Also discussed were the results of the energy audit. The audit recognized the energy conservation efforts of the corporation.
The board was made aware of Senate Bill 001 that deals with School Resource Officers being placed in the schools. Many amendments have been added to the bill throughout the process. By the end of April Mellon said school officials will know if this is a mandate placed on each school corporation in the state.
In other reports, middle/high school principal Don Street reported that Thursday, April 18 will parent/teacher conferences for middle and senior high school. He also reported the high school choir and band will be competing in the state contest on Friday, April 12. The middle and senior high school staff will be working with the Google Chromebooks during the Thursday morning in-services, preparing for the 1:1 program that will start next school year for the 6-8 graders.
Elementary school principal Dan Zylstra reported that on March 13 grades 3-5 students finished the ISTEP+ Applied Skills test and the test booklets were sent downstate to be graded. On March 18-20 the third grade students took the IREAD3 test, and students and teachers are currently readying themselves for the online ISTEP test at the end of April.
West Central held Kindergarten Roundup and tested over 60 incoming students for next year’s kindergarten class. On March 21 the elementary school held its Spring Family Literacy Night, a baseball-themed event which included a short skit by students and a whole-crowd rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” The school's Thursday PD sessions were used to review Acuity Data, collaborate regarding school-wide benchmarking plans for next year, and make preparations for implementing the new reading curriculum next year. In April, Zylstra said the elementary school is looking forward to a 4-5 grade music program and "Muffins with Mom."
Under personnel items, the board accepted the retirement request from Alan Chambers from the Cooperative School Services, effective at the end of the school year.
The board voted to approve employment contracts for Robin Dietrich as a temporary teacher during Joy Schlatter’s maternity leave; and for Kris Aschbrenner as assistant technology director
Leave requests were approved for Tammy Toosley (personal leave) and Kasey Lowry (maternity leave).
The board approved the conference request from Bryan Heimlich, Brad Odom and Bryce Kappes to attend the IBCA Clinic in Indianapolis. All of the expenses will be paid for by the athletic department.
The board accepted the resignation from Kristen Mellon as the health occupations instructor.
The board presented certificates for "students of the month" to Avery Fritz at the elementary school level.and Emily Murphy at the high school level. Joie Keys was also honored at the middle school level but was unable to attend the meeting.
