A public hearing for the proposed project is set for 5:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 29, at the high school. A 1028 Hearing is held, under Indiana law, whenever a school corporation proposes a major construction or renovation project. The hearing will inform the public as to the scope of the proposed building project and allow interested individuals to ask questions and give testimony concerning the project.

At the board's September meeting, Russell Nichols of Gibraltar Design, Indianapolis, presented a summary of improvements proposed for the middle/high School facility and the elementary school facility. Also at the meeting, Curt Pletcher of Umbaugh and Associates, Mishawaka, presented financial and bond information for the proposed project. After discussion, the school board voted to advertise for the 1028 Hearing.

Superintendent Dan Foster admitted that the $14 million sum "sounds like a lot" and further acknowledged that many of the improvements - particularly mechanical and electrical - will not be generally visible. "Unfortunately, the work will not provide this school board with a glamorous end product, but these are upgrades that need to be made."

The proposed building project would be funded through a bond issue, and possibly through some funds on hand. Foster noted that the current bond for previous projects at the school is expiring, and that the Umbaugh representatives are working to mitigate any impact on the tax levies which they expect to remain very near the same.

Among the safety issues to be addressed in the project will be the entrance areas of all three schools which now provide direct access to classroom hallways.  When the project is complete, the entrances will be configured so visitors to the schools must pass through the offices before gaining access to the hallways.

The mechanical issues will include new or updated boilers and chillers (air conditioning). Some of the electrical work will be as complicated as upgrading or replacing, and relocating transformers, and as "unexciting" as adding more outlets to classrooms. "We still have some classrooms with only two electrical outlets in them," Foster reported.

Improvements to learning areas will largely be basics such as new classroom and hallway lighting, replacing ceiling tiles and new paint.

After the public hearing, the school board will continue to review the proposed project. A vote to approved it is not expected before the board's November meeting. If approved, bids could be advertised and awarded by the end of December. Some work may begin in spring, but most of it will be undertaken in the Summer of 2015.

In a related matter, Foster noted the board had approved a safety grant earlier this year that he has been working on. This is a 50/50 grant in that the school receives 50 percent of the funds back from the grant that has been spent on safety. With the proposed building project, he recommended revising the Safety Grant Budget to eliminate items that may be included in the building project and use the funds for other safety-type projects such as security cameras. After discussion, the board voted to approve the revised budget as presented.

In other business at the September meeting, administrator contracts for principals Rick DeFries, Jill Collins,  Ryan Dickinson, and athletic director Bill Ball were presented for approval.  Foster recommended adding one more year to the contracts. The school board voted its approval.

Foster gave a financial report for the period ending Aug. 31. All funds have positive balances. EPCS is using a six-month budget, working toward a calendar year budget to begin in 2015. Foster answered questions about claims. The claim for Eaton Fencing was discussed at length due to the fence around the bus garage not being complete. Board consensus was to not pay that claim until the work is complete. The board then voted to approve all claims as submitted, except for the Eaton Fencing claim.

Foster also reported on the following:

• Preliminary enrollment figures show that overall enrollment is 1,271 (as of Sept. 8) – down from last fall, but up from the February count which was 1,255. The first of two official count dates (ADM) is Sept. 12.
• Those board members signed up for the ISBA/IAPSS Fall Conference which begins Sept. 15, are all set.

Mrs. Daily has been the MASE Insurance Trust representative and has decided to step down from that position. Foster recommended John King for the position, along with himself, as representatives. After discussion, the board approved the recommendation.

Bus driver Lisa Williams submitted her resignation to accept other employment. The board voted to hire Ron Vititoe to replace her. Vititoe has been a substitute for the past year.

The following field trips were approved:

• FFA club members, sponsored by Mrs. Tammy Halleck, submitted a request to attend the National Convention in Louisville. The group will miss three days of school; however, the trade-off in terms of leadership brought back to the membership is believed to off-set missed instructional time. All expenses will be paid by the students and the club.
• Student Council Representatives, sponsored by Mrs. Butler, submitted a request to attend the annual IASC State Convention in Indianapolis. This is an annual conference the students have attended in the past.

Principal Reports:

Mrs. Collins reported that the elementary school is off to a good start. This is field trip season, and she thanked the PTA for helping with the cost of the trips. Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Sept. 22. Oct. 3 will be a busy day at the elementary school – Dr. Gudas will do eye exams for Kindergarten students, Donuts with Dad will be held in the morning and an anti-bullying convocation will be held later in the day.

Dickinson reported the middle school is off to a good start as well. New teachers Mrs. Estok and Mrs. Wenzler are "doing great," he said. Middle school enrollment is up three students.  NWEA testing will begin next week. Brett Eastburn visited the middle school recently. Eastburn has no arms or legs, but his message is that he has no limits – a good convocation for the students. Several individuals at the middle school did the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge raising $160 for ALS.

DeFries reported on the opening of the new school year at the high school. Physics and calculus teacher Jeremy Wegner visited Europe over the summer and is now bringing a virtual visit from that area to students. Brett Eastburn also visited the high school. Eastburn conveyed the message to high school students that he has no limitations and the only handicap you have is accepting one. Representatives from the Teacher’s Credit Union recently spoke to freshmen students about budgeting and banking. All athletic teams are doing very well.

Board comment: Athletic director Bill Ball was commended for coordinating the Lucas Oil Stadium football game. Gibraltar Design and Umbaugh and Associates were commended for their work moving toward the building project.