Superintendent Dan Foster submitted a quote for a new sound system for the auditorium. The entire auditorium, including lighting, has been renovated during the last few years and the sound system is the final project for the auditorium. The current system is 20 years old. Jubilee Sound (Mark Hoffman) submitted a quote and has worked with the school's drama and music departments for many years, actually running the system during many events. After discussion, the board voted to approve the entire quote as submitted.

BR Bleachers and Lee Company submitted quotes to replace the motors on the elementary gym bleachers. After discussion, approved the quote from BR Bleachers as presented.

Foster reported the current camera system was installed in November of 2015. At that time there were 39 cameras covering the inside of the middle/high school building. Since then some cameras have been added in the elementary school and several covering the parking lot and campus entrances, bringing the total number of cameras to 48. The current system only supports 48 cameras, so the school is at its limit. The new proposal will bring an additional camera server into the corporation and increase its licensing to allow for an unlimited number of cameras on the system and an unlimited number of concurrent users logged into the system at any one time. This will allow the school corporation to add more cameras as needed and allow more users (such as law enforcement) access to the system. The old server will not be removed from the system. The plan will be to move the MS/HS cameras to the new server and leave the parking lot and elementary cameras on the older server to balance out the load on the system. The new server is designed to provide great performance and has enough storage to archive videos for a minimum of 30 days. The quote from Presidio is for hardware and licensing only. The school will do the installation. After discussion, the board approved the camera system as presented.

In other business, Foster presented the LAJSSC (Logansport Area Joint Special Services Co-op) dissolution agreement and the shared services agreement pertaining to the dissolution. Pending no major changes at the LAJSSC board meeting (June 18), he recommended approval. Foster explained the dissolution process. After discussion, the board voted to approve the dissolution agreement and shared services agreement as presented, pending no major changes at the June 18 board meeting.

High school graduating seniors Laiyn Stevens and Cheyenne Hurlburt were selected as the first and second alternates, respectively, for the Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation School Board Scholarship. Alyssa Cornwell is this year’s recipient.

 

Personnel:

Retirements/Resignations/Terminations:

  • Elementary school teacher Jane Dilts submitted her resignation for the purpose of retirement after 43 total years of teaching; 34 of those years at Eastern Pulaski. Mrs. Dilts was presented with a plaque and wished well.
  • Elementary school teacher Barbara Hickle submitted her resignation for the purpose of retirement after 41 years as a second grade teacher at Eastern Pulaski. Mrs. Hickle was presented with a plaque and wished well.
  • Bus driver Candi Reutebuch submitted her resignation for the purpose of retirement after 33 years of bus driving at Eastern Pulaski. Mrs. Reutebuch was not present, but received a plaque for her years of service and wished well.
  • Elementary school teacher Cathy DeFries submitted her resignation. She has secured employment closer to her new home.
  • Elementary school secretary Leslie Link submitted her resignation to take other employment.

Employments:

  • High school physical education teacher Sandi DeSabatine was recommended, due to the large number of students in summer school, for an additional summer school physical education teacher.
  • Tom Elliott was recommended for the open Industrial Technology (Project Lead the Way) teaching position. Mr. Elliott comes highly recommended and was most recently teaching at Peru High School.
  • Sharon Field was recommended for an open elementary school teaching position. Mrs. Field was most recently teaching at North Judson.
  • Heather Kasten was recommended for an open elementary school teaching position. Mrs. Kasten was most recently teaching at Logansport.
  • Michelle Miller was recommended for high school chemistry. Mrs. Miller was most recently teaching at Rensselaer High School.
  • Francesca Niewiadomski was recommended for high school English. She is a recent graduate of St. Mary’s College.
  • Derrick Stalbaum was recommended for eighth-grade math. Mr. Stalbaum was most recently teaching at Rensselaer.

Contract Extensions

It was recommended to extend the contracts of athletic director Bill Ball, elementary school principal Jill Collins, and middle school principal Ryan Dickinson by one year; and to add 10 days to new high school principal Jeremy Tucker’s contract.

