The Loogootee Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees held its regular meeting on Thursday, October 22, 2026, in the Loogootee High School Media Center. The meeting was called to order at 5:01 p.m. by the Board Vice President Mr. Nick Toy, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Board members present included Mr. Nick Toy, Mr. Brent Courter, Dr. Brooke Hawkins, and Mr. Chad Wade. Corporation personnel in attendance were Dr. Shelley Christmas, Mrs. Dana Campbell, Mrs. Sara Lengacher, Mrs. Jessie Bell, and Mr. Pryce Hedrick. Others present were Mrs. Rachel Tedrow, Mr. & Mrs. Jared Walton, Mrs. Hannah Kidwell, Miss Alicia Wildman, Mr. Brody Moore, Mr. Joel Karl, Miss Victoria Bauer, Mr. Emmett Graber, and Mr. Lucas Helderman.

During patron statements, Mrs. Rachel Tedrow addressed the Board regarding recent decisions and the importance of communication and collaboration between teachers and school leadership. She shared that teachers care deeply about the corporation and its students but have concerns about what lies ahead due to state funding decreases. Mrs. Tedrow expressed her desire for teachers and the Board to continue working together as partners and for teachers to have a voice in decisions that affect the corporation. Board members and Dr. Christmas thanked Mrs. Tedrow for her comments and expressed their appreciation for the dedication and hard work of the corporation’s teachers and administrators. They also acknowledged the importance of maintaining a strong partnership.

The Board approved the minutes from the September 17 and October 19, 2026, meetings, along with corporation claims and vouchers. Both motions passed unanimously with 4–0 votes.

Under personnel matters, the Board accepted the resignation of Mrs. Lynn Bateman as Title I aide, effective December 31, 2026. Dr. Christmas expressed her sincere appreciation for Mrs. Bateman and her contributions to the school corporation, sharing that she would be greatly missed.

The Board also approved parent chaperones for the upcoming overnight Choir trip to Nashville and the Beta Convention trip to Evansville. Additionally, stipends were approved for noncertified employees at the same average percentage of salary awarded to certified teachers, and for administrators in the same dollar amount awarded to teachers. The personnel recommendations passed unanimously with a 4–0 vote.

During action items, the Board accepted two generous donations to support students and school programs. Tri Kappa donated $200 toward the Elementary Book Fair, while the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary donated $500 to the Student Clothes Closet. Dr. Christmas and Mr. Toy expressed their appreciation to both organizations for their continued generosity and support of Loogootee students, teachers, and schools.

The Board also approved the 2026–2027 Certified Employee Contract and the 2026–2027 Noncertified Employee Handbook. Both items received unanimous approval with 4–0 votes.

A highlight of the meeting was a presentation by students Lucas Helderman and Emmett Graber, who shared their experiences in the ME Academy program. Mr. Joel Karl, ME Academy Coordinator, introduced himself and instructor Mr. Brody Moore before recognizing the students for their accomplishments. During their presentation, Lucas and Emmett shared the process of creating their Heat Chamber Pot, explaining the steps involved in developing the project and how they disaggregated and analyzed the data collected throughout the process. Their presentation provided board members with an opportunity to learn more about the hands-on experiences, technical skills, and problem-solving involved in the ME Academy program.

Mr. Karl explained that Lucas and Emmett were among the first students to begin the ME program and expressed how proud he was of the progress they had made over the past year. He emphasized the valuable opportunities the program provides students, including hands-on experiences that prepare them for future employment and well-paying careers in manufacturing. Dr. Christmas also expressed her appreciation for Mr. Karl and the program, noting how fortunate the corporation is to have these opportunities available to students.

With no further business, Mr. Courter made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Dr. Hawkins. The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned at 5:41 p.m. The next regularly scheduled Board meeting will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.