Construction Continues, Building Corporation Board Candidates Chosen

SOUTH WHITLEY-The Whitko School Board Work Session began at 4:03, with Kari Walmer filling in for Interim Superintendent Tom Edington, who has been on leave and won’t return until Friday. Those present included a couple of parents, the school’s official media personnel, and a community member.

School Board President Annette Arnold asked about a construction update, and though the construction company had already left following their tour prior to the meeting, another woman present was able to inform everyone about some progress on the project. She said they have completed the first coat of paint and are continuing to work on the D-wing bathrooms. They plan to put up the drywall this Saturday, and they still plan to be done by the summer. She went on to say that the construction company has been great to work with, that they have been respectful of the school environment, and that they have worked to complete their loudest and messiest projects at times when students are not in the building so they can avoid disrupting them.

Lynn Leininger spoke about the finances; he said he had officially advertised the 2025 Public Budget Hearing which will take place next Monday, September 16 at 6:30, prior to the usual School Board Meeting (which will be at approximately 6:45). He announced that Whitko needs to purchase three new buses this year--two full sized and one mini--which will total about $450,000 total. He also mentioned that the ESSER money will be expiring at the end of September, so projects funded by that will need to be phased out or funded by education funds going forward. ESSER is Covid-related federal government funding that was given to schools and will be discontinued; the amounts given varied each time, but the most recent Whitko amount was $2.1 million. The funding must be used up or it is forfeited, and Whitko still has about $130,000 left. Most Whitko’s ESSER money was used towards supplies, projects, and improvements so that the loss would not impact operations as much, though a couple of staff were hired from it that Whitko will continue to keep, such as a permanent substitute teacher position and the nurse position.

School Board President Annette Arnold mentioned that Renae Messmore would be appointed to the Whitko Building Corporation Board, and School Board Member Lynn Studebaker then asked how the decision to appoint someone had come about when no discussion that she had been aware of had occurred on the subject since the last month’s School Board Work Session; Arnold said that she also had heard nothing about it and questioned the other board members. Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Departments and Secretary of the South Whitley Redevelopment Commission Theresa Carrano, who is also currently on the Whitko Building Corporation Board, spoke up and said, “Um, actually, I asked, um, some people. Uh, Wayne Swender is also, has consented to--you know we have two vacancies on that Whitko Building Corporation Board. Um, I’m on that board; I’m not an officer or anything. Um, and I…talked to Deb--did I talk to you, or email you? If you…Because I wanted someone from the Pierceton area. I thought that would be good. Um, ‘cause everyone else is from Columbia City or South Whitley. Um, and Deb said, ‘Well, Georgia and I talked and we thought Renee might be interested,” and Deb asked Renae and I asked Wayne Swender, and they both said that they had an interest.’” School Board Member Georgia Tenney then asked if Studebaker had someone in mind that she had wanted to have the position, and Studebaker responded that she didn’t, but that she was frustrated that she “didn’t realize half the decision was already made without [her].” Arnold asked if Swender would also be on Monday’s agenda to be appointed as well, since he was not currently listed, and Carrano said she hadn’t had the opportunity to update the agenda since she last saw him, but that she would have that changed.

Some public discussion was had about the minutes from July’s meeting, which were approved at the August meeting, still not being posted on the school’s website and publicly available, and Carrano said that was her fault and she would fix it. It was also brought up that Whitley County Patriots had just held a “Meet the Candidates” event and though there were rumors that Whitko had also been invited (as they were in the past), all school board members said they had not heard anything about the event, with at least one saying they would have attended had they known. It was mentioned by a parent that either way, the public should have the opportunity to know who their options are and voice their concerns prior to the election, and they further suggested that Whitko hold an event on their own. As some of the candidates running for school board have not been regularly attending meetings, it would be helpful to put faces to names and make informed decisions come voting time. It was confirmed on the Thursday following the Work Session that while the intention had been to invite Whitko school board candidates as well, there had been a miscommunication, and they had not been invited this time.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:20.

School Board Members Annette Arnold, Scott Werstler, Georgia Tenney, Deb Thomas, and Lynn StudebakerPhoto byMelany Love, compiled image

An Executive Session will be held at the Whitko Career Academy on Monday, September 16 at 5:30, and the 2025 Public Budget Hearing will be at 6:30, with the next regular School Board Meeting immediately following. The next School Board Work Session will be at Pierceton Elementary at 4:00.

As always, if I have misheard or misspelled anything (no written records are publicly available at the meetings), please let me know so that I can correct it. Thank you for your support.