EVSC School Board Meeting Brief

The Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation Board of School Trustees met on March 16 at 5:30 p.m., with all seven members present: Michael Duckworth Sr., Paul Gamblin, Christopher Kiefer, Karen Ragland, David Hollingsworth, Melissa Moore and Amy DeVries.

The board moved quickly through its agenda, approving consent items and personnel recommendations, including the appointment of new North High School principal Katie Elmer, who will replace John Skinner when he retires in May. Several major contracts were also approved, along with a presentation on Amcor Link, a workforce partnership program connecting students to careers in manufacturing and logistics.

Several students and staff were recognized for their accomplishments:

• The high school honors band, orchestra and choir performed at the Victory Theatre. Many of these students plan to continue their studies in music after graduation.
• Mrs. Wannemuehler (Thompkins) and Mrs. Burroughs (Dexter) were named University of Evansville ACE Educators of the Year, recognizing their outstanding service in education.
• Libby Ryan (North High School) was recognized as a student-athlete and received the Lily King Award for Athletic Excellence and Integrity at the Power of Women’s Sports Luncheon.

Consent agenda and financial approvals

Board members unanimously approved multiple consent items in a single vote, including meeting minutes, more than $15.2 million in payments covering multiple dates in February and early March, and several operational agreements.

The board also approved a $1.99 million Common School Fund loan to support classroom technology, including student devices, infrastructure and digital learning tools.

Additional approvals included agreements supporting the Academy of Science and Medicine program and the transfer of a district bus contract.

Property and facilities actions

The board approved a resolution expressing interest in purchasing property at 1200 and 1216 Washington Avenue if it becomes available through a public auction. The measure does not outline a specific use for the site, stating only that it could support educational, operational or redevelopment purposes.

Board members also approved a $279,050 contract for flooring renovations at Stockwell Elementary School and moved forward with a $20 million, district-wide facilities improvement plan.

The plan includes safety and security upgrades, site and athletic improvements, and the purchase of buses, equipment and technology.

As part of that effort, the board held a required public hearing and approved resolutions allowing the district to issue bonds to finance the work. Officials indicated the plan is structured so the debt service tax rate is expected to remain at or near current levels as existing obligations are phased out.

The board also authorized the district to front project costs and reimburse itself later using bond proceeds.

Major contracts and curriculum investment

The board approved two major contracts: a three-year, $417,702 agreement with Linewize, a digital platform for classroom management and student safety that includes tools to monitor online risks such as cyberbullying, and a six-year, $4.85 million English Language Arts curriculum adoption using Savvas materials for grades K–12, which includes teacher training and digital resources.

District spotlight: Amcor Link program

A highlight of the meeting was a presentation on the Amcor Link program, a partnership between EVSC and Amcor designed to give high school juniors and seniors hands-on experience in manufacturing and logistics careers.

Launched in 2022, the program includes an application process and serves up to about 25 students, with officials reporting a high completion rate among participants.

Scott Hartmann, Amcor’s human resources director, and EVSC teacher Jesse Simmons said the program connects students directly to workforce opportunities, offering early exposure to career pathways before graduation.

The meeting concluded without extended discussion. The next meeting is scheduled for April 6 at 5:30 p.m. at 951 Walnut St.