Dickinson has served the past four years as assistant middle school principal and athletic director at Bremen schools. He taught middle school for 13 years at Knox and Speedway schools.

Dickinson is not new to the Pulaski County community. He is a graduate of West Central High School and the son of former West Central school superintendent Roger Dickinson. He earned his bachelor's degree from Ball State University, and his administrative license from Indiana Wesleyan University. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman told the board that Dickinson has a "wealth of experience and training" in many state and national initiatives, is well versed in technology, and has a tremendous record of student academic improvement by focusing on students and student needs, based on data.

Klitzman also said an extensive hiring process was used in the search for a new middle school principal, including involvement of faculty, staff, parents and administration. Dickinson succeeds principal Stan Good who has retired following a 25-year career as middle school principal at Winamac.

Sutton is a graduate of Butler University with an education degree in instrumental and vocal music.  She has two-years teaching experience. Her position will be part-time. She is a graduate of Winamac Community High School. She succeeds Micah Combs who resigned his position to pursue opportunities in his family's business.

The board also hired three new elementary school teachers. They include:

•  Shannon Foerg Burgess, who has six years teaching experience and brings experience in many of the assessment programs used at EPES, and is also well versed in technology. She is a graduate of Winamac Community High School (salutatorian), and of Franklin College.
• Kristine Goodman, who has five years teaching experience and was a long-term substitute at Winamac this past year. She is a graduate of West Central High School and Purdue University, and also holds a degree in family studies and psychology.
• Emily Keller, who is a graduate of Culver Community Schools and IUPUI. She has a background in many facets of elementary school education; this is her first teaching position.

The EPCS special education cooperative has hired Jennie Williams to fill the open special education teaching position at the elementary school. Mrs. Williams is a graduate of Pioneer High School and Ball State with a degree in elementary education and special education. She has two years of experience at North White, as part of the cooperative.

The board also approved administrative contracts, as presented.

During his report to the board, Klitzman said the state department of education has released a portion of the ISTEP+ data. Based on the numbers, each building showed improvement, and outstanding scores in many cases. Klitzman highlighted the available scores.

Klitzman also reported that summer projects are continuing, with the changeover to digital controls from pneumatic in the high school, and work on more classrooms. Also, work on installing projectors at the elementary school is continuing, along with replacement of a section of HVAC. Routine repairs and deep cleaning are also taking place.

Klitzman gave a financial report,  noting that all funds have positive balances, with one month left in the fiscal year.

In other business, Larry Hoover, Pulaski County's Homeland Security director, has been notified that the county needs access to a second loading/unloading dock for emergency situations. He has asked if the middle/high school can be used as the second location. The board approved the request, as submitted, with a memorandum of understanding being signed.

The board approved a recommendation from Klitzman to "outfit" one seventh-grade science classroom with iPads; 30 devices. The superintendent explained that the school is moving to more wireless computers for student learning purposes. He added that Dr. Darlene Gordon, seventh-grade science teacher, will teach the class and be a "great model/coach" for other teachers. The total cost (higher end) is approximately $12,000. The purchase will be funded through the Capital Projects Fund.

The board also approved the recommendation from Klitzman to share the cost with the athletic booster club of converting the schools' athletic scoreboards to "wireless." Klitzman explained that the athletic department, along with the boosters, had proposed the upgrading of the functionality of the scoreboards (football, basketball [which includes volleyball and wrestling], baseball and soccer). The total cost for this conversion project is $8,600. In the past, such projects have been split 50/50 with the school corporation paying half the cost. Funds are available in Capital Projects for athletic facilities.

The school board selected Jenna Wicker and Morgan Parish as the first and second alternates, respectively, for the Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation School Board Scholarship. Blake Tolson is this year's recipient.

Bus driver Janet Haschel was approved for retirement. She has driven for EPCS for 16 years, with driving experience at another school before that.

Baseball coach Mark Hendryx submitted his resignation for retirement after 15 years. He will continue as an assistant coach in the football program. He has served as a lay coach in several different sports over the years.

The board re-appointed Mary Ann Finke to another term on the Pulaski County Public Library board, upon the recommendation of library administrator McKenzie Ledley.

Dairy and bakery bids were accepted through the school corporation's cooperative service center again this year. Klitzman explained this not only saves the cost of advertising, it pools several schools together, resulting in better prices. The lowest and best bids were provided by Schenkel for dairy and Aunt Millie for bakery products.

During public comment, Jim Fleury commended the school on its preliminary ISTEP+ scores.

The next regular school board meeting will be at 5:30 p.m., Monday, July 9, in the school's distance learning lab.