190-foot tower could be installed at WWS

Western Wayne Schools’ board supports New Lisbon Broadband & Communications exploring placement of a 190-foot wireless tower on school property.

Superintendent Kelly Plank shared the request during the board’s Oct. 8 meeting. The tower likely would be north of Western Wayne Elementary near the test plot, so if it fell, it wouldn’t hit the school. Tapping into existing fiber around WWES makes that location ideal. NLBC will pursue soil testing.

Not exceeding 190 feet means lights and other maintenance aren’t needed. It would be in a 25-foot-by-25-foot area with an eight-foot locked fence.

In addition to expanding broadband access and improving speeds for town and rural areas within an 8-mile radius, including Pershing and Milton, the tower could also be used to enhance two-way radio communication for utility workers, schools and first responders.

Collective bargaining

WWS is finalizing its tentative agreement with the teachers’ association. The board will likely ratify it at the 5 p.m. Nov. 12 meeting, an hour earlier than usual because of the community Thanksgiving dinner.

Proposed changes include:

• Adjustments to some extracurricular pay, removing unfilled positions and adding pay for uncompensated current activities.
• WWS will pay new teachers Indiana’s required $45,000 minimum. Other teachers will see increases of 1.3-1.9%.
• Teachers completing Indiana’s literacy endorsement get $100 more base pay.
• Instead of allowing Plank to offer up to $10,000 for hard-to-fill positions, she can move two additional pay scale steps. Plank said $10,000 seemed too high since the district’s current pay spread is $20,000. Any higher offer would require the association’s support.

Budgets

The board voted to approve the 2026 capital projects plan; funds for education, debt service, operations, rainy day and retirement/severance bond funds; and the 2026-30 bus replacement plan.

Three-year capital projects plan goals include track resurfacing ($250,000); asphalt coat/seal/striping ($105,000); heating/ventilation/air conditioning repair parts ($50,000); and a walk-in freezer and cooler ($25,000 each). Target dates are July 2026 through June 2027.

In other business

• Western Wayne Elementary ran out of chocolate bars to sell in a week. Several incentives were offered; students selling five boxes sprayed silly string on principal Elizabeth Miller. About $6,000 was raised for student activities including field trips.
• Plank said teachers are training on the new ParentSquare communications system. Families are encouraged to download the app. Early feedback has been positive.
• The board approved a middle school softball club.
• Gift cards/items/themed baskets can be donated by Friday, Oct. 17, for the wrestling-themed Teacher Mania prom fundraiser at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. Wick’s Pies are being sold in October.

Donations

• Athletics: $500 each from MediCenter Pharmacy and Sugar Creek; $350 from Dot Foods.
• Rick Thomas Masonry: Time, labor and resources to clean limestone at tech office entrance.
• American Legion: $500, bowling; $250, football.
• Reid Health: $75, eighth grade Challenge Day.
• Sodexo: $1,500, homecoming trailers.

Personnel

• Hires: Thomas Draper, LHS English long-term sub; Michael Lathery, LHS National Honor Society; Jennifer Vance, Key Club; Sam Mercer, bowling. Coaches: Jeff and Randy Gwin, fifth/sixth grade boys basketball; Walker Banks, seventh grade girls basketball; Jennifer Vance, eighth grade girls basketball.