PENDLETON — The new year brought in a new member and new officers for the South Madison Community School Corp.
At its first meeting of 2021, the board welcomed newcomer Angie Brown, elected to take the at-large seat relinquished by four-term member Amy McGinnis, who did not seek reelection.
Brown was sworn-in at the Jan. 7 meeting along with Buck Evans (Adams Township) and Mike Hanna (Fall Creek Township) who won November elections unopposed. Chris Boots (Green Township) also won unopposed but was not in attendance at the meeting.
The board also elected new officers.
Long-time board member Bill Hutton was elected president of the board, replacing Boots. Joel Sandefur was chosen to be vice-president, the spot formerly held by Evans. Hutton and Sandefur had been secretary and assistant secretary, respectively, prior to being elected to the board’s head offices.
Hanna was elected secretary and Brown was named assistant secretary.
Hutton has been president before and has been a member for 11 years.
“We usually go on a two-year rotation and pass it around, so everybody has a chance (to lead the board),” Hutton said. “It shows that one board member isn’t any more important than the other one. I think that’s what has made our team so strong. We work together very well and everybody listens to everybody else. No one has an agenda.
“The way the board works together it’s an honor to be in that trusted position. It’s an easy group to work with. We know we have a lot of issues that are coming up. We’ll be so glad when COVID is out of the way. Getting the kids face-to-face with their teachers is a priority.”
The board also chose representatives to advisory committees, which included, Brown (Alternative School Program, Vocational Business Education), Boots (WEEM), Evans (Technology, Vocational Agriculture), Hutton (Construction Trades, Delegate to ISBA Convention, ISBA Legislative Liaison Designate, ISBA Policy Liaison Designate), Kaye Wolverton (Area Vocational, Vocational Family and Consumer Life Sciences and Construction Trades), Sandefur (Industrial Technology), Hanna (Athletic Council Representative, Pendleton Redevelopment Commission).
Superintendent Mark Hall is the board representative to Interlocal Special Education.
Penny Myers is the board treasurer and Connie Jones is the payroll clerk and assistant treasurer. The board attorney and parliamentarian is Church, Church, Hittle and Antrim.
Personnel report
• As certified staff recommendations, the board approved Peighton Dobbins as a long-term substitute fourth-grade teacher at Maple Ridge Elementary and Misty Tipton as a long-term substitute teacher at Pendleton Elementary Primary School.
• The board accepted the support staff resignation of Jeff Thompson, maintenance, Administrative Services Center.
• The resignation of Pendleton Heights Middle School cheerleading coach Heidi Moore was approved.
• The board accepted the recommended action to hire Megan Hosier as winter cheer coach at Pendleton Heights Middle School.
• Leave request was accepted for Pendleton Elementary Intermediate School teacher Margo Cromer and Pendleton Elementary Primary School teacher Lisa Rosenberger.
Other approvals
The board also approved monetary donations for Holiday Helping Hands from AmVets to Pendleton Elementary Primary School and from the Fraternal Order of Police for all SMCSC elementary schools.