In other business, the board accepted three resignations from Cooperative School Services: assistant director Tom Hermiz, special education coordinator Denise Mitchell, and OT aide Ashley LeBeau.
The board approved the following for employment (pending results from criminal history checks):
- Connie Dunn – Teacher during Maternity Leave
- Jill Shannon – Instructional Assistant
- Mary Hoover - Custodian
- Amanda White - Custodian
- Denise Mitchell – Assistant Director – Cooperative School Services
- Kristina Dobson – Special Ed. Coordinator – Cooperative School Services
- Classified Employees Contracts – Cooperative School Services
Rob Evans and Kris Aschbrenner updated the board on the summer projects at the school. They have spent most of the summer getting all of the iPad’s and Chromebooks ready for the beginning of school. The staff had various training sessions this summer on the new technology in preparation for the 1-to-1 beginning in this school year.
The board approved the second reading of the policy manual revision regarding Non-Resident Student Admission.
The board also approved the following resolution allowing the school board members and the superintendent of Schools to participate in professional growth opportunities during the 2013-14 school year. This will consist of conferences and workshops sponsored by the ISBA and IAPSS, as well as other worthy organizations.
The board voted to accept the quotation for liability insurance on the underground storage tanks as presented.
Under discussion items, Superintendent Charles Mellon presented the opening of school agenda to the board, beginning with the first year teacher day on Aug. 8 and the Friday, Monday and Tuesday agenda for all teachers leading up to the first student day on Wednesday, Aug. 14.
Mellon reported the maintenance and custodial staff have once again done a “great job” in preparing the facilities for another school year. The fall bus driver meeting will be held on Monday, Aug. 12.
There was discussion concerning the meeting with NIPSCO, held on July 23, as some issues continue to be dealt with.
Elementary school principal Dan Zylstra reported that staff members are busy preparing their rooms for students to arrive on Aug. 14. K-5 teachers are especially excited about the new reading programs that were adopted and the new technology staff will have at their disposal, including shared Chromebook carts in grades 4 and 5 and an IPAD cart for kindergarten.
The newly hired data coach, along with the administration, has set up a training schedule for staff during the teacher in-service days as well as on Thursday mornings to assist staff in using data to inform instruction.
It was also reported to the board that custodians are finishing up the last few weeks of summer cleaning and putting the final touches on the school before students arrive. The installation of new energy-efficient lights and new slip-resistant flooring in the locker rooms in the pool area has been completed.
Student registration will take place from 2 to 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 6; and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 7. Meet-the-Teacher night will be at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Mellon noted schools in Indiana are still waiting for word from the state regarding the spring ISTEP scores. When the data arrives, the school will have more information to work with as the leadership team develops a school improvement plan.
