In a related matter, Superintendent Charles Mellon expressed his appreciation of the NIPSCO crew who worked in the cold weather last Saturday (Dec. 10) to replace some underground electrical cable. The process took about 12 hours and power was restored to the buildings without disrupting the educational process.
In other business, Mellon reviewed a report with the board that is a requirement of each school corporation in Indiana dealing with health insurance contributions for employees by the employer. The report compares what the state contribution is for employees and what a school corporation pays. If a school corporation pays more than 112% of the state contribution, that corporation could be forced to join the state health insurance plan or make other adjustments. The average contribution for the 120 employees of the West Central School Corporation is 65% of the state contribution.
Principals Tony Brose and Don Street shared the Christmas programs schedule with the school board. The middle/high school choir and band concert will be at 6 p.m., Monday (Dec. 19); and the elementary program will begin at 6:45 p.m., Tuesday (Dec. 20).
It was reported that a few middle school math students will be trying a new math program called ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces) for second semester. This is an on-line program which is a free pilot for five months.
Under action items, the board voted to approve the amended second reading of the air quality policies as presented.
The following resolution was approved: "Be it resolved that the members of the Board of School Trustees hereby approve of the necessary transfers so that all accounts have a zero or positive balance for the year of 2011. Be it further resolved that funds are hereby encumbered from the 2011 accounts for use in 2012."
The board approved the employment of Bill Amsler as bus driver and Amber McAdow for the Cooperative School Services program..
The board approved the maternity-leave request from Lindsay Hopkins.
Conference requests were approved for Brian Pilarski and Jennifer Owens to attend the National Sports Clinics in Chicago (all expenses will be paid by the athletic department); and for Don Street to serve as NCA Chair at South Newton High School
The field trip request from Alex Warren and members of the band to plan a trip to Walt Disney World
in Orlando, Florida was approved.
The school board met in executive session following the regular meeting to discuss a job performance evaluation of individual employees.