Middle School Extra Curricular Positions

Principal Ryan Dickinson recommended Emma Myers, John King, Cody Hook, Erica Richwine, Candace Anliker (1/2) and Elaina Sutton (1/2) for the 2019-20 Leadership Council.

Athletic director Bill Ball recommended the following for middle school football: Ed Shank, Gerry Pratt, Chad Watts, and Josh Attinger.

Foster shared that Allison Stanton has requested and been approved for an internal transfer from high school English to fifth grade. Christen Shell has requested and been approved for an internal transfer from high school secretary to elementary school secretary.

After discussion, the board voted to approve all personnel items as presented.

Teacher Pam Burger was recognized with a retirement plaque after 38 years at Eastern Pulaski and total of 41 years in education. Teacher Lynn Darda was recognized with a retirement plaque after 28 years at Eastern Pulaski and a total of 32 in education. They both previously submitted their retirement requests and were both wished well.

 

Additional Items:

The first reading of School Board Policy Section 522 – Homeless Students: Enrollment Rights and Services, was presented. This policy has been created to comply with ESSA. The policy states that to the extent practical and as required by law, the corporation will work with homeless students and their families to provide stability in school attendance and other services.Boys varsity basketball coach Alan Huggler submitted an overnight field trip request to take the team to Indiana Wesleyan to attend a “super hoops” camp June 21- 23. After discussion, the board approved the trip as presented.

After discussion, the board approved the Food, Supplies, and Commodities of HPS (Hospital Purchasing Services) with Gordon Food Services as the distributor; Dairy with Prairie Farms; Produce with Piazza Produce; and Bakery with Aunt Milley’s Bakery. All proposals were run through the Northern Indiana Educational Service Center (NIESC). Foster explained that the produce bid is to be approved pending appropriate resubmittal documentation from NIESC.

Britni Fritz made donation of $1,080 to middle school athletics in memory of Owen Abbott. After the scoreboard was damaged in a windstorm, insurance was going to cover the cost of a new one; however, an anonymous donation was made to assist the corporation in upgrading the look and style of the scoreboard. After discussion, the board approved the donations as presented.

Foster reported the school corporation has a dormant bank account in danger of being closed due to inactivity. He recommended to close the dormant account and put the funds into the school's current account. After discussion, the board approved the closing of the bank account as presented.

Foster presented a list of items to declare as surplus/junk and to dispose of them properly. After discussion, the board gave its approval.

Foster gave a financial report for the period ending May 31, 2019. After discussion, the board approved all claims as presented.

Foster also reported on the following:

  • He recently met with Rieth-Riley and Jim Stevens to go over asphalt issues – specifically cracks. Stevens submitted a proposal to fix the issues to Rieth-Riley and is now awaiting a response.
  • He has been working to get supplies for Reunification Kits for emergencies. One critical aspect of crisis response is accountable reunification of students with their parents or guardians in the event of a school crisis or emergency. These kits help with the transition. They are being distributed to the buildings.

During board comment the following were commended: the retiring employees and Mr. Hoffman.

  
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Local News Briefs

Indiana Election Division to perform voter list maintenance

In the absence of an election in 2025, the Indiana Election Division will perform routine voter list maintenance in an effort to maintain accurate voter rolls, reports Pulaski County Clerk JoLynn Behny.

 Beginning mid-May, registered voters with an “active” voter status will receive the first in a series of two postcards to verify the registered voter’s correct address. If the information on the post card is correct, the registered voter does not need to take any action.

I-65 to have overnight lane closures near State Road 14

 JASPER COUNTY - Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Rieth-Riley Construction will have overnight lane closures on I-65 from mile marker 217 to 223 (between SR 10 and SR 114) beginning on or after Monday, May 12.

I-65 will be reduced to one lane in the area where work is occurring during the overnight hours of approximately 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Work will be ongoing through mid-October.

Spring property taxes due Monday, May 12

Pulaski County taxpayers are reminded by the Pulaski County Treasurer's Office that the spring installment of property taxes are due Monday, May 12.

The taxes may be paid at the County Building (Rm. 307) or County Highway Garage in Winamac, or at several banks around the county.

