The Plymouth School Board has approved several of the corporation’s contracts with various organizations. One agreement approved during Tuesday’s meeting was a two-year continuation of Plymouth’s affiliation with the New Tech Network.
Superintendent Dan Tyree said there are two parts to the agreement. One is an upgrade to the Echo software used by students to complete their assignments. Tyree says the other component is professional development for teachers and administrators, “As I’ve said since we got involved with New Tech, it is the best professional development because what New Tech uses is best practice from all aims of educational life, and they package it so that it works for New Tech, but also we use it for here.” The continuation will cost the school corporation just over $96,000 over the two-year period, with a portion of that cost being covered by donations.
The school board also voted to approve Plymouth Schools’ contract with Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center for nurses for each school, as well as two health aides. Business Manager Kandi Tinkey says the cost went up by about $5,000 this year. “They did receive a slight cost of living increase,” she said. “It’s kind of out of our control at times, but I did speak to them about the fact that I can’t increase my money so I’d like to look at them trying to keep it less for us.” The total cost to the corporation will be just under $360,000 for the upcoming school year.
The Plymouth Community School Corporation will also continue teaching students at the Michiana Behavioral Health Center, thanks to the board’s approval Tuesday. Assistant Superintendent Andy Hartley says services will remain the same, but a new funding structure will save the corporation some money.
In other business, the school board approved changes to the terms of employment for classified staff, to bring them in line with new regulations from the Department of Labor.
