NE Dubois County School Board Year in Review

Students Claire Dooley, Aubrey Bieker, Norah Buchta, Aubrey Weisman, and Piper Massey gave a presentation on some of the activities that they participated in as sixth graders this year. Some of these included utilizing grant funding for a S.T.E.M. project that incorporated wilderness survival skills, a historical fiction unit in language arts, hands-on math, and staging a Veterans Day program. 

The board received an update on the Science of Reading initiative being implemented at the elementary school level. This is the school’s second year in the program. In 2023, the elementary school was one of three Indiana schools recognized with an early literacy award. This award came with $64,000 in grant money that has been used to fund the engagement lab and classroom supplies and equipment. This year’s scores on the IREAD exam again saw the district’s second graders ranking above the state average. 

In other business, the board approved Voucher #103821 through #103984. In addition, the 2024 Dubois County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan was adopted. The board also approved a series of new hires, resignations, and retirements. A resignation was accepted for long-time NDES assistant Brenda Wildman, as well as the retirement of Dwayne Knies after 16 years of teaching with the Junior/Senior High School. The hiring of Kelly Schmitt as the incoming Athletic Director for the Jr/Sr High School was also approved. Before adjourning, the board reminded attendees that the last day of school is May 23 rd and graduation will be on Saturday, May 25 th , at 4 PM Eastern time. 

 - By Drew Hasselbring