By Megan Erbacher of the Courier and Press

After a recommendation from Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp. Superintendent David Smith, board members approved firing a Bosse High School teacher who was recently suspended.

Former Bosse Band Director Kevin Hulsey's contract was terminated for "immorality and insubordination," according to district spokesman Jason Woebkenberg.

Hulsey, 43, was suspended April 22 after an Evansville police investigation in which officers said there would be no criminal charges filed.

At a May 2 school board meeting, Smith said Hulsey's case was "still running its course" because according to law Hulsey could request a conference with the superintendent within five days of his suspension. Smith said law required the school district set a conference within 10 days of the teachers' request. There are no statutory guidelines when that conference must be scheduled, he said.

Woebkenberg said Smith and Hulsey met on May 9.

Since 1996, Hulsey had worked as an EVSC teacher and music instructor. He is a 1991 Bosse graduate.

In 2012, Hulsey was named high school teacher of the year in the Outstanding Educators of the Year awards, sponsored by the Courier & Press.

Nothing concerning the April 22 suspension or Hulsey's ultimate termination was discussed during Monday night's public meeting. Exact details in the case, including the specific reason for his suspension, haven't been made public.

In other news Monday night:

EVSC board members approved a new online vendor to "enhance" communication with students and families. The switch from Blackboard Connect 5 to SchoolMessenger will take place over the summer, Woebkenberg said, with an expected completion date at the start of school.

Blackboard Connect 5 will soon stop providing support for current users.

Woebkenberg said SchoolMessenger will include new websites for all schools and the district, a phone notification system, customizable app for mobile devices, social media capability and secure student email addresses.

According to the vendor's website, it was created in 1999 and is based out of California. About 55,000 schools use SchoolMessenger.

"After investigating options, we feel the new vendor will provide us with a much improved product that will strengthen our communication now and in the future," Woebkenberg said.

Switching to SchoolMessenger will save the EVSC $7,000 annually with a yearly fee of $66,000.

"Not very often you get a new product at a lesser price," Woebkenberg said.

The board also approved several food service contracts proposed by EVSC Chief Operating Officer Rick Cameron, including:

Aunt Millies/A & D Distributors for bakery products for the 2016-17 school year for $110,243.

Prairie Farms with a contract of $941,132 for dairy escalator/de-escalator services.

Farm Boy received two contracts, one for food, staples and supplies for $3,245,866.25; and another for paper and plastic products for $234,508.90.

And Smart Systems was awarded a contract for $52,465 based on combined total for price, product specifications, service and training/education.

EVSC Chief Technology Officer Stacy Mauser presented information to board members on buying electronic devices for fourth grade students, with an expected implementation to occur not long after school starts in the fall. After testing different devices, and despite not yet knowing what software will be necessary for future assessments, Mauser felt confident in proposing iPads.

Notebooks will stay in grades 5-12. This school year, classroom carts and 2,400 Lenovo ThinkPad 11e laptops were purchased for fifth grade students. The goal is to do the same for fourth grade, but with iPads. The devices will be paid for with Common School funds.

Mauser expects to have more specific information at the next board meeting.