The Rossville Consolidated School District Board of Education held its regular meeting Tuesday evening, Jan. 6, focusing on annual reorganization, personnel appointments, policy updates, and several financial and operational matters affecting the district.
As part of the board’s annual reorganization, members elected Joe Hufford as board president, Brent Michael as vice president, and Nathan McCullough as secretary. The board also made committee and representative appointments, naming Michael as the district’s Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) delegate, McCullough as the athletic council representative, and Jentry Pendleton as the scholarship committee representative
The board approved a slate of reorganization appointments, including Mandi Pennington as treasurer, Cara Cornell as deputy treasurer, Superintendent Dr. Jim Hanna as HIPAA privacy officer, and the district’s legal counsel. Members also approved the minutes, claims, and payroll from the Dec. 2, 2025, meeting after reviewing financial reports provided in advance.
Several personnel recommendations were approved. Mason Morrison was appointed as the teacher representative to the MASE Insurance Trust, and Chris Hosfield was approved as a school bus driver, effective Dec. 17, 2025. Additional approvals included Cary Swick as a substitute teacher and Katherine Washburn as a mentor for a new staff member during the second semester, beginning Jan. 8, 2026
In policy action, the board approved revisions to Section 5350 (Homebound Instruction) on first reading and Section 4302 (Bus Discipline) on second reading, continuing its ongoing collaboration with the Indiana School Boards Association to keep district policies current.
The board also accepted several donations, including 1,237 pounds of pork loin from Indiana Packers Corporation for the FFA Pork Chop Supper fundraiser and a $1,000 contribution from the Rossville Area Lions Club to support the Academic Honors program. Additionally, members approved the enrollment of a new transfer student, as required by district policy.
A key action item approved during the meeting was a resolution related to the HEA 1003 Flexibility Waiver. The waiver allows the district to request a 120-minute delayed start one day per month for seven months during the 2026–2027 school year to support professional learning communities and staff collaboration. The board also approved a recommendation for one early release day to conduct a student reunification exercise, with the specific date to be determined and later added to the school calendar
Following reports and routine informational items, the meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting of the Rossville Consolidated School District Board of Education will be announced according to the district’s posted schedule.