In other business, Mellon informed the board of the need to repair one boiler and replace another at the high school.
The capital projects plan was reviewed with the board, showing the projects for the summer of 2014 and anticipating the projects through 2017.
The state bus bids were presented to the board. The approval to purchase two buses will take place at the Dec. 5 board meeting.
Under discussion items, middle/high school principal Don Street announced the Veterans Day program that will take place in the high school on Monday, Nov. 11. Motivational speaker Mark Hymas will give a program to middle/high school students Tuesday, Nov. 12. The middle and high school will hold teacher/parent conferences on Nov. 19.
Elementary school principal Dan Zylstra announced that Gym’n’Swim will begin in the elementary gym classes on Nov. 11. The school has had a trainer in the building for the new K-2 reading program, Superkids. She is working with classroom teachers to help them implement the program successfully and give them tips on how to get the best results possible. Progress reports will go home on Nov. 15, and the second round of Acuity testing will begin on Nov. 24. The other mid-year benchmark testing will occur during the month of December. The SIP Team is finishing up the school improvement plan and getting ready to implement some of the recommendations. Thursday morning PD sessions in October were used for data analysis, particularly Acuity, distribution of insurance information, and discussion of the corporation bullying policy.
Street and Zylstra also presented the AdvEd two-year follow-up report.
Under action items the school board approved the employment of Chuck Evans as the varsity baseball coach.
Conference requests were approved for the following:
- Kari Ruble – Indiana Resource Center for Autism Training in Bloomington – Expenses to be paid for by Cooperative School Services
- Marcia Kennedy and Monica Gainor – Because Kids Count Conference in Indianapolis
- Don Street – Blue Ribbon for Excellence Conference in Orlando, Florida – Expenses to be paid for by Indian Trails Vocational Center
The board approved the retirement of Rod Pardue as a bus driver. Many thanks were extended to Pardue for his many years of service to the corporation.
Approval was given to the medical leave request from Stacy Anliker, as presented.
The board voted to approve purchasing new Hobart dishwashers at the elementary school and at the high school. The funding will be through the cafeteria funds.
The board voted to approve the 2014-15 school calendar, as presented.
Street went over the changes to the course description books. The board voted to approve the high school course description book changes for the 2014-15 school year, as presented.
Approval was given to the 2013-14 high ability grant application, as presented.
The board also approved the rainy day resolution, as presented.
The board presented certificates to the following "Students of the Month," Jazmen Vlach at the elementary school level, Josh Cain at the middle school level, and Tyler Conley at the high school level.
