Leverenz is a native of Monticello and graduated from Twin Lakes High School. He is a physical education and health education graduate of Purdue University. He has taught and coached at Twin Lakes, Logansport and Delphi schools. He has also served as GLC Coordinator at Garrett Keyser Butler Community Schools.
Personnel items
The school board also took action on many other personnel matters at the meeting.
The board approved the retirement requests of sixth-grade teacher Ron Nies, and instructional assistant Deb Straw.
Resignations were accepted from the following:
- Amanda Kister – developmental preschool
- Marilyn Newman – sixth grade
- Becky Abbey – bus driver
- Kari Johnson – sixth grade
Employment recommendations were approved for the following:
- Taylor Huber – sixth grade
- Ashley Prater – second grade
- Kacey Kodel – developmental preschool
- Anthony Hall – fourth grade
- Douglas Demoss – maintenance
- Patricia Roberts – custodian (8 hours)
Transfers were approved for:
- Dana Field to sixth grade
- Bryce Kappes to sixth grade
- Vicki Fawley from part-time cafeteria/part-time custodian to full-time custodian
- Emma Myers to computer science
A maternity leave request was approved for Emily Hintz for the fall 2021 semester.
The board also approved summer school teachers and 2021-22 extra-curricular positions.
Additional business
Superintendent Dara Chezem reported to the board that the school corporation applied, and was approved for a portion of the ESSR (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) grants to be paid out to staff for the duties performed “above and beyond” (due to COVID) what would typically be required during a normal school year. The school board approved providing classified staff an amount per semester prorated for hours worked (up $800 depending on semesters and hours) as a thank you for they did to help students and each other through the past year.
The board approved a flexibility resolution waiver which will allow EPCS to apply for a waiver that allows the school corporation the flexibility to track the school year in instructional minutes rather than instructional days per student. Chezem explained that currently the elementary students attend 360 minutes per day, and the middle/high school students attend 405 minutes per day. EPCS provides 10,800 minutes of instruction over the required 54,000 minutes to the elementary students and 8,100 minutes over the required 64,800 minutes for the middle/high school students. Even with personnel development time, EPCS is meeting the required minutes.
The board also:
Approved an Eagle Scout proposal for the outdoor lab.
Held first reading of corporation handbooks.
Approved textbook fees and food service awards.
Approved an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with Eastern Pulaski Teachers Association.
Approved overnight field trips and non-school group trip request.
Heard principals’ and superintendent’s reports.
