Eastern Greene Schools board honors four retirees and approves staff, ELC expansion and contracts
May 11, 2026 | Eastern Greene Schools, School Boards, Indiana
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The Eastern Greene Schools board recognized four retiring staff members and approved a slate of personnel moves, contract renewals and budget‑linked changes at its May 11, 2026 meeting.
The board opened with the pledge and an invocation before a district administrator recognized retirees Karen White, Sandy Yoho, Lori Markle and Rhonda Dobson for a combined century of service to Eastern Greene Schools. "Karen, Sandy, Lori, and Rhonda have done just that throughout their careers," the administrator said, thanking them for their impact on students and the community.
Why it matters: The board’s personnel decisions set staffing and program plans for the coming school year, including a major expansion of the Early Learning Center (ELC) that will add infant and toddler classrooms, more staff and new licensing and curriculum requirements.
Key votes and hires
- The board approved early‑graduation requests for 10 students, citing college, employment and military plans.
- The board approved an out‑of‑state trip for the high school girls basketball team to a June shootout in Olney, Illinois; administrators confirmed the trip will not require overnight stays.
- The board renewed its athletic trainer contract with Jewett Sports and Occupational Services for 2026–27; administrators said the vendor has been reliable and that smaller schools increasingly rely on subcontracted trainers.
- Jamie Hudson was approved as middle school dean of students for 2026–27.
- The board approved hiring Dawn Hostetter as director of the expanded Early Learning Center on a 240‑day contract with a $15,000 stipend. District leadership said $15,000 of the stipend plus an additional $35,000 of Hostetter’s regular pay will be covered by fees collected through the ELC rather than from the district’s general education or operations budgets.
- The board approved a $15,000 stipend for Lindsay Bailey to continue in the school psychology role; the administrator noted that the stipend and salary will be paid from special education funds, which can reduce available dollars for other direct special‑education staff.
- The board approved the ELC handbook for 2026–27, a Chartwells food‑service renewal, and a package of staffing updates including a change for Tasha Demas Blevins to a 200‑day contract with a $58,000 base, Tim Mosher’s move to a full‑time teaching contract, multiple ELC lead‑instructor hires and extracurricular coaching appointments.
- The board accepted several donations, including $2,000 to the elementary PTO for Scholastic Bookflix and smaller gifts to student organizations and a negative‑lunch fund.
District updates and logistics
Principals reported end‑of‑year events (field days, preschool and kindergarten graduations), teacher appreciation activities and testing schedules; the high school announced summer school from May 26 to June 8 and invited the board to commencement on May 30. The high school reported 339 students enrolled and a 93.99% attendance rate; administrators also highlighted that 56% of students met proficiency on the Biology iLearn, above the state average in that metric.
A facilities update said roofing work at the elementary and middle school campuses and restroom/handicap parking work at the high school are on schedule for summer completion. Officials reiterated that the projects are funded by debt service and will not draw on the district’s operations or education budgets.
Quotes and concerns
The administrator presenting ELC details said the expansion will require additional oversight and licensing and emphasized the district’s plan to staff and operate six classrooms for infants through preschool. Officials told the board they are full in some toddler classrooms and have waiting lists for others.
Financial and procedural notes
The board approved contracts and stipends with vote counts recorded in the meeting; one board member stated they were unable to vote on a claims item and abstained. Administrators flagged the trade‑offs of using special education dollars for personnel stipends because that reduces funds available for classroom special‑education support.
What’s next
The district will begin construction and renovation work after the school year ends, complete roofing and other bond projects over the summer if weather cooperates, and implement staffing and ELC changes ahead of the 2026–27 school year. The board adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
(Reporting based solely on the May 11, 2026 Eastern Greene Schools board meeting transcript.)
The board opened with the pledge and an invocation before a district administrator recognized retirees Karen White, Sandy Yoho, Lori Markle and Rhonda Dobson for a combined century of service to Eastern Greene Schools. "Karen, Sandy, Lori, and Rhonda have done just that throughout their careers," the administrator said, thanking them for their impact on students and the community.
Why it matters: The board’s personnel decisions set staffing and program plans for the coming school year, including a major expansion of the Early Learning Center (ELC) that will add infant and toddler classrooms, more staff and new licensing and curriculum requirements.
Key votes and hires
- The board approved early‑graduation requests for 10 students, citing college, employment and military plans.
- The board approved an out‑of‑state trip for the high school girls basketball team to a June shootout in Olney, Illinois; administrators confirmed the trip will not require overnight stays.
- The board renewed its athletic trainer contract with Jewett Sports and Occupational Services for 2026–27; administrators said the vendor has been reliable and that smaller schools increasingly rely on subcontracted trainers.
- Jamie Hudson was approved as middle school dean of students for 2026–27.
- The board approved hiring Dawn Hostetter as director of the expanded Early Learning Center on a 240‑day contract with a $15,000 stipend. District leadership said $15,000 of the stipend plus an additional $35,000 of Hostetter’s regular pay will be covered by fees collected through the ELC rather than from the district’s general education or operations budgets.
- The board approved a $15,000 stipend for Lindsay Bailey to continue in the school psychology role; the administrator noted that the stipend and salary will be paid from special education funds, which can reduce available dollars for other direct special‑education staff.
- The board approved the ELC handbook for 2026–27, a Chartwells food‑service renewal, and a package of staffing updates including a change for Tasha Demas Blevins to a 200‑day contract with a $58,000 base, Tim Mosher’s move to a full‑time teaching contract, multiple ELC lead‑instructor hires and extracurricular coaching appointments.
- The board accepted several donations, including $2,000 to the elementary PTO for Scholastic Bookflix and smaller gifts to student organizations and a negative‑lunch fund.
District updates and logistics
Principals reported end‑of‑year events (field days, preschool and kindergarten graduations), teacher appreciation activities and testing schedules; the high school announced summer school from May 26 to June 8 and invited the board to commencement on May 30. The high school reported 339 students enrolled and a 93.99% attendance rate; administrators also highlighted that 56% of students met proficiency on the Biology iLearn, above the state average in that metric.
A facilities update said roofing work at the elementary and middle school campuses and restroom/handicap parking work at the high school are on schedule for summer completion. Officials reiterated that the projects are funded by debt service and will not draw on the district’s operations or education budgets.
Quotes and concerns
The administrator presenting ELC details said the expansion will require additional oversight and licensing and emphasized the district’s plan to staff and operate six classrooms for infants through preschool. Officials told the board they are full in some toddler classrooms and have waiting lists for others.
Financial and procedural notes
The board approved contracts and stipends with vote counts recorded in the meeting; one board member stated they were unable to vote on a claims item and abstained. Administrators flagged the trade‑offs of using special education dollars for personnel stipends because that reduces funds available for classroom special‑education support.
What’s next
The district will begin construction and renovation work after the school year ends, complete roofing and other bond projects over the summer if weather cooperates, and implement staffing and ELC changes ahead of the 2026–27 school year. The board adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
(Reporting based solely on the May 11, 2026 Eastern Greene Schools board meeting transcript.)
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