Wabash District #348 School Board Agenda

WABASH COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

MT. CARMEL GRADE SCHOOL CAFETORIUM

Monday, August 19, 2024

Regular Board Meeting- 7:00 p.m

AGENDA

1. Call to order / Roll call

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Consent Agenda

a. Board Minutes i

. July 15, 2024 Regular Meeting

ii. July 29, 2024 Special Meeting

iii. August 5, 2024 Special Meeting

b. Monthly Bills

c. Financial Reports

d. Correspondence

e. Administrative Reports

4. Superintendent’s Comments

5. Reports

a. Kyle Buss

b. Laura Taylor with Cathy Ruth and Judy Wissel

6. Public Comments

7. Executive Session pursuant to Section 2(c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act: “The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees”.

8. New Business

a. 2024-2025 Proposed Budget

b. Athletic Officials Rate of Pay

c. MCJSHS Student Handbook Changes Updated

d. Employment of Personnel

9. Adjournment

Suspicious vehicle call leads to arrest of impaired driver

On August 15, 2024, at 4:39 a.m. Gibson County Central Dispatch received a 911 report of a suspicious vehicle on Interstate 69 near the 34 mile marker.  The caller reported that it appeared that a car was in a field on the east side of the interstate.  Upon arriving in the area Deputies U.B. Smith and Michael Bates located the vehicle, but was parked in the 9100 block of East County Road 125 South near Oakland City.  At that point Deputies Smith and Bates went to the vehicle to conduct a welfare check.  Upon approaching the Black and Green 1999 Honda Civic they identified the driver as 47 year old Benjamin Harper of Elberfeld.  While speaking with Mr. Harper Deputy Smith observed drug paraphernalia in plain view.  At that point Deputy Bates placed Mr. Harper into custody and began a roadside investigation.  Once the investigation was completed Deputy Bates transported Mr. Harper to the Gibson County Jail where he was charged with Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Possession of Methamphetamines.   

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Traffic stop leads to arrest of Evansville man on drug charges

On August 15, 2024, at 12:26 a.m. Gibson County Deputy Michael Bates conducted a traffic stop on a White 2019 Jeep Cherokee on Interstate 64 near the 27 mile marker after confirming that the driver 38 year old Timothy Ray of Evansville had an outstanding warrant out of Ohio.  Upon approaching the vehicle Deputy Bates detected the odor of Marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and began a roadside drug investigation.  At the conclusion of his investigation Deputy Bates placed Mr. Ray into custody and transported him to the Gibson County Jail.  Upon arriving at the jail Mr. Ray was booked in on the Ohio warrant as well as local charges for Possession of a Schedule Drug and Possession of Marijuana.

Assisting Deputy Bates in his investigation were Deputy U.B. Smith, Fort Branch Officer Louis Jerrell, and Haubstadt Police Department Bryan Munnier.

All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Chip & Seal Work To Resume Next Week In Mt. Carmel

More Mt. Carmel streets are slated to be chipped and sealed next week. Public Works Director Mike Gidcumb reports that a few extra streets have been added to the original list of streets and alleys that were chipped and sealed earlier this summer. That work is slated for next Thursday the 22nd. He plans to have a map of the impacted streets at Monday’s city council meeting. Gidcumb said those streets will also be fog sealed along with any of the other streets that were fog sealed when they were chipped and sealed earlier.

Decision Expected Soon On Solar Array At Sewer Plant

The Mt. Carmel City Council is getting closer to making a decision on whether to locate solar power array on the property at the city’s sewer plant. The council has been considering the idea since a Pennsylvania company presented a plan that commissioners eventually decided contained too many unknowns and possibly put the city at financial risk. Now, the city is looking into having Morton Solar and Electric build the array with the city paying for the system with a loan and state and federal rebates. According to City clerk Ryan Turner, recent measurements taken at the proposed location indicated the solar array would fit. Turner said it was now time for the council to decide whether to move ahead with the solar program or scrap it completely. After input from the council, Turner said he will look into getting interest rates from local banks and present funding information at their next meeting on August 19th.

