The new superintendent will succeed Dr. Robert Klitzman who will retire June 30 after 26 years with EPCS.

In other business, the approval of administrator contracts was tabled by a vote of 4-3. The debate centered on whether or not this action should be taken before a new superintendent is hired. Board members Tetzloff, Larry Beach and John Kwiatkowski voted to extend the administrators' contracts. The motion failed with Deke DeMarco, Terri Johnston, Rhonda Heims and Joe Cunningham voting against it.

Also in other business, high school science teacher David Ralstin was approved for retirement. Ralstin has spent his entire teaching career, 36 years, with Eastern Pulaski Schools. He has mostly taught upper level science classes. The school board commended Ralstin for his years of service and wished him well.

Two summer school classes and contracts were approved as presented - high school physical education, taught by Kyle Johnson; and high school economics, taught by Cody Hook. Physical education has been very well attended in past years and is partially funded through the state.  Economics will be a “Blended” class in that a portion of the class will be provided through the Internet and the other portion will be in-class time. Credit Recovery (Math and English) will be handled through the Indiana Virtual Academy.

The Title I (Compensatory) and High Ability Grant programs were approved for continuation. The amount the school will receive is reduced.

The board recognized valedictorian Kathleen Budd and her parents, David and Karen Budd, and salutatorian Andrew Brandon and his father Jeff Brandon, for their accomplishments. The students’ academic records and extra curricular activities were highlighted, and they were encouraged to serve as positive role models for the entire student body. 

REPORTS:

Dr. Klitzman reported on the following:

• ISTEP testing has been a challenge this year with CTB McGraw-Hill computers failing to handle the tremendous amount of traffic, and repeated crashing. How it will affect scores was discussed. 
• The elementary school has been designated a 4-Star School for the second year in a row. Faculty, staff, administrators and students were commended.
•  In an effort to streamline the student registration process, to be more accommodating to parents with children in more than one building, and have less duplication of services, the school corporation will once again have one common location for registration for next school year in the high school gym lobby. Computers will be set up to verify/enter information, there will be a private location for Free/Reduced Lunch Applications, and space will also be set up for transportation questions, textbook fee payments, lunch account information/payments, and athletics.  Registration will be Aug. 6-7.
• The Health Insurance Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) or “ObamaCare” will cost employers money. Everybody will have to be offered insurance if they work 30 hours or more a week. 
• A MASE Satellite Healthcare Clinic will be established at Eastern Pulaski Schools one day a week starting in the fall.  There are two full-time clinics now - one in Plymouth and one in Monticello at this time.
• There are several Indiana General Assembly bills that have made it into law. The voucher program has been expanded and now includes students who have never been in a public school. There will be a 0.6 percent increase in funding - all earmarked for special education. The following year a decrease in funding is projected. 

Elementary school principal Jill Collins reported that year-end testing is finishing up and the last preschool parent meeting will be May 14. Junior Achievement Day will be May 17, and May 18 will be the last Family Fitness Event of the school year sponsored by the PTA.  FFA will host an Ag Day at the town park on May 23, and all Kindergarten through grade 3 students are invited. Second grade will visit the Rausch Wetlands on May 24. The 5th Grade Festival Concert will also be on May 24. The end-of-year awards program will be May 31.

High school principal Rick DeFries commended Mr. Ralstin for his years of service.  End-of-course assessments are beginning for English, algebra and biology as well as AP tests. Mr. Burgess’s business class was highlighted in the Pharos Tribune. The Superbowl and Future Problem Solving academic teams both finished fourth in the state this year. Earlier this year Lafayette Central Catholic donated to the Cooper Fulmer family. To help a student at Lafayette Central Catholic in a similar situation, our students donated to his family by having a fund raiser.

Middle school principal Ryan Dickinson reported that schools did have issues with the ISTEP test this year locally as well as statewide. Middle school teachers were commended for their flexibility. The 8th grade MORP dance went well. There are a lot of events planned for the end of the school year. 

ADDITIONAL ACTION ITEMS:

The condition of funds statement indicated that all corporation funds had positive balances. The general fund comparison statement indicated that 25.47% of the yearly appropriation remained. Claims were discussed and approved as presented. 

Dr. Klitzman reported that most of the school corporation's purchasing for custodial supplies and cafeteria items comes from Gordon Food Service through discounted pricing, because of the school's participation in the bidding process which is handled through the Hospital Purchasing Service (HPS).  In the past the Educational Service Center (ECS) was the third-party agent teamed up with HPS to make all this possible. The ECS is no longer filling this role, so Goshen Community Schools qualifies as a third-party agent due to their volume of business. Goshen is allowing other schools, at no cost, to join with them as they serve in this capacity to get the bid pricing. Joining Goshen Schools was approved as presented.

Bus driver. Cheryl Rausch was approved for a non-paid four-day special leave for business out-of-state.

The elementary school, middle school, high school, and bus driver handbooks were approved as presented. 

During board comment:  Student council students were commended, the valedictorian and salutatorian were commended along with the academic teams and the elementary school for being named a 4-Star School. 

The next regular school board meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m., Monday, June 10, in the Distance Learning Lab.