Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. staffs' salaries were approved by the school board Monday.
Salaries and contracts were unanimously approved for administration and department directors. Central office clerical support and technology support staff were approved with a 4-to- 1 vote.
Hal Hoffman dissented because of several 4 percent pay increases.
The increases were approved while more schooling is required, he said. The board should have waited until the required tasks were completed, he said.
Tippecanoe Valley assistant superintendent Dan Kramer said the salaries were being increased "individually" to adequately pay for the work being done.
In another matter, the school board unanimously approved changes in the elementary schools' student and faculty handbooks.
Tippecanoe Valley Middle School did not make changes. They had not received the high school's changes.
School board president Mark Wise suggested having teacher dress codes. He said he has heard complaints. But the legality of the code was questioned. Some members thought it might infringe on First Amendment rights.
Also, a student questioned having her car searched. The student and several others sent unsigned letters to corporation leaders complaining about the school.
Superintendent Dr. Karen Boling said because the car was on private property a principal would not need as much cause as a law enforcer on the street to search a car.
The school board laid out the hierarchy that complaints should follow.
They added the hierarchy to the student and faculty handbooks.