PMH seeks community input identifying health needs of local communities

Survey deadline May 17

WINAMAC - Pulaski Memorial Hospital has announced the launch of its 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, a comprehensive initiative aimed at identifying and addressing the most pressing health needs of our local communities.

“Community feedback is essential” said Hospital CEO Steve Jarosinski. ”PMH will be gathering input from residents, local organizations, community leaders, and even other area healthcare professionals to better understand the health challenges and opportunities across the region.”

PCPL lists activities, programs for May

The Pulaski County Public Library has listed its programs and activities for May. They include restorative yoga classes, adult canvas painting, and the opening celebration of the Story Trail at the park.

For more information on any program, call the library at 574-946-3432 or visit the library’s website at www.pulaskicounty.lib.in.us. 

  

Indiana News

Gov. Braun signs HB1144

INDIANAPOLIS (May 6) – Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has signed HB1144 which will make some adjustments in the state’s court systems.

Pulaski Superior Court and seven other rural courts have been spared from closure, following revisions made late last month to the proposed bill approved by both the state house and senate April 24 in the Indiana General Assembly.

Northwest Indiana Forum hosts legislative wrap-up

CHESTERTON (May 2) – The Northwest Indiana Forum welcomed over 90 members for its annual Legislative Wrap-Up event Friday featuring bipartisan legislators from Northwest Indiana.

An engaging and informative panel discussion with the six key state lawmakers reflected on the 2025 Indiana General Assembly session and its impact on the region.

Pulaski County March unemployment rate drops to 3.1%

Pulaski County's unemployment rate dropped to 3.1 percent in March, down from 4.3 percent in February, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development reported Monday, (April 21). The rate was 3.7 percent a year ago.

The county had 6,586 employed persons in a labor force of 6,795 in March. In February those numbers were 6,533 of 6,830. A year ago the numbers were 6,302 of 6.546.

 

Indiana Health News

Measles out break in 29 states continues to be of concern

The U.S Center for Disease Control continues to monitor the growing outbreak of measles in the U.S. which is approaching 1,000 cases in 29 states.

Eight cases have were reported in the Indiana last month, all in Allen County. No additional cases have been reported in the state since that time.

  

Post News

PCELN works to build infrastructure for quality childcare in Pulaski County

Pulaski County Early Learning Network (PCELN) is working to ensure families in Pulaski County have access to affordable, quality childcare.

The network notes that many different groups in the county community must come together to address this critical need. Access to high-quality early childhood education means that children are more likely to build a foundation for success in school and life.

West Central School Board honored by Indiana School Boards Association

FRANCESVILLE - The West Central School Corporation School Board has been recognized by the Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) with an Exemplary Governance Award (EGA) for calendar year 2024 for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to student success and professional learning.

Only 124 school boards in the State of Indiana earned awards through the EGA program this year.

Economic Summit addresses county's financial health, state budget

'Making a place where we choose to live'
With a major restoration of the county courthouse nearing completion and a host of additional business and community projects under development, the mood was upbeat at the annual Pulaski County Economic Development Summit Tuesday (April 29). The event is hosted by the Pulaski County Community Development Commission.

CDC executive director Nathan Origer gave updates on projects and county economics, while keynote speaker Stephanie Wells, president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute, reviewed legislation from this year's session of the Indiana General Assembly.

BraunAbility to expand Winamac facilities with new product line

WINAMAC - BraunAbility has announced a $3.8 million investment in its Winamac operations to support production of the new BraunAbility Ram ProMaster.

This funding will cover land acquisition, land work, fencing, drainage and building improvements. Construction, utilizing local contractors, will continue through Spring 2026.

Marlatt, Vanderkleed join IBA 40-Year Club

FRANCESVILLE - Alliance Bank has recently recognized Kimberly Marlatt and Lori Vanderkleed with membership into the 40-Year Club of the Indiana Bankers Association (IBA).

The club recognizes banking professionals who have completed 40 years or more of service to the Indiana banking community. Inductees are given IBA keepsakes and letters of congratulations.