Annual Organizations, Appointments, and Adopting of Rates

Whitko School Board Members and Whitko Career AcademyPhoto byMelany Love

LARWILL-Following Whitko’s Board of Finance Meeting at 4pm on Wednesday, a Reorganization Meeting was held (also in the Lecture Room). For President, Georgia Tenney nominated Annette Arnold; this passed 4-1 with Lynn Studebaker voting against. Deb Thomas nominated Georgia Tenney for Vice President; this also passed 4-1 with Studebaker voting against. Finally, Thomas nominated Scott Werstler for Secretary, which also passed 4-1 with Studebaker voting against.

The regular meeting times and locations were briefly discussed and clarified, as there was a typo on the agenda; the school board voted unanimously to accept meetings on the third monday of each month at 6:30pm at the Whitko Career Academy lecture room (excepting the February meeting, which will be the fourth Monday of the month). Work sessions will be on the second Wednesday of each month at 4pm, generally meeting in the WCA TAP room, at WHJSHS in March and September, PES in April and October, and at SWES in May and November.

The school board voted unanimously to accept the annual salary of $2,000 (the maximum rate) and $27 per meeting (the maximum allowable rate is $112 for regular meetings, $62 for special, executive, or other meetings).

Other business unanimously accepted included appointing Lynn Leininger as Treasurer and purchasing agent and Shelley Monticue as Deputy Treasurer. Superintendent Tim Pivarnik and his administrative assistant Teresa Carrano were appointed as HIPPA privacy officers for the 2024 year. Carrano announced her candidacy for South Whitley Town Council (Cleveland Township district) in August of last year and is a current member of the South Whitley Redevelopment Commission and Facade Grant Committee. Bloom Gates Shipman and Whiteleather LLP of Columbia City was also unanimously accepted as the school board attorney for 2024. The school board agreed that the school board president, Annette Arnold, will appoint members to committees and/or organizations as necessary and also accepted volunteer Georgia Tenney as Indiana School Board Liaison to the Indiana School Board Association. Lastly, the school board adopted the Internal Revenue Service’s mileage rates for the use of cars, vans, pickups, or panel trucks (67-cents per mile).

A work session located in the TAP room followed the meeting. The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, January 15, at 6:30pm in the WCA lecture room.

Copy of Meeting AgendaPhoto byMelany Love

Author’s note: As an independent writer, my words are my own, for better or for worse (i.e. I have no editor or staff to help). While I make every effort to provide the most detailed and truthful reports, I am not educated in finance, politics, etc.; I am just an average concerned parent and community member doing my best to keep everyone informed.