, yes; Hatcher, yes; Darrough, yes.

32. Motion Dunahee seconded by Darrough, to accept the resignation submitted by Mallory Hodge effective the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Roll Call: Leib, yes; Darrough, yes; Hatcher, yes; Wiley; yes; Dunahee, yes; Harris, yes.

33. Motion Wiley seconded by Dunahee, to approve Penny Grubaugh the intent to retire as paraprofessional at the end of the 2024-2025 school year. Roll Call: Wiley, yes; Hatcher, yes; Leib, yes; Harris, yes; Darrough, yes; Dunahee, yes.

35. Motion Leib, seconded by Harris, to adjourn the meeting at (7:58 p.m.). All ayes. Motion carried. Unanimous

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