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The Laporte ÍáÍáÂþ»­ Board reorganized at its first meeting of 2025, held Monday, Jan. 13.

Jessica Howg was re-elected as board chair, Kyle Sanders as clerk and Andrew Graham as the treasurer.

The board set the yearly stipend for chair at $750 and $500 for both clerk and treasurer. This is the same as last year.

Board members receive $55 per board meetings and $25 for committee meetings. If the meeting exceeds four hours, they are paid $100.

Melissa Schmidtke was re-appointed as recording secretary, with compensation at $175 per meeting.

In other business, the board did this:

• Discussed offering sports – like golf, wrestling, hockey, shooting sports or gymnastics – in cooperation with other school districts. It was suggested to seek voluntary coaches. No action was taken.
• Set additional two-hour board meetings in February and March to write a strategic plan. Superintendent AJ Dombeck said he could facilitate planning, which was his preference, or the board could hire a consultant.
• Hired Brian Bass as a fourth grade teacher and Daniel Warrington as a substitute custodian.
• Approved Donna Hunter's termination as assistant cook, effective Dec. 20. 
• Designated First National Bank of Walker as official depository.
• Named Kennedy and Graven as school district attorney.
• Named Walker Pilot-Independent as the official newspaper.
• Set the 2025 standard mileage rate at 70 cents per mile.
• Approved an FMLA request, effective Feb. 10.
• Declared that Columbus Day is not a holiday for school district purposes.
• Approved the 2025 junior prom plan, scheduled for April 12.
• Heard a request for an open gym night.

The school board meets at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. The next meeting is Feb. 10.