Southwestern Consolidated Schools board president Derrek Tennell opened Wednesday’s school board meeting with a 9-minute statement on recent issues within the southern Shelby County school system.

Since November, Southwestern has seen its superintendent put on administrative leave and then resign, had its agriculture teacher resign, had its technology director resign, and been informed by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) that it will schedule on-site monitoring in the fall of the 2024-2025 school year to oversee mismanagement of Title funding.

Tennell stated the thoughts expressed were his own and not a combined public statement from the school board.

• On high turnover rate at Southwestern, Tennell read, “The reality is we’ve lost less staff this school year than any of the last five years.”
• On staff compensation, he stated, “This school year, we have made huge strides in both pay and benefits. In this year’s contract negotiations, we provided the largest increases to pay in Southwestern’s history.”
• On board members usurping power, he stated, “We have absolutely no individual authority over any Southwestern employee. We can only act on recommendations brought by the superintendent.”
• On work environment issues, he stated, “The board and administration is committed to provide a safe and comfortable work environment.”
• On IDOE issues, he stated, “The individuals responsible are no longer part of the corporation.”

Tennell went on to address what he labeled as “one-sided news articles in conjunction with a large amount of misinformation being aired on social media.”

“Southwestern is still a good school. We are financially secure. Our buildings are filled with competent and dedicated staff,” he read. “And our community, even when looked at from the most objective decisions is what most school districts can only dream of.

“The Southwestern community is small and close-knit. This is one of our greatest benefits. Unfortunately, this small size also does leave us vulnerable to the damages caused by half-truths and whole lies. I hope a majority of our community will choose to keep supporting our school and help promote Southwestern for what it is – a great little school that produces successful and capable young men and women. Southwestern has done this for over four generations and during this time we have persevered many more trying times that this. Even though it may be hard to see at times, I do truly believe the future at Southwestern in bright.”

The board meeting then commenced with corporation teachers and the school corporation nurse addressing positive accomplishments within the school system.

• Sixth grade Language Arts teacher Caleb Tennell shared how the sixth grade class is scoring well above state levels on the ILearn assessment.
• Tylynn Routier, school system nurse in her second year and parent of a Southwestern student, spoke directly to the board and administration about her appreciation for their leadership and the criticism they have received in recent months. “I have never felt more confident or supported as a parent that my child is getting everything he needs to be successful in the elementary school. His teacher, support staff and the admins are all making choices that are in his best interest,” she said.
• Elementary teacher Britney Taylor spoke first representing a large contingent of elementary school teachers and employees at the meeting. They delivered a passionate presentation on the positive values at Southwestern Elementary School.

To watch the school board meeting in its entirety, go to the school system’s website, www.swshelby.k12.in.us and click on the “Board” tab, then click on “Board Information” to find the link to the video of the meeting.

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