Northeastern hired an elementary assistant principal and finalized the contract for its new assistant superintendent.

Kailey Abner will join current Northeastern Elementary Principal Tierney Stevenson in building leadership.

Abner is a graduate of Richmond High School (2014) and Indiana University East (2017). She covered a maternity leave in Connersville before having her own classroom at Fairview Elementary in Richmond and then at Centerville-Abington’s Rose Hamilton Elementary.

New Northeastern Elementary Assistant Principal Kailey Abner (left) is pictured with Northeastern Elementary Principal Tierney Stevenson. Supplied
Jennifer O’Brien

As previously announced, Jennifer O’Brien is moving from NES assistant principal to assistant superintendent. O’Brien previously worked for Richmond Community Schools for about 20 years as a teacher, principal, chief human resources officer, assistant superintendent and interim superintendent.

Other building administrator contracts were extended until June 2027.

Approved items

  • A memorandum of understanding with Richmond Family YMCA for morning latchkey services
  • An additional preschool classroom
  • Seventy-four transfer tuition applications for preschool through grade 10.
  • Several handbook updates, such as at the elementary, vehicles in the car line must be turned off because of fumes entering adjacent classrooms, and it’s also a no smoking/vaping zone. Morning latchkey begins at 7 a.m.; students not attending latchkey can’t be dropped off before 8:10 a.m. The middle school handbook includes updates on topics such as late work, tardies, athletic eligibility, cheating/plagiarism and dance attendance. It bans pajamas and writing/drawing on skin, shoes or clothing.
  • Meal prices and a charge policy for 2025-26. Student lunches will be $2.80 (elementary) and $3.05 (middle/high); breakfast is $2.30. Milk is 55 cents. Adult lunches are $4.80. Students can charge up to $20. They will be given an alternate lunch after reaching that limit until charges are paid.
  • Updated comprehensive curriculum from Girls Inc. of Wayne County for puberty and sex education to meet new state requirements.
  • A $29,216 contract for i-Ready assessment and personalized instruction reading for grades K-8 and related teacher toolbox for reading and writing.
  • A $22,393.75 quote for IXL Learning site license subscription renewals for English/language arts for grades 2-12, math for grades 2-6 and 8-12, and social studies for grades 5-8.
  • A contract with Whitewater Valley REMC for electricity
  • Adding annual sick and personal days for noncertified contracted employees. Sick days are increasing from five or seven to eight, and personal days from two to four.
  • Increasing substitute teacher pay from $80 to $95 daily. Certified teacher substitutes will receive $125 daily.

Personnel

  • Hires: Kalib Parsley, band director and instrumental music teacher; Caitilin Gilland, kindergarten teacher; Paige Reed, seventh grade science teacher. Summer: Taylor Bane and Nicholas Markward, custodial; Cameron Fetta, information technology.
  • Departures: Geneva Price, Kimberly Markiewicz, Alexandra Meinsen, Brooklyn Harris and Alexis Reynolds
  • Changes: Olivia Detweiler, transferring from NES to NMS; Wes Oler, moving to half-time teacher
  • Additional summer roles: Matthew Haynes, NHS Edgenuity supervision. Custodial: Cait Gilland, Kimberly Mayberry, Dakota Gibson and Phyllis May.
  • Extracurricular: Summer: Kalib Parsley, band director; Madeline Harris, Damsels instructor; Alyssa Williams, Damsels volunteer; Brent Ross, boys basketball; Cody Dudley, girls basketball; Wes Oler, football. Kevin Cool and Allison McCumons, supervised agriculture experience sponsors; Sara Williams, sixth grade department chair; Al Avery, eighth grade department chair; Carrie Mitchell, Student Council co-sponsor
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A version of this article appeared in the July 2 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.