Additional Arrest Made in Lowell Badger Homicide

Sullivan County - An additional arrest has been made in the Lowell R. Badger homicide investigation.  The homicide occurred sometime between Friday, December 7th, and the morning of December 8th, 2012. 

A warrant was issued by Sullivan Superior Court, the Honorable Judge Hugh Hunt, on August 13, 2024, for a Richard D. Taft, age 39, for murder. The Indiana Department of Corrections served the warrant to Taft who is currently incarcerated at the Michigan City Correctional Facility.  

Arrested and Charges:  Richard D. Taft, 39

Murder

Burglary resulting in bodily injury (2 counts), Class A Felony

Assisting Agencies:  Sullivan County Prosecutor’s Office, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, Vigo County Prosecutor’s Office, IPAC and the Indiana Department of Corrections.

Indiana State Police Reminds Drivers: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

Drive sober or get pulled over. That’s the warning the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post is issuing to drivers as they gear up for the annual end-of-summer impaired driving enforcement campaign. Starting August 16 through September 2, the Indiana State Police Putnamville Post will join with officers across the state to increase patrols and sobriety checkpoints to crack down on those driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The extra high-visibility enforcement is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). 

“Driving drunk or drug-impaired is a problem for everyone,” said James Bryan, ICJI’s Traffic Safety Director. “Making the choice to operate a vehicle while impaired is never the right option.”  

Alcohol-impaired driving continues to contribute to many deaths in Indiana. In 2023, around 20% of all traffic fatalities in Indiana involved alcohol impairment. Drug-impaired driving is another major contributor to deadly crashes. In 2023, nearly a quarter of all traffic fatalities involved drug impairment. 

“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Lieutenant David Cox, Commander of the Putnamville State Police Post.   

Drivers should be safe during this Labor Day holiday by planning if they intend to drink. Even if you only have one drink, designate a sober driver or use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely. Never drive impaired or let friends get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking.

For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving

Severin Leads Highway Renaming Ceremony Honoring Fallen Firefighter Kody Vanfossan

CHRISTOPHER, IL - State Representative Dave Severin says he was honored to help lead an honorary ceremony south of Christopher on Tuesday that renamed a section of Highway 148 as the Firefighter Kody M. Vanfossan Memorial Highway. The change comes as a result of the passage of HJR 36 in the 103rd General Assembly. Severin was the lead sponsor of the House Joint Resolution in the Illinois House, and Senator Terri Bryant carried the legislation through the Illinois Senate. Both officials were on hand during the ceremony to offer remarks and honor Kody Vanfossan.

 "I am honored to be here today to recognize Kody Vanfossan for giving his life in service to his community. My final memory of Kody was when I saw him at the Christopher Lion's Club Pancake Breakfast when he was with his fellow firefighters. Words can only do so much, but our actions by marking this location in Kody's name, that is really what helps to honor the sacrifice Kody made," Severin said. "I am thankful to Senator Bryant for carrying this in the Senate, and for IDOT and local law enforcement and local fire protection districts for being here today and providing protection for today's ceremony."

 Severin introduced Brent Vanfossan of the Christopher Fire Department who offered his thanks as well. Brent Vanfossan is Kody's father. He served alongside his son Kody the day he lost his life fighting a 6-alarm commercial fire in Christopher.

 "Kody died doing what he loved to do, and we are truly thankful for everyone that came out today," Vanfossan said.

 State Senator Terri Bryant honored the Vanfossan family and thanked Kody for serving his community, nothing that he died an 'honorable man'.

 "This has been a long time coming," Senator Bryant said, citing recent rules changes in the Illinois Senate that allowed the legislation to move forward. "We are setting that right today, and also celebrating a life that was too short but was lived in a way of sacrifice. As a mother of a former firefighter and a current police officer, when that tone goes off, your heart drops, and you can't help but pray that the worst doesn't happen. In this case, this was a young man who answered that call, and we will remember Kody as an honorable man and a man of service and sacrifice."

 The road renaming ceremony honoring Vanfossan took place at the intersection of Yellow Banks Road and Illinois Route 148 south of Christopher, adjacent to the cemetery where Kody Vanfossan was laid to rest following his passing from injuries sustained while fighting a structure fire in his hometown on May 5, 2019.