PIERCETON - Jim Suding is Whitko High School's new principal, effective July 1.

The Whitko Community School Corp. Board of School Trustees approved Suding's employment Tuesday at a special hearing and approved the teachers' contract agreement with Whitko Classroom Teachers' Association for the 2003-05 school years.

After being approved as new principal, Suding said he was happy to be at Whitko and excited about getting started. "I'm looking forward to it," he said.

Suding received both his bachelor's and master's degrees at Ball State University. He taught social studies and coached football, wrestling and girls' track at Muncie Central High School for 11 years. He also served as assistant principal at Muncie Central for eight years. Before coming to Whitko, he was the principal at Yorktown for six years.

He said he decided to leave Yorktown because "things were going on at Yorktown that weren't good." Not only did he leave that school corporation, but the superintendent of that school corporation and others left when the school board there decided not to renew contracts, Suding said.

Asked what he liked about Whitko, Suding said, "The professionalism. Talking with the board certainly has been a good indication (of that)." The interview process at Whitko was good he said because the committee included students, teachers, staff and parents. He also got a tour of the high school facilities during the interview process.

Qualities Suding said he brings to Whitko includes experience and expertise as a principal. He wants to look at Whitko's academic achievement and work on its requirements for Public Law 221. Part of his focus, he said, will be on character education programs because they can make even a good school better.

Suding and his wife, Marla, have two children: a 24-year old daughter who is a pharmacist in Cincinnati, Ohio; and a 20-year old son studying pre-dentistry at Ball State.

"The door will be open and I'm always available," Suding said about what else he wants the Whitko community to know about him.

On the teachers' contract agreement, Whitko Superintendent Dr. William Worl said the administration and teachers' association began meeting in March.

"We had excellent cooperation this year," he said. After studying the budgets, Worl said, part of the agreement includes a 1 percent increase for teachers for each year. Minor changes were made in extracurricular pay, as well as in teachers' retirement plans.

Worl said he was pleased to present the contracts, which are favorable for both the teachers and the school corporation, to the school board.

School board member Dave Tranter thanked Worl for his diligence in getting the agreement finalized, especially with the state having budget problems.

"Thanks, Dr. Worl, and everyone who had a role in it," said Hal Trump, board chairman. "It's a job well done."

Members of Whitko School Board are Hal Trump, E. Marie Trump, Pete Mitchell, Dave Tranter and Michael Braddock. Regular meetings are at 7:30 p.m. the third Monday of each month. [[In-content Ad]]