Sarah Scott Middle School principal to retire

Sue Loughlin, The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
·2 min read

Apr. 23—Sarah Scott Middle School principal Scotia Brown is retiring effective May 28, according to a personnel report approved by the Vigo County School Board on Monday.

Brown has been the school's principal since 2015 and before to that was principal at the former McLean High School; she also spent seven years as a guidance counselor at McLean.

In other matters, the school board voted to award Lifetouch Photography a three-year contract to provide all photography services for the school corporation.

The contract includes an option for renewal if performance standards are met.

A committee consisting of principals, athletic directors and yearbook sponsors was formed to discuss the photography needs of the school corporation.

It created a list of criteria including product price, quality and services that should be expected.

A request for proposals resulted in six proposals reviewed by the committee; three vendors were selected for an additional meeting with the committee, which ultimately recommended Lifetouch.

The district currently works with Strawbridge Studios.

The board also heard a presentation on Steel Dynamics' donation of a "Buddy Bench" to Franklin Elementary School on Monday.

The company, and many VCSC schools, collected plastic caps to be used for the bench, and Steel Dynamics also donated funds.

As part of Earth Day festivities, the event was a surprise to Franklin students, along with a personalized message from Sammie Vance.

The Fort Wayne student founded Sammie's Buddy Bench Project in 2017 and her efforts have since helped provide benches for schools and parks across the country.

A Buddy Bench might be used by students if they are lonely, left out, new to school or wanting to make a friend, according to Sammie's Buddy Bench project website.

The Buddy Bench is also part of the VCSC BKIND initiative.

Steel Dynamics will donate benches at two other elementary schools.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com. Follow Sue on X at @TribStarSue.