Nettle Creek’s school board approved a new student organization, extracurricular activities and agreements with community partners at its Wednesday, Sept. 10, meeting.
Activities
Superintendent Emily Schaeffer recommended approval of the new Junior Tiger Ambassadors club. Students are to be empowered to represent their peers, foster leadership, promote school spirit and contribute meaningfully to both the school and the community.
Through service, collaboration and personal growth, student ambassadors are to embody values of responsibility, empathy and teamwork.
FFA received permission for its annual fruit and beef stick sale that adds soy candles this year. Funds will be used for a new lemon shake-up trailer, general chapter expenses and service projects. Members will attend FFA’s national convention in Indianapolis Oct. 29-Oct. 31. Through fundraising, the chapter aims to cover students’ registration fees and food once they’ve paid dues.
Partnerships
The board approved agreements/memorandums of understanding with three organizations:
Ivy Tech Community College will allow Nettle Creek to offer 26 college credit courses at Hagerstown High School, taught by HHS teachers credentialed through Ivy Tech to teach them. Nettle Creek offers the Indiana College Core (30 credit hours) accepted by state colleges, typically saving at least one year of college tuition. The agreement also included an agri-science plant and animals course.
Indiana University East creates early-in pathways for students interested in education.
Centerstone will provide social services to students.
The board tabled a contractual agreement with Reid Health regarding athletic trainers.
Buses
The board approved bids to order two 78-passenger buses to be received in 2027. Schaeffer said locking in now would avoid price increases. The general obligation bond pays for the buses.
Policies
The board conducted a first reading of policies including homework, free/reduced price meals, Title I parent/family engagement, programs for students with disabilities; school-sponsored publications and productions, school trips and privately sponsored activities, withdrawal from school corporation support organizations and public records.
After second readings, policies were adopted on topics including distracted driving, curricular material adoption, programs for high-ability students, college/university programs, gifts/donations, time and effort, debt management, facility/transportation safety and reserves and liquidity.
Personnel
Karry Young, was hired as sub bus driver.
Next meetings
The board was to meet again Tuesday, Sept. 16, starting with a 5:30 p.m. work session for the budget. At 6:25, a collective bargaining public hearing was to begin, followed by an additional board meeting at 6:30 for budget purposes.
The October meeting has been delayed one week because of fall break. It will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15.
All meetings are at Hagerstown Elementary, 299 N. Sycamore St., Hagerstown. The public may attend.
Nettle Creek pursues $1M prize
Hagerstown High School is participating in the T-Mobile Friday Night 5G Lights program in hopes of winning a $1 million athletics facility upgrade. To assist, readers can post on social media, tagging Hagerstown Tigers Athletic Department and T-Mobile pages and including hashtags #FN5GL and #sweepstakes.
A version of this article appeared in the September 17 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.