The Rossville Consolidated School District Board of Education held its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday evening, June 3, at 7:00 p.m., with a comprehensive agenda focused on state legislative changes, personnel transitions, curriculum updates, and the future direction of educational services in the District. The session, presided over by Board President Mr. Joe Hufford, reflected the District’s continued commitment to fiscal responsibility, instructional excellence, and student-centered innovation.
Legislative Spotlight: SEA 1 and Its Fiscal Impact
One of the most significant portions of the evening came early in the meeting as Lindsay Simonetto, Director at Rossville Schools, presented a detailed overview of Senate Enrolled Act 1 (SEA 1). Her report highlighted substantial financial implications of the legislation, including projected reductions in revenue related to property tax deductions and credits. According to Simonetto, these changes could result in an annual loss of $130,000 to $200,000 for Rossville Schools, based on current property values.
Key points from the presentation included:
A reduction in homestead property tax revenue.
Elimination of Local Income Tax for Property Tax Relief, set to take effect in 2028, resulting in a loss of over $106,000.
Adjustments to the budget and debt issuance processes are prompting the District to consider new financial strategies and explore approaches to levy management.
Superintendent Dr. Jim Hanna emphasized the importance of multi-year financial planning and collaboration with overlapping taxing units, noting that Rossville Schools is committed to maintaining transparency and fiscal health while preserving academic services.
Personnel Transitions: Honoring Departures and Welcoming New Faculty. The Board formally accepted the resignations of Marshall Crawford, Natalie Kanaby, and Lexi Ellenwood, each of whom will conclude their service at the end of the 2024–2025 school year. In response to these departures and to support ongoing district needs, several new appointments were approved:
Emily Vanderwall as Secondary Social Studies teacher, with a base salary of $51,000.
Abigail Funk as an Agricultural Education teacher, starting October 20 at a daily instructional assistant rate until her degree is conferred in December. Her prorated teacher salary of $46,000 begins January 5, 2026, along with an FFA sponsorship stipend.
Taylor Wagner is a full-time Educational Diagnostician for Clinton County Joint Services, holding a 190-day contract with an annual salary of $69,000.
Kelly Mills for Extended School Year (ESY) instruction for one student, as specified in the student’s IEP. The Board also approved a contract with Edunuity LLC for 112 days of psychoeducational evaluation services, beginning July 30, 2025.
Coaching assignments and corrections were also made. Among them:
Karmen Young – Varsity Assistant Cheerleading Coach
Elizabeth Latshaw – Volunteer Assistant Volleyball Coach
Jarred Bushman – Varsity Assistant Boys Soccer Coach
Corrections were approved for the softball coaching staff, formalizing positions for Chris Gorbett, Keith Woollen, Kevin Woollen, and Sarah Martin.
Additionally, the District hired Mrs. Shannon Harman, a certified school counselor from NIESC, to serve as a consultant for the Department of Student Services during the upcoming school year.
Policy and Handbook Update Board adopted numerous policy revisions and updates, including:
Revised policies related to resignation, retirement, reduction in force, and student transfers.
Updates to the 2025–2026 student handbooks at all grade levels, which included grammar corrections, updated graduation requirements, enhanced discipline matrices, and revisions to bullying protocols and virtual instruction expectations.
Financial Decisions: Preschool Expansion, Curriculum, and Special Education Services
In response to growing demand, the Board approved a new 2-day preschool program for young 3-year-olds, with a tuition rate of $185 per month. This program joins the existing 3- and 5-day options already offered.
In line with House Enrolled Act 1001, which eliminates textbook and curriculum fees for families, the Board approved the curricular materials and course fees that would have otherwise been charged, ensuring compliance with state mandates while continuing to support quality instruction.
New curricular adoptions include:
CommonLit 360, designed for grades 6–12, aims to enhance reading, writing, and speaking skills.
Foundations in Personal Finance from Ramsey Education, aligning with updated high school graduation requirements, the Board also approved important cooperative agreements:
A partnership to expand Clinton County Joint Services by including Carroll and Delphi Schools as new members.
A Memorandum of Understanding with Western Boone County Community School Corporation to share the services of a certified teacher for students with Blind/Low Vision (BLV) and Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) designations.
Donations and Community Support Board expressed appreciation for the following contributions:
Rossville FFA Washington D.C. trip: Over $1,300 from local individuals and businesses.
Athletic Department: A total of $3,440 received in memory of Rhonda Burkle, supporting continued excellence in Rossville sports.
Additional ActioBoarde Board established grade-level capacity limits for transfer students and set July 1, 2025, as the deadline for receiving transfer applications. Capacities range from 70 students in Kindergarten through third grade to 100 students in each middle and high school grade level.
Finally, following a presentation in May by Robert W. Baird & Co., the Board approved an engagement letter authorizing a partnership to assess the District’s financial position, improve its S&P credit rating, and prepare for future capital projects.
Closing
Tuesday’s meeting highlighted Rossville’s proactive approach to navigating state-level fiscal changes while preserving educational excellence and innovation. Superintendent Dr. Hanna praised the Board’s forward-thinking decisions and the continued collaboration between administration, educators, families, and community partners.
The next meeting of the Rossville Consolidated School District Board of Education will be on July 3, 2025, in the Media Center.