S-D Schools May Not Renew Principal

(West Harrison, Ind.) – Parents and fellow teachers are coming out in support of a Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corporation administrator.

Chris Vennemeier was the Indiana Association of School Principals 2005 District 10 Principal of the Year for the job she does at Sunman-Dearborn Intermediate School in West Harrison.

When they meet at East Central High School Thursday evening, the district school board will consider whether or not to renew Vennemeier’s contract.

A knowledgeable source who wished to remain anonymous told Eagle 99.3 this week that Vennemeier was recently notified that her contract is recommended for non-renewal.

Since the news broke, parents and teachers have voiced support for keeping Vennemeier. The supporters point out that Sunman-Dearborn Intermediate School was the only building in the district to earn an “Exemplary” rating under Indiana’s Public Law 221 for student progress on standardized tests.

When contacted by Eagle 99.3, Vennemeier did not want to comment on the situation.

“However, I would like to say that I greatly enjoy working for Sunman-Dearborn Community Schools, and I especially appreciate the support and thoughtfulness from the people of the Sunman-Dearborn Community,” she said in an e-mail.

Vennemeier supporters say they will wear red to Thursday’s school board meeting, which begins at 7:00 p.m.

There is no public comment scheduled on the meeting agenda, because the school board is having an expanded public forum concerning the 2012-13 school district calendar immediately following the regular board meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hendrix told the Aurora Journal-Press that public comment on other topics during the calendar meeting would not be allowed. Also, the school board’s rules do not allow for public comment regarding personnel issues.

Hendrix did not return an e-mail sent Wednesday morning seeking further information.