MOORESVILLE — The art teacher at North Madison Elementary has been placed on paid administrative leave for the second time this calendar year after being accused by multiple students of inappropriate conduct.
The decision to put art teacher James Buchler on leave was announced at Mooresville’s school board meeting last week by board president Matt Saner.
Saner told those in attendance at the Sept. 8 meeting that district superintendent Jake Allen had issued a preliminary determination for a cancellation of contract for Buchler; the teacher is appealing the decision.
Prior to working at North Madison, Buchler was a teacher in Allen County, working for three elementary schools in the East Allen County School Corp. near Ft. Wayne. That school district released a statement earlier this month saying it was previously unaware of the allegations Buchler was facing at North Madison, and had had no contact with him since his “voluntary resignation” at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
Buchler was first placed on paid leave in Mooresville on April 17, after allegations of inappropriate conduct first surfaced. According to the district, “trained investigators” — which included police and the Indiana Department of Child Services — found insufficient evidence against Buchler, and he was allowed to return to the classroom to start the 2025-2026 school year last month.
At the time of the initial investigation, social media outcry over the allegations led to Indianapolis law firm CohenMalad, LLP to announce it was actively investigating misconduct and failure to report at North Madison.
“Parents claim multiple children were subjected to inappropriate touching by a teacher, with numerous complaints made to school staff and leadership,” the firm said in a May 14 statement. “Despite these students bravely coming forward, there was reportedly a failure by the school’s administration to protect students from further harm, and to contact law enforcement about these incidents as required by law.”
The firm later issued a tort claim against Buchler and the district, alleging sexual misconduct and negligence.
The Correspondent asked district communications director Susan Haynes if Buchler’s current leave was due to past allegations, or if new allegations had come to light. The district answered in a prepared statement.
“The pending dismissal recommendation is unrelated to the (prior) civil claims,” the statement reads. “The allegations related to the civil claims were reported by the school corporation last April to the Department of Child Services and the Indiana State Police. Those allegations were immediately reported to authorities per Indiana law. The Indiana State Police investigated those allegations, and no charges were filed by the Morgan County Prosecutor’s Office relating to those allegations.”
The statement further said that the district would not release information regarding Buchler’s pending dismissal before the contract cancellation procedure was completed.
“The school corporation can confirm that the pending dismissal matter does not involve allegations of child abuse or child neglect,” the statement concludes.
The school board heard a rare public comment related to Buchler’s allegations at the Sept. 9 meeting. Local resident Laura Bell identified herself as a “concerned parent,” who wanted the district to “ensure every child is protected.”
At the end of the meeting, when Saner announced the district was seeking to terminate Buchler’s contract, Bell stood and spoke again, proposing the district place cameras in each and every classroom, lamenting that the lack of cameras prevented parents from finding proof of teacher misconduct.
“We can’t get proof if nobody’s looking for it,” Bell said.
2026 budget
The board held its second public hearing on the district’s proposed budget for 2026. The board hopes to pass the budget, along with the district’s capital project and bus replacement plans, at next month’s meeting.
The district’s budget consists of four funds: Education ($34,120,000), Operations ($16,640,000), Debt Service ($9,856,853) and Rainy Day ($2,000,000). The total 2026 budget for the district is $62,616,853.
The district lists seven capital project plans for 2026. These include building and grounds improvements ($250,000), flooring improvements ($150,000), concrete and asphalt improvements ($100,000), lighting improvements ($100,000), signage ($50,000), education equipment ($100,000) and security improvements ($200,000).
Mooresville plans to replace three buses every year from 2026 through 2030. Next year’s replacements will cost an estimated total of $550,00, with two buses priced at $175,000 and the third priced at $200,000.
Agriscience and Construction Trades Facility
At the start of the meeting, the board announced that the district had at long last cut the ribbon on its Agriscience and Construction Trades facility shortly before the meeting started Sept. 9.
The building underwent a total renovation, and now includes four classrooms, an updated greenhouse and large open spaces for project-based learning. The facility is already in use by 380 students in grades 8-12, or about 20 percent of Mooresville High School and Paul Hadley Middle School.
There are dozens of classes offered through the Agriscience and Construction Trades pathways, eight of which are dual credit or advanced placement courses.
Visitors at the ribbon cutting were invited to pound nails into a sign being made for the building as well as pick up plants grown by students.
The next meeting of the Mooresville School Board will take place Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Mooresville Schools Education Center.
