Richmond Community Schools discussed a variety of topics during its April 10 work session and April 24 meeting.
Personnel updates
Among several personnel items approved, the board approved resignations of Jamie Bolser, chief financial/human resources officer, effective April 26, and Randall Kerns, RHS varsity head football coach and social studies teacher.
Bolser is taking a job with Indiana Department of Local Government Finance and was thanked for her service.
Bolser presented results from the district’s 2024 employee retention survey. Of the approximately 250 employees who responded, 61% reported satisfaction and 34% were somewhat satisfied. About 4% more said they were satisfied than last year. Reasons for concerns included student discipline/behavior and a lack of effective communication.
Board compensation
With a 4-3 vote, the board approved an increase to its per diem compensation after a second reading of the amended bylaw to match the state’s maximum pay for school boards.
John Weber, Nicole Stults, Kristen Brunton and Kym Pickering voted yes. Aaron Stevens, Pete Zaleski and Austin Brann voted no.
As of March 13, members will receive $150 for each regular public meeting attended and $75 for special public meetings, executive sessions or committee meetings attended by one or more board members.
Unanimous approvals
The board unanimously approved several items, including a memorandum of understanding between RCS and the Richmond Education Association teachers’ union regarding the 2023-2025 master contract. The amendment seeks to clarify the placement schedule for newly hired teachers for the 2024-25 school year, ensuring a newly hired teacher won’t have a starting salary exceeding the experience and degree level of a teacher hired before 2023-2024 unless the teachers didn’t get a salary increase because of an “ineffective” or “needs improvement” evaluation rating.
The board also approved an agreement with New Jersey-based Orange Grove Therapy LLC for virtual speech and language pathology services across RCS in 2024-25.
Orange Grove will provide an estimated minimum of 187.5 service hours per week at $76 per hour for the 36-week school year. Two professional days (at least one prior to school starting) would be $6,840. The service coordination fee is $685 per month.
Other approvals included a bid for Richmond High School’s library roof ($568,000 from Chomel & Sons), plans to advertise Fairview Elementary structural repairs, Richmond Symphony Orchestra’s request for Cordial Cork to offer a toast its season at its May 11 concert; and to pay employees for April 8 when RCS schools were closed for the eclipse.
Policies
The board conducted first readings of several policies, including those on public participation at board meetings, nondiscrimination and equal employment opportunity, employment of administrators in addition to the superintendent, staff-student relations, use of social media, transportation for field trips and other corporation-sponsored trips, insurance, citizens’ advisory committees, corporation-support organizations and relations with special interest groups.
The board’s next work session will be at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at 300 Hub Etchison Parkway, Richmond. The public may attend.
A version of this article appeared in the May 1 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.