Area 30 Board briefed on lunch price, registration

Conducting an approximately 10-minute meeting, Area 30 Career Center’s interlocal board heard updates on a lunch price increase and enrollment Thursday morning.

Brought by Executive Director Chad Nunley, the board approved increasing the student lunch price to $3.19. This is from $3.09 for the 2019-20 school year, in lieu of meals being free through a federal Covid program the past two years.

Nunley noted that the increase was the minimum suggested after it was calculated.

With enrollment, Asst. Director Sharon Bone related that about 200 students registered for classes at an open house on Aug. 2. As such, she said as of the meeting that 335 students were enrolled.

“I think we’re in pretty good shape,” Bone said, acknowledging that the target is 355 students enrolled. This said, she provided that the number would change as students are dropped and added.

She noted that students are to have classes set by Friday, Aug. 19. With this, enrollment numbers should be finalized by Monday, Aug. 22.

In other business:

• The board approved Area 30’s teacher appreciation grant (TAG) policy, in which teachers earning a Highly Effective evaluation will receive a stipend 25 percent greater than those rated Effective.

Nunley noted that with this being a yearly grant, no changes were made to the policy.

• The board approved hiring Madison Pershing as Area 30’s student services director, in which she will take over from Bone. Pershing has previously worked as the ASAP coordinator at Ivy Tech Greencastle.

• The board approved the resignation of Natasha Rodgers as the administrative assistant. Having worked at Area 30 since 2019, Rodgers recently accepted a position at Purdue University.

• The board approved a procedure for the use of credit cards through Area 30.

Nunley and Bone were joined by the entire board and Board Treasurer Cindy Burnham, though Cloverdale Supt. Greg Linton was virtual.

The next regular meeting of the Area 30 Board is set for Tuesday, Sept. 13 at 9 a.m. in the Old National Trail boardroom.