Mrs. Johns teaches the school's Health Career and CNA program. The board extended its appreciation to her Johns for the great work she does on behalf of the students.
In other business, Superintendent Don Street presented the results of the 2016 ISTEP scores to the board. Dr. Pelsy serves as the data coach and has prepared a breakdown of the ISTEP data. Principals Dan Zylstra and Pat Culp will review the ISTEP data with staff in the future.
Under personnel items, the board:
The board approved the resignations of middle school instructional assistant Tammy Huddleston and Camie Kipta of Cooperative School Services.
Employment was approved for Jeremy Glasford as JV assistant boys basketball coach; Katie Bell and Nicole Luttell for Cooperative School Services.
Personal leave requests were approved for Rebecca Reed and Jessica Williams.
Following the second reading, the board approved the policy manual addition for the Federal Grants and Awards Administration.
The board approved a resolution to balance end-of-year accounts, allowing necessary transfers so that all accounts have a zero or positive balance for the year of 2016. The board also provided for funds to be encumbered from the 2016 accounts for use in 2017.
The board approved a motion to accept the bid from MidWest Transit Equipment for a new IC/Collins, 78-passenger school bus for $85,828 and Midwest Transit Equipment Company for a Starcraft mini-bus for $50,206. MidWest will allow $6,100 for a trade-in allowance for bus 1 and Midwest Transit Equipment Company will allow $5,900 for bus 11.
The board approved a motion to allow Shaw Haselby to apply for a non-standard teaching waiver to teach Introduction to Agriculture and Supervised Agricultural Experience.
The board agreed to continue the service alarm contract with ESCO Communication.
Approval was given to the 2016-17 high ability grant application, as presented.
The board voted to approve the state performance grant distribution if received, as presented.
The board voted to revise the administrative contracts, as presented, for the 2016-17 school year.
Principal Dan Zylstra presented the elementary school improvement plan, while Principal Pat Culp presented improvement plans for the middle school and high school. The board approved the school improvement plans as presented.
Principal Reports:
Elementary school principal Dan Zylstrainformed the board that Donuts with Dad is Friday, Dec. 2. The theme is “Hunt for a Good Book” and a representative from the Department of Natural Resources will be presenting on hunting safety.
The PTC is sponsoring a food drive at the elementary school which will end on Dec. 9. The PTC is also holding a Holiday Shop for students to purchase small gifts for their parents.
The Elementary Christmas program is 6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 20, in the high school gym. It will involve all elementary students K-5. Dec. 21 is the last day for students, who will return on Jan. 4.
Teachers have and will spend their professional development time on accreditation activities, including further work on the district’s self-assessment and reviewing stakeholder feedback surveys.
Middle/high school principal Pat Culpinformed the board that on Friday, Dec. 9, the Indiana Department of Education will be visiting West Central Middle School. The purpose of the visit is to help support the middle school in pursuit of continual students’ academic growth.
West Central High School teachers and students are making preparations for the End-of-Course Assessments (ECA) tests. The ECA tests are being gradually phased out, but some students are still required to complete and pass the ECA test.
All current sophomores will be taking the mathematics and English ISTEP+ test in the spring.
On Dec. 7, Ms. Chelsea Reed and several West Central students and families will visit Erskine Green Training Institute in Muncie. Erskine Green is a one-of-a-kind postsecondary program. EGTI provides vocational training for a variety of jobs in the hotel, food service and healthcare environments. It, along with its attached 150-room Courtyard Muncie at Horizon Convention Center hotel, is an immersive learning environment. Erskine Green may provide additional educational and job-training opportunities for some West Central students upon completion of high school.
Dec. 21 will conclude the first semester.
