Time was spent in the student parking lot, walking the halls, looking into a “tip” box to promote information sharing, meeting with the IMPAC sponsor, and looking into grant opportunities for additional cameras. Extra curricular sponsors/coaches were contacted asking for their help with student leadership in prevention/reporting inappropriate behavior. Teachers were asked to report what they do in their classroom to help prevent student disrespect-type behavior. 

A Judicial Committee, which was formed many years ago, will meet more frequently to discuss issues and concerns. Local retired physician Dr. Edward Hollenberg has volunteered to set up an educational program, “School of Responsibility” for identified students. The visual reminders to prevent student disrespect are hallway signs, a scrolling sign in the MS/HS cafeteria, bulletin messages, daily announcements in all three buildings, convocations, assigning staff to specific areas and being more visible, and emails to staff.

There was discussion of using the Internet for students to report concerns and issues. Dr. Klitzman said he understands this is an emotional issue, close to the heart, and it is not being taken lightly. He promised everything discussed and more, has and will be done, to prevent disrespect-type behavior.

In other business ath the April 9 meeting, Adam Bennett and Peach Roth presented a technology overview. Bennett reported that last summer the school moved from a Novell to a Windows Network and condensed seven servers into one, which is easier to manage, plus allowed for more storage space. Moodle was updated, the school system moved from Groupwise email to Google email, and moved from 4 T-1 connections to fiber. Currently, DIBELS testing was updated from palm pilots to netbooks for teachers, each student in high school AP Classes now has a notebook computer, and the elementary school is receiving 30 ceiling-mount projector units with document cameras (Linda Braun Foundation Gift). 

For the summer of 2012 proposed plans are to install a wireless system, with eight access points at the elementary school and 21 at the middle /high school. The work will be done internally with the only additional costs being cabling and Ethernet switches. The estimated cost is $24,000.

The school board approved retirement requests from teachers Jan Moore and Gary Nellans, and received the resignation of middle/high school band director Micah Combs.

Mrs. Moore has been with the Winamac schools for 35 years, teaching upper level math. She has always been involved in extra curricular activities as an academic sponsor and athletic coach. She was commended for her service and wished well.

Mr. Nellans has been with the Winamac schools for 32 years, a total of 39 years in education. He has taught at the elementary school and middle school, as well as being assistant athletic director and athletic director. He also coached many different sports. Nellans thanked everyone for their support throughout his years at Eastern Pulaski Schools.

Mr. Combs has been at WCMS/WCHS for four years. He has decided to enter into the family business full time. He was wished well and thanked for his years of service.

Dr. Klitzman recommended, and the board gave approval, to offer the following summer school classes if there is sufficient student enrollment:

• High School Physical Education
• “Blended” High School Government (This class will be a blend of classroom work and online work and will free up a section of government during the school year.)
• HS Math – Indiana Virtual Academy (This is an online class for those students who didn’t pass this course during the school year.)
• English – Indiana Virtual Academy (This is an online class for those students who didn’t pass this course during the school year.)

The principals presented proposed changes to their 2012-13 Student Handbooks.  All handbooks had minor changes, including changing tri-mester to semester, and will be presented for approval at the May meeting.

Elementary school principal Jill Collins reported that 97 percent of third grade students passed the IREAD3 exam — an outstanding number. The IREAD3 is a mandatory exam each third grade student must take before moving on to fourth grade. Teacher Becky Despot is working with those students who didn’t pass the exam.

Dr. Klitzman gave an update on the 2012 Indiana General Assembly “short session.” A total of
177 bills were filed relative to education. Of those introduced, 10 passed in the senate and six passed in the house. New legislation includes:

• School board executive sessions can now include school consolidation, within school districts, and if there are items discussed in school board executive sessions not listed on the agenda, fines will be assessed.
• School boards will decide how meetings are advertised — U.S. mail, email, etc.
• Smoking — affecting only those schools allowing smoking on campus. (Eastern Pulaski is a smoke/tobacco-free campus.)
• There will now be two student count days — September and February. Those days are vitally important in that enrollment is a direct factor in state funding.
• Full Day Kindergarten will  receive additional funding (still not fully funded) for one year only, with hope for more funding in the future.
• Petition Bonds — schools cannot increase taxes to pay for these bonds.
• A Commission on Education has been created to oversee the State Board of Education.

The school board took action on the following items:

• Leslie Link, elementary school instructional assistant, was approved for an unpaid special leave to attend a meeting with her husband.
• Karrie Sutton, part-time elementary school instructional assistant, submitted her resignation at the end of the school year to pursue another business venture. She was commended for her positive, energetic demeanor.
• A request to purchase a new wireless system, as discussed in the Technology Overview, for the Middle School/High School and Elementary School, for $24,000 was approved as presented.
• A request to purchase two new replacement convection ovens for the middle/high school cafeteria for $6,060 was approved as presented.
• A request to purchase a new corporation telephone answering system, including a two-year warranty, for $2,675 was approved as presented. The current system quit working, has no warranty, and can be fixed for almost as much as the proposed new system.
• A ratification to re-roof the wind damaged middle school gym roof was approved as presented at a cost of $57,982, including an additional five-year warranty. Insurance will pay for the roof, excluding the deductible of $2,500.
• Dr. Klitzman recommended and it was approved to keep the textbook rental fee at $85 and $5 for the handbook, the same for next school year, but to increase the fee to $95 for the rental fee and $5 for the handbook for the 2013-2014 school year. Textbook adoption for the 2013-2014 school year will be Reading/Language Arts, usually an expensive adoption, in which textbook rental fees are used to help pay for the adoption of textbooks. The fee has not been increased since the 2007-2008 school year.
• Dr. Klitzman recommended and it was approved to keep cafeteria meal prices at $1.50 for students and $2 for adults, the same for next school year. By law, adult meals must reflect the actual cost of the meal. This is the same fee set for the 2007-2008 school year.
• A Memorandum of Understanding with the Eastern Pulaski Teachers’ Association was approved as presented. Dr. Klitzman stated that the EPTA has agreed to a “Memorandum of Understanding” whereby they agree to move the Reduction in Staff timeline from May 1 to June 6. With the uncertainty at the state level of budget cuts and financing, the timeline is a barrier to making a good decision.
• The Eastern Pulaski School Board has the responsibility of making an appointment to the Pulaski County Public Library Board. Steve Slaven was approved for the position.

During the board comment section of the meeting, commendations were given to Mrs. Moore, Mr. Nellans, and Mr. Combs for their years of service, Dr. Hollenberg, the Technology Team, the Spring Musical, Bryan McKinney for achieving Eagle Scout, and the Technology Presentation. The Elementary School was commended for their outstanding IREAD3 test scores. Dr. Klitzman was commended for all his work on the student respect issue.

During public comment, Mrs. Moore thanked everyone for their support throughout her years at Eastern Pulaski Schools. Kim Dickson,  Baleigh Dickson, Chris Smith, and Laura Fred-Smith asked questions concerning the student respect concern and thanked Dr. Klitzman for working on the issue.

The next  school board meeting will be Monday, May 14, in the Distance Learning Lab.