EVSC School Board looks to improve transparency, communication

Earl Hopkins
Evansville Courier & Press

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — A procedural change for Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. School Board announced Monday had the goal of strengthening communication with the community.

For future school board meetings, the administration will place public comment at the top of each agenda instead of the end. This move, EVSC School Board President Jeff Worthington said, will enhance community members' thoughts on topics concerning the school corporation.

Rather than have locals address board members after they vote on agenda items, Worthington believes moving public comment earlier will be more effective. 

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"It just makes sense," Worthington said. "If someone wants to come and comment on something we voted on that night, it doesn't do them any good if we already made the vote. We want to give everybody the opportunity to be heard."

In addition to the agenda revision, the school board will also organize town hall sessions. Worthington said having these open forums will encourage community members to address school-specific topics, along with any concerns or issues corporation-wide.

Attorney Charlie Berger, who has questioned the school board's transparency for months at board meetings, said he was optimistic after hearing about the school board's upcoming efforts.

"My initial thought was I was happy," he said. "Maybe the board was listening to what I and others have been saying."

Although Berger looks forward to the changes, he said he's still concerned with the implementation — especially for public comment. While Evansville residents will be able to speak before the school board votes on agenda items, he believes there still may be limitations expressing a concern it could instead impose more restriction on public comment.

"I won't give a final judgment until I see how it's implemented," Berger said.

The change to the agenda will take place at the Feb. 10 school board meeting, Worthington said, with the town hall sessions to be announced and placed on the EVSC website within the coming months. 

Revised Wee Care program rate proposal

On Monday, EVSC Superintendent David Smith presented a revised proposal for potential increases to the school corporation's Wee Care program. 

The Wee Care program, exclusively for children of EVSC employees, provides early learning experiences for children as young as six weeks through age 5. Smith proposed a possible increase of $15 per week that would take effect July 1.

The current rate for infant and toddler care is $150 per week, and preschool care is $120 per week.

The original proposal, which was first outlined during the Jan. 13 school board meeting, was altered in response to EVSC staff's feedback, Smith said. It signaled possible cost increases of 20 and 25 percent over the next six months, with a $15 increase per week in April and another starting July 1. 

"After a thorough analysis of operating expenses, we presented a possible price increase structure to the school board as an information item on the agenda," EVSC Spokesman Jason Woebkenberg said in an earlier statement. "While this is a decision we do not make lightly, it is imperative that we ensure the Wee Care program is financially sustainable in the future. Program costs are high to run early learning centers, especially those that serve infants and toddlers. Since the announcement, we have received comments and questions from employees utilizing this benefit. We have informed these individuals that we value their feedback, and are processing possible revisions to the increases presented during the school board meeting."

Smith attributed the possible increases to the expenses needed to accommodate the children in the early learning program, which includes the hiring of additional staff. 

The revised proposal will be placed as an information item on the Feb. 10 board meeting agenda.