Northeastern adjusts school bell times

Some Northeastern students will start school at a different time this fall. 

Early Learning Center doors will open at 7:55 a.m. before the 8 a.m. start time. End time is 2:45 p.m.

Elementary doors will open at 8:10 a.m. before 8:25 a.m. classes. Their day will end at 3:10 p.m., when car riders are dismissed. Bus dismissal will be at 3:15 p.m.

Middle and high school students can enter at 8:15 a.m. and classes begin at 8:30 a.m. The end time is 3:30 p.m.

Superintendent Matthew Hicks said the change should help make the school day start and end more smoothly for various ages. 

Young kids were waiting about 20 minutes on buses for older students to finish their school day. Some elementary students were acting out on the bus because of boredom, Hicks said. 

In other business

• Food: Lunch prices were set for 2024-2025. They are $2.75, elementary; $3, middle/high school; $4.75, adults. The board approved a purchasing contract with Food2School for products. Northeastern still staffs its own food service. 
• Pay: The board approved a 2% pay increase for those on contracts such as administrators, directors of transportation and food service and the district’s mechanic. Hourly workers’ wages increased at least 2%, although increases were a little higher for some positions such as custodians and bus drivers to help with employee recruitment and retention. Custodians will make at least $14 per hour and bus drivers’ pay increased from $85 to $100 per day. 

The board approved a 7% increase in salary for Hicks. He’s a year behind in receiving increases after teacher contracts are bargained. Teachers received a 7% raise in 2023-24. Hicks will receive a 2% increase next year. 

• Technology: NWS chose a vendor to purchase the district’s iPads. It will pay a minimum of $150,000 and maximum of $230,000 after grading each device’s condition. Students will receive new iPads this fall, costing $279 each ($476,000 total). Meraki will receive $75,000 for switch licenses for internet connections out of the rainy day fund.
• Instruction: The board approved a pilot course called “Knights Who Belong, Grow and Contribute” for Northeastern High School. Mitch Lawson and Kraig Rose developed the curriculum plan to help students be more present in class and engaged in learning, set goals and priorities, practice good digital citizenship and develop career pathway prospects of interest.
• Administration: Hicks was part of a group of school leaders called Principal Recovery Network who went to Washington, D.C., on June 12-13 to advocate for more funding and additional support following school shootings. Hicks was the assistant principal at Noblesville West Middle School when a shooting occurred there a few years ago. 

Rebecca Harrell, who runs Northeastern’s preschool and is de facto director of special education, is now an administrator.

Personnel

New hires

• Taylor Bane, custodian
• Derek Schunk – NHS teacher
• Ashley Byer – NHS teacher
• Jamie Buhl – NES teacher (temporary contract for a leave of absence)
• Gillian Archer- NMS teacher

Departures

• Claudia Banks, district administrative assistant
• Matt Haynes, tennis coach 
• Kylie Morningstar and Anna Cerda, Northeastern Early Learning Center teaching assistants
• Megan Nolte, NMS permanent sub

Updates

• Kristy Anderson – increase contract days (182 to 184)
• Rebecca Harrell – change to administration position