By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

BURKET — The Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. has a new director of communications, marketing and grants.

Kiira Churchill

At its regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 15, at Burket Educational Center, the TVSC Board hired Kiira Churchill for that position. She replaces Lori Tilden-Geiger who has taken a job as volunteer coordinator for the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum.

Churchill has spent the last two years as director of development for Combined Community Services in Warsaw. Prior to that, she said she worked for Mission Point Community Church in Kosciusko County overseeing “their missions and their vulnerable child population that they serve through the church.”

Churchill grew up attending Warsaw Community Schools, but noted her children go to Valley. Her kids are 10, 8 and 6.

“We love it here, and I’m excited to get to work and be able to showcase what Valley is doing and write some grants,” she said.

McFarland Leaving

The board also accepted the resignation of TVSC Treasurer Jessica McFarland.

McFarland is leaving to take a job in Wa-Nee Community Schools. She spent 11 years as Valley’s treasurer.

Jessica McFarland

Before the board voted to accept McFarland’s resignation, Board Member Tom Bauters spoke.

“I just want to thank Jessica for your professionalism and … your expertise,” he said. “You went after every dollar for us, and we’re very, very fortunate to have the skills that you’ve had.”

“I know I’m speaking on behalf of everyone here, but we really appreciate you. Thank you,” Bauters continued.

In other business, the board:

• Postponed hearing its annual update on Burket and honoring the corporation’s Indiana Association of School Principals’ Rising Stars of Indiana Class of 2025 due to the weather. Those will happen at a later date.
• Accepted a $3,000 Project Lead the Way grant for Mentone Elementary School, which will be used for teacher training.
• Accepted a $50 donation to Burket from the Tippecanoe Valley High School Class of 1983 in memory of one of its members Jim Shanes’ mother Barbara Shanes.
• Approved the hiring of Mentone cook Michelle Skiles.
• Approved Karen Poe as the Tippecanoe Valley Middle School sixth grade girls’ basketball coach; Jackie Wilson as the TVMS sixth grade girls’ basketball assistant coach; Leslie Brouyette as the TVMS seventh grade girls’ basketball coach; Chad Brouyette as the TVMS seventh grade girls’ basketball assistant coach; Lisa Miller as the TVMS eighth grade girls’ basketball assistant coach; and Jason Engle as TVMS head wrestling coach.
• Accepted the resignations of TVMS custodian Leigh Judy, Mentone spell bowl coach Karissa Cody and TVMS head wrestling coach Kyler Kearby.

The board’s next regular meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19, at TVMS.