The Washington Community School Board heard a report from Chad Ballengee, the director of the Daviess Martin Special Education Cooperative, at Thursday’s meeting. Ballengee told the board that the co-op is introducing a new pilot program at Washington Intermediate School. The Co-op has partnered with I.U. Health and the Grasshopper group to create a self-contained classroom for students who are emotionally disabled. Ballengee said the focus of the program is to support students who struggle with social, emotional, and behavioral issues. I.U. Health will provide training for teachers at Washington Intermediate. Ballengee said that if the pilot program is successful, it could be expanded to other buildings served by the Daviess-Martin Co-op.
In personnel matters, the board approved the retirement of Veale Eleentary principal Brenda Butcher. The Board also received the resignations of elementary nurse Annette Frette, high school math teacher and JV basketball coach Charles Alderman, and instructional aide Katherine Davis. The Board approved a leave of absence for Rachel Wildman. The Board approved hiring Bailey Green as an elementary teacher and approved Melissa Harman, Jordan Bennington, Amy Batton, Chelsea Travelstead, Mackenzie Dotterweich, Kristen Lafollette, Alejandra Davila, and Isabella Henderson for the Summer IREAD program.
In other business, the Board approved trips for the WHS Choir to Branson, Missouri, to a St. Louis Cardinal’s game, and for the BPA to the National Leadership Conference. The Board also approved the purchase of a school bus.
The next regular board meeting will be at 7:00 p.m. on May 16.
