Published: August 12, 2008 10:28 am         

Covington welcomes new teachers

COVINGTON, Ind. — The Covington School District welcomes 10 new teachers for the 2008-09 school year.

Superintendent Nate Evans told school board members Monday night that Bethany Tidwell and Carrie Sowers will teach first grade; Jessica Eberwine, second grade; Ashley Goodman, third grade; Lindsay Michals, fifth grade; Amber Lydick and Cindy Sheetz, middle school science; Ryan Sowers, middle school special education; Tony Knecht, vocational law enforcement class at the high school; and Heather Cook, high school mathematics.

“We have 10 new teachers this year,” Evans said, “And we are glad to have all 10 positions filled with good people.”

In other business, school board members:

-- Tabled the 2009 budget, capital projects plan and bus replacement plan hearing until the Sept. 8 school board meeting. Evans explained a section of the school’s debt service plan needs to be re-advertised. Evans also said the state department of local government finance is recommending schools push back their budget hearings.

-- Conducted a hearing on the required 1028 resolution for the additional $1,300,000 the school will acquire through government obligation bonds for the kitchen/heating, ventilation, air conditioning renovation project. The school has received $1,075,000 from the common school fund loan. Evans explained that at this time the school can get really good interest rates on GO bonds and the school will be able to pay the loan off in 10 years.

-- Heard from Evans that there is still no word when property tax bills will be sent out by Fountain County. He said there will be another assessed valuation error of about $4 million. The error will cause the school corporation to lose more than $75,000 in tax levy from its five major funds that the school will not be able to recover.

-- Learned the design of both kitchens is nearing completion. Evans said he hopes to be able to ask for permission to advertise for bidding at the September meeting with bids due by Oct. 7. The school board will award the bids at the Oct. 13 meeting.

-- Approved several personnel recommendations including hiring Lydick to teach middle school science; Cook, high school math; Lori Lathrop, speech aide; and Eberwine, freshman volleyball coach.

-- Approved the resignation of G.B. Batley as the school’s speech pathologist. However, Batley will remain to write individual education planning (IEP) for the school. The board also approved the resignation of Jamie Mears as high school cafeteria worker effective immediately.

-- Learned that early estimates indicate that the school enrollment could be up by as much as 30 to 40 students. The official count day for the school is Sept. 12.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Covington School Board will meet at 6:30 p.m. EDT Sept.8 at the superintendent’s office.