Northeastern celebrates its IREAD scores

At their Aug. 20 meeting, Northeastern Wayne Schools board celebrated the reading test scores for its second and third graders. 

On the 2024-25 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination assessment, Northeastern Elementary earned a 100% general education pass rate; 93.1% of all students passed.

During the meeting, Interim Superintendent Jennifer O’Brien acknowledged and celebrated the work of the second grade team. Eighty-eight percent of NES’ second graders passed. That was double the number who passed the previous year. 

Targeted support has already started for the 12% of NES students who need to pass as third graders. 

In other business

Board approval items included:

• An affiliation agreement with Ball State University for student teachers at no cost to NWS.
• Updated versions of NWS’ crisis plan and employee handbook. No significant changes were made.
• An amended and restated joint services agreement for East Central Indiana Special Services District. Other members are Western Wayne, Union County and Franklin County. The cooperative collaborates to offer student therapies and professional development for staff, which helps rural schools secure staffing and save money.
• An updated policy that expands discussion topics eligible for executive sessions to match the new state law.
• Permission to advertise the 2026 budget.

All votes were 4-0 as Kim Claypoole was absent.

Personnel updates

• Departures: Maria Tinkle, NHS assistant principal; Kraig Rose, NHS teacher and sponsor for Model Legislature, Gay-Straight Alliance and yearbook; Matt Tucker, NMS counselor; Kayla Bloomfield and Madison Sindle, NWS food services; Crystal Russell, bus driver, custodial; Jill Stephen, NHS building substitute; Heather Hemmelgarn, NMS instructional assistant
• New hires: Rebecca Ramsey, NMS math intervention teacher; Mary Hannah, NES instructional assistant; Courtney Scherer, NELC Latchkey; William Doggett, NMS instructional assistant; Christy Schearer, NWS food services
• Change in status: Alexis Dean, from instructional assistant at NES to substitute teacher; Samantha Comiso, part-time to full-time NES instructional assistant; Angela Falcone, NES PK part-time instructional assistant to substitute teacher and substitute administrative assistant
• Extra duty stipend: Heather Smith, NWS career coach
• Extracurricular activities: Kristy Anderson, NHS sophomore class sponsor; James Nelson, senior class sponsor and English/language arts academic coach; Julia Coryea and Mike Keesling, senior class sponsors; Mark Bevins, NHS mentor teacher and NMS academic team sponsor; Megan Moreland, NHS mentor teacher; Allison McCumons, NHS FFA; Martha Wilson, Spanish Club; Meghan Scales, seventh grade team lead, NMS/NHS Multi-Tiered System of Supports leader, sponsors of NMS academic team and National Junior Honor Society; Steve Luebbe, NWS public relations leader; Helen Lennon, NHS Drama Club volunteer; Andrea Cole, NHS stage production coordinator; Andrea Cole, NHS/NMS Drama Clubs; Meg Hinkey, NHS Culture; Brittani Reno, NMS yearbook; team leads: Alan Avery, eighth, and Sara Williams, sixth; Arden Davis, NMS Spell Bowl; Angelina Breitenbach, NMS Culture lead; Abigail Coffey, NHS Model Legislature; Madison Farris, NHS assistant varsity/JV volleyball coach; Brooklyn Taylor, volunteer volleyball coach; Alyssa Kettler, NHS assistant varsity cheer coach