The Linton School Board gathered for its December meeting and what followed was a productive session that balanced future logistical planning with the bittersweet recognition of a long-standing educator's career.

Honoring Decades of Dedication

The most poignant moment of the evening came during the personnel report, as the board officially accepted the letter of intent to retire from Cheryl Ash. A staple of the high school math department, Ash has served the corporation for 33 years.

Board members and administrators spoke warmly of her impact, noting her ability to make advanced mathematics accessible. One board member shared a personal anecdote, stating that while students might enter her room wary of the subject, they often left under her mantra: "Math is fun and exciting." While the board joked about wanting to "deny" the retirement to keep her on staff, they ultimately voted to approve her request with deep gratitude for her service.

The board also took a moment to recognize Madison Wills, a daycare instructional assistant, for successfully completing her Child Development Associate (CDA) program, a move that bolsters the quality of the school's early childhood offerings.

Planning for the Future

The board looked well into the future by officially adopting the 2027-2028 school calendar following its second reading. Additionally, several administrative updates were addressed:

  • Policy Overhauls: The board approved a batch of policy updates and administrative guidelines to remain in compliance with recent state legislative changes.
  • High Ability Changes: A first reading was held for changes to the High Ability handbook, which will now include Kindergarten levels following new allowances from the Indiana Department of Education.
  • Emergency Partnerships: A five-year renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Greene County Hospital was approved. This agreement allows the hospital to use school buses for emergency evacuations of ambulatory patients and staff if a catastrophic event occurs.

Serving "Miner Pride" on a Plate

Mackenzie Dunn, the district’s food service director through Chartwells, provided an upbeat "Miner Pride" presentation. Despite a slight dip in overall student enrollment, the nutrition program saw significant growth in participation:

  • Lunch participation increased by 3.5%.
  • Breakfast participation rose by 8.3%, aided by "Breakfast in the Classroom" for elementary students.
  • A la carte sales jumped by nearly 17%.

Dunn highlighted "scratch cooking" initiatives and local partnerships, such as sourcing beef from Fiser Farms in St. Anthony, Indiana, and using hydroponic greens grown by the school's own Agriculture department. The board also heard about "Lucky Tray" days and the creation of the student-voted "Miner Sauce" for chicken wings.

Budgetary and Closing Remarks

In final business, the board approved several standard budgetary resolutions for 2026, including the allocation of interest (85% to the Education Fund and 15% to Operations) and a resolution allowing the transfer of up to 15% of revenue from the Education Fund to Operations to maintain financial flexibility.

Superintendent remarks touched on the challenges of the month, including a "water fiasco" the previous week that resulted in an early dismissal. However, the tone remained optimistic as the district headed into finals week. The meeting concluded with reflections on the "reason for the season," with administrators expressing gratitude for the staff and students as the first semester draws to a close.

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