In other business, the board members went over the corporation’s strategic plan at a work session and made several revisions. The board then voted to approve the revised strategic plan for 2013-2015, as presented.

Superintendent Charles Mellon went over the expenditure goals for 2013. The board approved the goals as presented.

The board also voted to create a part-time data coach position, using a portion of the Title II and Pace Grants for funding. 

A motion was approved to appoint Jeff Lowry to the school board, and the oath of office was administered to Lowry by corporation treasurer Pam Ledford. Lowry will complete the term of his late father, Dean Lowry.

Under discussion items, Mellon expressed some concern centered upon the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The concern is not the coverage of the West Central Employees, but more the exchange programs that will be offered and how they will be subsidized.

The board was informed of a vibration sensor needing replaced in the wind turbine. This has caused several days of down-time.

Time was spent discussing the Capital Projects Plan for 2014 through 2017. The final plan will be presented to the board later this spring, once quotes on different projects are received.

The board approved the following employment as presented: 

• Kyle Evans as Assistant Baseball Coach
• Jennifer Owens as Assistant Softball Coach
• Darren Rodriguez as the 5/6 Spring Football Coach
• Related Service Counselors for Cooperative School Services 

Approval was given to the maternity leave request from Megan Kaluf as presented.

Conference requests were approved for the following, as presented:

• Linda Ferguson and Joanne Stevens to attend the State BPA Leadership Conference in Indianapolis
• Darren Rodriguez, John Hruskocy and Marc Hall to attend the Glazier Clinic in Chicago, Illinois with all expenses being paid by the athletic department
• Chuck Evans to attend the Indiana School Safety Conference in Indianapolis
• Chuck Evans to attend the Indiana Athletic Directors Conference in Indianapolis

Field trip requests were approved for:

• Linda Ferguson and Joanne Stevens and members of the BPA to attend the State BPA Leadership Conference in Indianapolis
• Janet Kruger and members of the Student Council to have the annual lock-in at the high school

Board president Jeff Tanner made the board appointments for 2013.

Elementary school principal Dan Zylstra went over the reading textbook adoptions. The board voted to adopt the reading textbooks for K-6 as presented.

Under report items, middle/high school principal Don Street was unable to attend the meeting, but informed the board members that FFA week is Feb. 18-22. The middle school dance will be held on Feb. 22, Congratulations to the girls’ basketball team on advancing to the second round of sectional. They will play on Saturday. The West Central Educational Foundation dinner will be held on Friday, Feb. 15. The high school band and choir concert will be held on Monday, March 4. Congratulations are extended to the three wrestlers who advanced to the semi-state, Cody Denton, Brice Watts and Rodney Oliver. The boys’ basketball sectional will be held at West Central this year. Boy’s sectional play begins on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Zylstra reported on the high school’s FCA-sponsored Pennies for Patients drive in the elementary school. The top class, Mrs. Garten’s third grade class, brought in over $275 in change to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They will get a pizza and ice cream party. On Feb. 4 the school had its first Accelerated Reader open gym time. Students who met their goals were allowed extra time in the gym to celebrate their extra efforts.

January's Thursday Morning Professional Development sessions were used to work on curriculum mapping for math and science. Work on the reading curriculum will resume when the new reading program is adopted. The third and final round of Acuity began this week and will continue for the next two weeks.

West Central elementary and middle school extended their thanks to the Jasper County and White/Carroll County REMCs for the "Operation Round-Up Grant" money they were awarded. This grant money will make it possible for Social Health of Indiana to do classroom lessons to grades, 3,4,5,and 6 in April 2013.

Students of the Month: Samantha Black was presented with a certificate honoring her for being selected as Student of the Month at the middle school level. Kourtney Nine was honored at the high school level, and Brenna McKay was honored at the elementary school level, but was unable to attend the meeting.