Stew-Stras Board Hears Cut in Transportation Funding if Tax Hike Isn't Made Permanent

The Stewardson-Strasburg Board of Education heard that the district will receive only two transportation funding payments this year if the temporary state tax hike isn't made permanent.

Stew-Stras Superintendent Michele Lindenmeyer shared the news at this month's Board meeting. If the State follows through with the veiled threat, the district would lose $75,000 in transportation funding this year.

Board members discussed the proposed high school athletic co-operative agreement with the Windsor school district, but took no action on the document. The agreement would add girls high school basketball as a co-operative sport. Lindenmeyer said no action was taken, as a few minor details need to be resolved. The committees for the two districts will meet to finalize the details before a vote is taken. For this school year, Stew-Stras and Windsor girls will continue to play as part of a co-op team with Shelbyville.

Members reviewed plans for next April's school board election. Four seats are up for grabs. Lindenmeyer also shared information on potential leases for copy machines.

In personnel moves, the Stew-Stras board hired Courtney Wittenberg as junior high volleyball coach and Brittany Kaufman as her assistant, hired Denise Porter as a Special Education aide, approved a leave of absence for Industrial Technology teacher Matt Jones for medical reasons and hired Mark Munch to work up to 100 days in Jones' place, and approved Jaden Widdersheim as a volunteer basketball coach.