In other business, the board approved joining a new (yet to be named) athletic named conference, thus leaving the Midwest Conference. Athletic director Bill Ball reported that the process is moving forward and feedback from coaches, students, and the community has all been positive. 

If the new conference comes to fruition, it would save travel time and transportation costs. It would also possibly increase ticket revenue, by playing more closely located schools. Another benefit of the new conference may be to advance local rivalries which would increase interest in local athletics. 

The schools involved in forming the new league are Caston, Culver, Knox, LaVille, North Judson, Pioneer, Triton and Winamac, with West Central petitioning to join the conference. Two of the schools in the current conference are farther in distance than the longest trip in the proposed new conference

Caston, Pioneer and West Central are also currently in the Midwest Conference with Winamac. Frontier, North White, South Newton and Tri-County are the remaining MWC schools. The conference has existed in some form since 1955 and its membership has not changed since 1992.

Knox, LaVille, Triton and Culver are currently members of the Northern States Conference, while North Judson is independent. All eight (or nine) members of the proposed new conference are located in the neighboring counties of Cass, Fulton, Marshall, Starke and Pulaski.

If approved, the new conference would begin with the 2015-16 school year.

In other report items from Foster:

• Those board members signed up for the ISBA/IAPSS Fall Conference which begins Sept. 22, are all set.
• The Indiana School Boards’ Association will have its regional meeting in Plymouth on Oct. 16.
• Many of the issues with Harmony have been addressed. If parents are having problems, please contact the school.
• The Town of Winamac was thanked for helping with the repairs to the Middle School/High School Chiller.
• Preliminary ISTEP scores are out - officially the scores will be released Sept. 17.
• Everyone was thanked for a smooth transition and start to school.

Under principal reports:

Elementary school principal Jill Collins reported that parent/teacher conferences are scheduled for Sept. 23 - sign-up forms have been sent home with students. Sept. 26, is Family Literacy Night - the theme is Johnny Appleseed. There will be a book swap as well. The annual PTA sponsored Donuts with Dad will be Oct. 4. The elementary is off to a good start for the 2013-14 school year.   

Middle school principal Ryan Dickinson reported that this school year the middle school is adding a little more variety to its schedule. College and Career Readiness, taught by Pam Burger, has been added where students can earn high school credit with the successful completion of both the 7th and 8th grade nine-week classes. Students will learn how to fill out a job and/or college application along with finances and budgets. Also this year the middle school is focusing on the Character Education Plan, led by Mr. King, middle school guidance counselor. The plan focuses on well-rounded students, not just smart students.  Mr. King is meeting with all classes using The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens book by Steven Covey as a guide. 

High school principal Rick DeFries encouraged parents to use the Harmony student management system to stay in contact with the school. The staff was thanked for getting the high school off to a good start. RTI (Response to Intervention Program) is being used again this year - giving extra attention to those students at risk. Along with RTI the Data Warehouse is being used to track students from Kindergarten to high school to help with potential learning risks.

Other items:

The condition of funds statement indicated that all accounts had positive balances. The general fund comparison statement indicated that just under 94 percent of the yearly appropriation remained. After discussion all claims were approved as presented. 

FFA was approved for an overnight trip to attend the national convention in Louisville, Oct, 30-Nov, 1. Sunshine Society was approved to take its annual Mother-Daughter Chicago Trip on Nov. 24. 

During board comment, Foster was welcomed to his first official meeting, and Ball was commended for working on the new conference transition.   

The next school board meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 14, in the Distance Learning Lab.