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Southern Wells Community Schools trustees received just one bid for a tax anticipation warrant, and it was from the banking institution in which the school does most of its business.
First Bank of Berne was the lone bidder with an offer of 3.91 percent APR should the school be forced to take out a loan, which is likely because of the delay in tax money distributions.
The only other response from mailings sent to all Adams and Wells County financial institutions was from First Merchants Bank of Decatur, which returned a letter stating it declined to submit a bid.
Board members Chris Smith, Rick Mounsey and Ben Morton accepted the bid offered by First Bank of Berne. Board member Lynn Fiechter was not present for Tuesday’s meeting, held at the administration office.
Bids were sought for the purpose of borrowing up to $750,000 in anticipation of taxes to eventually be collected and distributed by the county treasurer to the school corporation.
As noted by Supt. Jim Craig, any principal borrowed for the General Fund, Capital Projects Fund, Bus Replacement Fund, Transportation Fund or Debt Service Fund, plus interest accrued, will be paid back by Dec. 31, 2008.
After taking up a few other matters, the board members adjourned and then moved into a work session to discuss the 2009 budget.,
Prior to adjourning, the board approved a revised budget calendar.
The board is slated to meet on Tuesday, Sept. 16 to approve the 2009 budget for advertising, with first publication set for Tuesday, Sept. 23 and second publication on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
The board will then meet on Tuesday, Oct. 7 in special session for a public hearing on the proposed budget, and a meeting to adopt the budget has been set for Tuesday, Oct. 21.
In other matters, board members:
—Approved of the hiring of Jan M. Harshman, BSN, RN as the new school nurse. Harshman, of rural Bluffton, came highly recommended by Supt. Potter, who said that five people had applied for the nurse position and that Harshman was a “terrific candidate who brings a lot of experience to the position.”
—Approved the hiring of Jill Mounsey as a kindergarten teacher at the elementary school. A graduate of Southern Wells and Ball State University, Mounsey recently completed her student teaching at Elwood Elementary School.
—Approved the recommendation of Southern Wells Elementary Principal Brett Garrett to allow Angela Schmitt to do her student teaching at Southern Wells. Schmitt is a student at Indiana Wesleyan University.
—Approved a request from teacher Steve Stauffer to take senior students on a field trip to various points in Tennessee from Aug. 15 through Aug. 18.
—Learned from Supt. Craig that the new lights at the football field have been installed and that wiring was expected to be completed by today.
—Learned from Craig that Craig, athletic director Kevin Lavanchy and school custodians had a “field day” at the football field Monday, pulling weeds, trimming grass, and painting goal posts and the scoreboard.
—Learned that the press box roof at the football field is still leaking, but that Craig hoped to have the issue resolved this week as a crew from Fort Wayne Roofing was expected to remedy the situation.
—Learned that painting and modernization of the elementary gymnasium has been completed. “All in all,” our custodians have done a great job,” Craig said of the maintenance projects.
—Set the next regular meeting of the board for Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 5 p.m.
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