By Josh Sigler
WABASH, Ind. – The Wabash City Schools board accepted the resignation of O.J. Neighbours Elementary School Principal Danielle Miller at its Monday, June 18 meeting.
Miller was named the new principal at North Miami Elementary School last week.
“Danielle and I have worked together for a long time now,” Superintendent Jason Callahan said. “I worked as a colleague with her. I came here 13 years ago. So I’ve known Danielle as long as I’ve been at Wabash City Schools. It was difficult, but it’s also bittersweet because Danielle is not just an employee. She’s a friend. This is good for her family, so I am happy for that.”
Wabash City Schools already has Miller’s replacement lined up.
Emily Tracy had been named O.J. Neighbours’ Assistant Principal for the 2018-19 school year, but will now move into the Principal’s position.
Tracy had been an administrator in another school system but has children in the Wabash City Schools system.
“Emily is a highly committed educator,” Callahan said. “She’s been an administrator for nearly a decade, in either elementary or middle school education. She is, just like Danielle, very strong in curriculum and instructional leadership, She is highly committed to the community. Commitment to this community is very important to the DNA of Wabash City Schools.”
The board also Monday:
— Heard a presentation from WHS junior Cassidy Flohr on a leadership conference she attended.
— Approved elementary book fees for the 2018-19 school year.
— Approved the recommendation to create a dual immersion preschool paraprofessional teaching position for the 2018-19 school year for 35 hours per week at $13.00 per hour.
— Approved the recommendation of Amanda Ellett for the dual immersion paraprofessional teaching position for the 2018-19 school year for 35 hours per week at $13.00 per hour.
— Approved the retirement of LuAnn Vandegrift as paraprofessional at O.J. Neighbours.
— Accepted the resignation of Kim Stone as 3rd grade teacher at O.J. Neighbours.
— Accepted the resignation of Erica Cornett as paraprofessional at O.J. Neighbours.
— Accepted the resignation of Annie Lehner as paraprofessional at O.J. Neighbours.
— Accepted the resignation of Tammy McCollister as lunchroom supervisor at O.J. Neighbours.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Adrianne Pelphrey as a paraprofessional at O.J. Neighbours for $29.75 hours per week at $9.70 per hour, and as a full-time bus driver for the 2018-19 school year.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Teal Leming as a paraprofessional at O.J. Neighbours for the 2018-19 school year for 29.75 hours per week at $9.70 per hour.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Elizabeth Freeman as a paraprofessional at O.J. Neighbours for the 2018-19 school year at 29.75 hours per week at $9.70 per hour.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Laci Taylor as a paraprofessional at O.J. Neighbours for the 2018-19 school year for 29.75 hours per week at $9.70 per hour.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Sandra Crump as the kindergarten dual immersion paraprofessional for the 2018-19 school year at 29.75 hours per week at $9.70 per hour.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Nilsa Brown as the first grade Spanish dual immersion paraprofessional for the 2018-19 school year at $10 per hour for 29.75 hours per week.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Broderic Cook for the special education teaching position at O.J. Neighbours with an annual salary of $35,100 and a signing bonus of $1,000 for the 2018-19 school year.
— Approved the recommendation to grant maternity leave with four paid paraprofessional days during the leave to Krista Hopkins from Oct. 8, 2018 through December 21, 2018.
— Approved the recommendation for Deb Wampler to cover Krista Hopkins’ maternity leave at the beginning per diem rate from Oct. 8, 2018 through the end of the first semester of the 2018-19 school year.
— Approved the recommendation of Dawn Dutton to cover Christin Hoppes’ maternity leave from Aug. 6, 2018 to Sept. 14, 2018 at the beginning techer per diem rate.
— Approved the recommendation of Sarah Sharp to cover Chloe Selleck’s maternity leave from Aug. 13, 2018 to Oct. 19, 2018 at the beginning teacher per diem rate, and to be allotted three days of substitute teacher pay for the week ofAug. 6, 2018 to with Selleck prior to the leave.
— Approved the recommendation for Lauri Gunderman to be the Early Learning Center Administrative Assistant for the 2018-19 school year with a stipend of $5,000.
— Approved the proposed changes to the WMS Handbook for the 2018-19 school year.
— Accepted the resignation of Katy Till from the 6th grade P.E. position at the end of the 2017-18 school year.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Cyndi Niswander for the WMS special education position at a salary of $39,500, beginning the 2018-19 schol year.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Shea Beachump to teach 6th grade P.E. at Wabash Middle School beginning the 2018-19 school year at an hourly rate of $13.00.
— Approved proposed changes to the WHS Handbook for the 2018-19 school year.
— Approved the recommendation for Shane Clemons to teach summer school from May 31, 2018 to June 27, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at an hourly rate of $28.15.
— Accepted the resignation of Emily France as choir teacher at Wabash High School and Wabash Middle School at the end of the 2017-18 school year.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Jake Stevens as a math teacher at Wabash High School beginning with a base salary of $35,000 and a one-time relocation stipend of $1,000 beginning the 2018-19 school year.
— Approved the recommendation to increase the number of contracted days from 200 to 205 for the Wabash High School guidance counselors beginning the 2018-19 school year.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Tracy Dempsey as administrative assistant at the Ivy Tech Wabash location, effective June 12, 2018.
— Approved the recommendation to transfer Lorna Worrick from custodian at O.J. Neighbours to head custodian at L.H. Carpenter Center, effective May 29, 2018.
— Approved the recommendation for the high school cross country team to travel to Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan from July 30 to Aug. 2, 2018.
— Approved Kourtney Hentgen’s request for a leave of absence from 8th grade volleyball due to maternity leave for the 2018-19 school year.
— Approved Marla Davenport as a second bus driver for the summer SPARK program June 11 to July 20, 2018 at her normal daily pay rate.
— Accepted the resignation of Jayne Tomlinson as bus monitor for the special needs bus route, effective May 25, 2018.
— Approved the recommendation to transfer Paula Merriman from O.J. Neighbours office secretary to L.H. Carpenter Center for the 2018-19 school year.
— Approved the recommendation to hire Rachel Hovermale to teach 6th grade math at Wabash Middle School beginning the 2018-19 school year with a starting salary of $38,000 and a one time relocation stipend of $1,000.