Students Win State Contest; New Assistant Principal at Lakeview
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Congratulations were given and tears were shed at the Warsaw School Board meeting Monday night.
Warsaw Community Schools Director of Transportation Della Swain, representing the School Transportation Association of Indiana, announced two Warsaw students were state winners in the STAI School Bus Safety Poster Contest.
Eisenhower second-grader Megan Mishler won the Division 1 contest, which is for students in grades kindergarten to second grade. Jefferson third-grader Kendall Wayne won the Division 2 contest, which is for students in grades third through fifth.
The Division 3 contest was won by a student from Batesville.
Swain said she will take the state-winning posters to Memphis, Tenn., in October for the national school transportation conference and contest.
Along with certificates and blue ribbons, both Mishler and Wayne also received $50.
A free video of Swain recognizing each girl during the school board meeting is available on the Times-Union website under the video section.
Later in the meeting, School Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz recognized personnel changes.
Chief Accountability Officer Tom Kline is becoming the new principal at Madison Elementary School, while Chief Technology Officer Elaine Bultemeier is leaving her role due to the relocation of her husband’s employment.
Both Kline and Bultemeier were in tears as Hintz presented them with plaques for their service.
“On behalf of our school system, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to two members of the superintendent’s cabinet who will be moving on to new chapters of their lives,” Hintz said.
Kline was CAO for the past three years, Hintz said.
“I knew Tom was the perfect candidate for the job because his demeanor, because of the fact that he had served faithfully as a building-level administrator, he joined the system a number of years ago as the principal at Lakeview and moved to the district office about four years ago, and even had a stint ... helping out at Madison Elementary School,” Hintz said of why he chose Kline for the CAO when Hintz came to WCS in 2009.
Hintz said he told Kline he didn’t want to let him go because he is so very valuable.
“But Tom has a dream. He wants to be an elementary school principal,” Hintz said. “... He’s very excited about this new chapter in his life. He’s served this corporation so faithfully, so loyally, and to the best of his ability. He’s just a fine, fine man and a gentleman.”
Kline said, “This is bittersweet for me. We’ve had a cabinet that worked together for three years. It’s been hard work ... and we worked hard together. It’s been a pleasure.”
Of Bultemeier, Hintz said, “Elaine has provided outstanding leadership in her role, as Tom has, and will be sorely missed.”
In her tearful remarks, Bultemeier said, “I really can’t add to what Tom has said, except to say I really appreciate the opportunity. I really have learned so much from all of you, from Dr. Hintz. This is a very difficult decision.”
Another personnel change involved the new assistant principal at Lakeview Middle School. Teacher Matt Deeds is taking over that role.
Deeds and his wife have a 21-month-old son and an 8-day-old son.
After the board approved all personnel recommendations, Deeds told the board it was an honor to stand before them. It has been an educational dream of his to become a school principal, and he’s been “blessed” to work under a great administration at Lakeview as a teacher.
He appreciated the opportunity to pursue his dream of becoming a principal.
Also, Wendy Long, director of instructional support programs, will be adding some new responsibilities to her role with the school corporation, according to Hintz. With the start of the new school year, Long will assume the role of director of communications and language programs.
A free video of Hintz’s full recognition of Kline, Bultemeier and Long during the school board meeting is available on the Times-Union website under the video section.
