Milan School Board congratulates students, athletes
Pictured are members of the Milan School Board (seated) with Rising Star recipients Molly Knecht, Grant Langferman, Kaitlynn Hicks and Josie Prifogle.
At the last regular school board meeting of the year for the Milan Community School Corporation there were lots of recognitions.
Ryan Langferman recognized junior students Molly Knecht, Grant Langferman, Kaitlynn Hicks and Josie Prifogle as Rising Star recipients. The award is sponsored by the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP). Each Indiana high school is invited to recognize up to four students currently in the eleventh grade who show great potential for continued strong academic achievement.
Members of the football team were in attendance, and they were honored as well. The team had a great season and celebrated a Regional Championship for the first time since the 1996 season.
Superintendent Murphy noted it was an amazing start to the school year with success for academics and athletics. He credited the community and staff for coming together to support the football team at the semi-state game. He noted that despite the weather, it was a great turnout from the community coming together to help. He thanked the City of Lawrenceburg for bringing in extra bleachers. He said he had received several messages from South Putnam expressing appreciation of how nice and accommodating the evening was for them.
Under Personnel:
The Board approved the request of Amber Beverly for a maternity leave. They also approved Sophia Anderson as Special Education Assistant and for Maura Boze to fill the vacancy of Beverly.
Superintendent Patrick Murphy requested approval of Langferman’s support in conjunction with River Valley Resources recommendation to hire Vanessa Slaughter as the new JAG Coordinator. This met with unanimous approval.
The Board approved Supt. Murphy’s recommendations for a salary increase for classified staff employees categorized in Group 1 and 2 pay categories. They also approved a salary increase and contract rollover for Mr. Langferman, Mr Prifogle, Mr. Rohrig, Mrs. Taylor and Ms. Fidler. The increase would be retroactive to the beginning of the 2025-26 school year.
In other business:
The Board approved the 2026-27 school calendar. They approved the new MCSC Teacher Appreciation Grant Policy with guidelines issued by the IDOE.
The Board approved a resolution authorizing Corporation Treasurer Gretchen Berger to continue paying the 2025 bills from the 2025 appropriations through the end of 2025, to encumber appropriations for bills created in 2025 and payable in 2026 and completed the transfer of appropriations from major accounts to balance out the 2025 year. All transfers from major accounts will be explained and approval requested at the January 12, 2026, board meeting.
A resolution to transfer funds from the education fund to the operations fund, for funds not allocated to student instruction and learning fr the 2026 calendar year period was approved.
The Board approved a resolution to transfer $200,000 from the Operations Fund to the Rainy-Day Fund.
The Board approved Dave Patterson’s quote for snow removal for the winter.
The Board approved Supt. Murphy’s recommendation to increase the corporation’s mileage reimbursement rate to .70 cents. This is the standard IRS rate.
Conference and Facility Requests:
The Board approved a request from Breeanna Sides to attend the Indiana Association of Agricultural Educators Winter Workshop in January.
They approved a request from Rebecca Schmidt to attend the Indiana Summit on Out of School Learning for CARES in April. Requests from Kim Taylor, Trina Schutte and Zarah Hileman to attend the Inaugural Safety Summit in January were all approved.
A request from Heather Sterwerf for the Special Olympics to use the track for practices beginning in March was approved along with a request for Special Olympics to use the elementary gym for practices in March.
A request from Kris Bushhorn for Milan Dollars for Scholars to hold Denim for Dollars Staff Days during the second semester to raise money for scholarships was approved.
Supt. Murphy reminded everyone that the January meeting will be held on the second Monday of the month – January 12 – to meet the reorganization requirements for the school board by the state.
Board members attending were Greg Lewis, Timothy Tuttle, Mike Alloway, Edward Amberger and Anne Marie Layden. Also attending was Supt. Pat Murphy.
Editor’s Note: Information for the above article was taken from unofficial minutes from the Milan School Board of Trustees.
