The Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Luncheon was held yesterday at the Gasthof in Montgomery. Washington School Superintendent Kevin Frank, Andrea Huff from Barr Reeve, and Jodi Berry from North Daviess were the guest speakers to discuss the state of education in Daviess County. The three discussed the new diploma program that will be implemented by the state and the career pathways that each school has developed to help students prepare for what they want to do after high school. The group praised the amazing teachers they have devoted to students and discussed challenges they are facing as they look to the future. Staffing is an issue; it is difficult to find teachers in the competitive field it is today, and the big issue is funding as state leaders look to crunch budgets and cut school funding. While the schools are set for next year and into 2027, starting in 2028, the school leaders expressed big concerns about having funding to handle the new programs being implemented and building maintenance. The crowd on hand then asked the panel a variety of questions before wrapping up the program. The next luncheon will be on the state of health care in November.
