School in Session for Solar Eclipse, Ability to Access Agenda in Advance Argued

SOUTH WHITLEY-Although School Board Member Scott Werstler was not present at Wednesday’s Work Session, a total of five parents and community members attended, with three discussing issues with the board.

Superintendent Tim Pivarnik gave an update on the Jr/Sr High school remodel project, saying it’s “truly going along great,” but explaining that they were unable to tour it today because it wasn’t safe and there were holes that could be fallen into. School Board President Annette Arnold asked when the target date for completion is, and Pivarnik responded that he didn’t know, but they are on schedule. Arnold suggested next school year, and Pivarnik said probably the second semester of next school year, though he also said he is apprehensive about relocating the sixth graders there until the following (2025/2026) school year, as they are currently not used to changing classrooms throughout the day.

Photo byMelany Love, compiled image from Whitko.org

Pivarnik also announced the passing of Whitko’s school attorney, John Whiteleather, calling him “a dear friend.” School Board Member Georgia Tenney said there had been recent discussions about the upcoming (April 8) solar eclipse. For the first time in 891 years, the path of a full solar eclipse runs through Indiana. Pivarnik stated that he’d discussed with two other local superintendents about the event, and together they had agreed that despite some pressures from the community to cancel school, they would instead provide glasses to students and have eclipse-themed lessons that day. Pivarnik refuted community concerns over the eclipse hitting South Whitley at a time when students might be dismissing or outside on busses, saying that releasing early is “a huge domino effect” with parents who aren’t home, and glasses have already been purchased. School Board Member Lynn Studebaker asked if the school had received a donation for the glasses, and Pivarnik said they had not, but that, “We got a pretty good deal on bulk pricing for all three schools.” Studebaker mentioned that Warsaw had received a donation from Zimmer to pay for their glasses, and Pivarnik interrupted, “If only you had those big corporations next to you…” Studebaker continued, pointing out that several Whitko parents work for Zimmer and other corporations, but she was ignored. Tenney again pointed out with a nervous laugh that it might be dark when the kids get on the bus, and Arnold moved on, asking if there was any other business to discuss.

Parent Samantha Coburn addresses school board members and Superintendent Tim Pivarnik about missing financial documentsPhoto byMelany Love

Whitko parent Samantha Coburn spoke up, saying that she had requested documents in January, but that she did not receive all that she had requested and accused Whitko of withholding expenditure documents that they are required to provide to the public upon request. Arnold asked what specifically she had requested, and Coburn responded that she’d asked for the last month’s expenditures. She explained that she had dropped off two flash drives and had received up to February 16th, but she had been told she could not get the rest until after the February 26 meeting. Upon picking those up, she had discovered the wage summary was specifically missing. Pivarnik addressed the subject, assuring Coburn that “First of all, nothing is being withheld,” and that if she brought in the flashdrive again, they “would be more than happy to upload those to you.” Coburn also expressed frustration that she had only been allowed a narrow window of times in which to collect the flash drives. Pivarnik remarked irritably that it was just an accident and nothing was withheld, which Coburn contested. Pivarnik continued, saying it had just been forgotten and that nothing was purposely withheld, and that they were more than happy to remedy the situation once they had the flashdrive, which Coburn said she had with her right now for that purpose.

A Whitko mother of students at the high school and elementary said she had concerns about the grievance policy, nervously explaining, “I filed [an informal grievance] on November 14, and it took 84 days for the grievance to be completed. The investigation, we were told, was completed in December, and then we were told the investigation wasn’t completed…I was kind of just wondering if this is what happens typically? Does it usually take that long?”

Pivarnik responded, “I think it’s all been discussed and answered in the executive session we had,” then lowered his voice and said something about lawyers. The mother continued, mentioning, “In the letter you guys sent me, it said that [my son’s] safety and other students at Whitko were [your] main concern.” She then explained that in December, a teacher had made explicit comments in front of the class, so her family had asked for an investigation. Despite several complaints about the teacher’s behavior, and her specific request for someone, like a supervisor, to sit in the class, nothing was done, and then it happened again. Pivarnik responded, saying first of all, they couldn’t discuss personnel issues, and second that they weren’t equipped to have anyone able to sit in on his classroom, but that the school has administrators who walk the building and can check in, and they had increased that at that time. The parent asked, “But he’s gone now, right? I was told he got fired.” Pivarnik repeated that they could not discuss personnel matters, and the mom pointed out, “But you could discuss Jaime Paino at the school board meeting…”

Pivarnik said, “I didn’t discuss Jaime Paino. I simply announced that she had been put on administrative leave. That’s legal to announce that.”

Community Member Jarrad Lancaster then spoke, saying that he had attended the last school board meeting as an observer and didn’t have any grievances or anything; he just wanted to know how the public could address new business at school board meetings, when it is both introduced and voted on in the same meeting, as anything discussed by the public requires sign-up prior to the meeting and must be related to something on the agenda. Arnold responded that the agenda is posted prior to the meeting, and Pivarnik’s secretary, Teresa Carrano added that it is posted 30 minutes in advance on the website and one hour prior on the school building, which Arnold added is their legal obligation. Coburn said it is supposed to be up 48 hours in advance, and Pivarnik clarified, “the announcement of the meeting. The agenda is different.” Tenney said, “The announcement of the meeting is done on the first of the year, through the newspaper.” Carrano added that notification of meetings is given 48 hours in advance.

Lancaster again repeated that this doesn’t allow for the community to address their concerns, especially for multilayered problems, but Arnold said, “The best way to address that is to come and talk to one of us after the meeting, or call Mr. Pivarnik’s office and talk to him.”

Pivarnik said, “If you have questions before the meeting, you can always call my office and talk to me about it…The school board is not a public meeting.”

Lancaster politely explained a third time that, “The problem is, then you’ve already voted on it.” Carrano said that the agendas are always available at the meetings, and Lancaster responded that he understood that, but thought they missed what he was saying--there is no process for the public to address their concerns with the current issues before they’re voted on. Arnold again asked what sparked his questions. Lancaster again said there wasn’t a specific problem, but that the process itself was the problem. Arnold explained that the school board members receive the agenda on the Wednesday before the meeting so that they have time to go through it, look at it, discuss it, and ask questions prior to the meeting. Lancaster then asked if there was a policy for grievances, and Pivarnik responded that there is a policy and that it is listed publicly on the website (I was unable to find it on Whitko's website as of time of writing this, but a Google search found this). Lancaster asked if those conducting the investigations involved with the grievance policy had any amount of training, to Pivarnik’s irritation, and Arnold asked what he was driving at. Lancaster replied that he simply wished to understand more about the processes at Whitko, and Tenney defended him, cheerfully saying, “That’s who Jarrad Lancaster is. He thinks the questions.”

Photo byMelany Love, from Official Agenda

Following the meeting, Pivarnik waited in the school commons for his “Coffee with the Superintendent” to speak with any parents, but no one new came and no coffee was provided. The next School Board Meeting is Monday, March 16 at 6:30pm in the WCA Lecture Room. To keep up to date on Whitko School Board Meetings and some other area news, please consider following me on Newsbreak.