By EMELINE HAWKIN

For Northwest News

HUNTERTOWN — With more students exploring career opportunities rather than the traditional college route after high school, Carroll High School engaged in conversations with Local 166 and Southwest Allen County Schools about a potential two-year learning experience for students.

According to NACS Superintendent Wayne Barker, the partnership could be a good opportunity and “would fulfill Box 3 of graduation requirements.”

Students in the program would be learning basic electrical, plumbing and HVAC programs.

The schools currently have an agreement with Fort Wayne Community School through the Anthis program, but a partnership with Local 166 could possibly save on costs while providing the same opportunity for students.

“It would be a set price with Local 166. Students would be at the high school three periods a day and spend the rest of the day at the facility,” Barker said.

Barker estimated the maximum number of students in the program would be limited to 20, but could expand if needed. Students from Carroll High School were to visit the week of May 8 to see if it would be a good fit.

Barker provided a legislative update after the recent passing of the biennial budget for the state of Indiana.

Barker lamented the change in increase of funding per student at the last minute, despite many teachers and local legislators lobbying on the school’s behalf.

As a result, the increase NACS and other school districts had hoped to see was lessened.

“That was disheartening to say the least,” Barker said. “Private school expansion was a significant part of this budget and that was increased in this budget alone over $1 billion.”

He also mentioned HB 1447, termed the “Library Book Bill,” which will require a catalogue of all school library books as well as a procedure for parents to object to a book’s content.

The school currently has nearly 150,000 items in the library, already listed in an electronic format, but will need to reformat it to make it easily accessible and more user-friendly.

Director of Human Resources Sam DiPrimio presented the board with a request to post five elementary dean of student positions.

These positions would be similar to management positions, assisting with state reports, administrative tasks and responsibilities, student testing and more.

According to DiPrimio, there would be a full-time dean at Hickory Center, Oak View and Perry Hill elementary schools, while two positions would be shared by Aspen Meadows, Cedar Canyon, Eel River and Huntertown elementary schools. Principals would determine how to best place these individuals based on student needs.

“The hope is that these five positions could help spread support among all the elementary buildings,” DiPrimio said. He estimated there are nearly 680 students through all the NACS elementary schools who require special learning plans.

“These could eventually grow into assistant principal positions. The goal is to better meet the needs of our students and will allow guidance counselors to focus on their jobs,” DiPrimio said.

Board members also approved the purchase of new tech devices for students in Grades K, 5 and 9 for the 2023-24 school year. Approval was also given to buy new devices to be distributed to newly hired staff.

Barker also mentioned the school year was down to 14 student days as of May 8, with graduation scheduled Sunday, June 4.

In other news, the board:

• Congratulated Jennifer Shrawder on her retirement from Cedar Canyon Elementary School;

• Approved professional training opportunities, which would then be implemented this fall for the schools’ special education programs;

• Applauded three members of the rifle club who qualified to go to the Junior Olympics and to shoot at the Olympic training facility in Colorado Springs;

• Applauded the Carroll High School Relay For Life team, which raised $103,000 to help with cancer services in northeast Indiana as well as research.

The next board meeting is scheduled Monday, May 22, at 6 p.m. at Perry Hill Elementary School gymnasium.