NORTH MANCHESTER - Ahead of the new school year, the Manchester Community Schools Board accepted 17 new hires, including former Superintendent Kyle Wieland as director of public relations and communication.
Board member Adam Penrod listed donations from Tri Kappa, the Community Foundation of Wabash County and Special Olympics of Indiana. Tri Kappa gave $400 toward Manchester Elementary School and $400 to Manchester Intermediate School projects. The Community Foundation gave $100 toward end-of-year MIS activities. The Special Olympics gave $1,000 toward the special education program.
The board watched drone footage of the ongoing expansion project and discussed the parking lot's one- and two-way traffic flow at the administrative office. There will be barriers around the construction zones as the school year begins to ensure students' safety.
Superintendent Jeff Stephens gave a 2024 budget update. Stephens is applying for a 14-month loan to purchase two buses this year.
Board member Robert Bucher gave a Heartland Career Center update. There are 642 students estimated for this year, which sets the 500-student center over capacity.
Enrollment for 2023-24 is down 12: MES is down 30, MIS is up two and Manchester Junior-Senior High School is up 16.
Stephens reported "no new news" on the fraud recovery, although $400,000 of the over $1.1 million in lost funding is secured with a potential $250,000 returning from cybersecurity protection. At this point, the amount the school corporation receives depends on what the insurance claim affords.
The board will next meet at 6 p.m. Sept. 12.