In other business, Foster presented the appropriation and allotment transfers to close the calendar year 2017 budget. The board approved the transfers as presented.

The superintendent presented two school board policies for amendment. Section 502.3 – Use of Seclusion and Restraints, added a school resource officer to the policy. Section 515.1/515.2 –Student Directory Information was proposed to be updated concerning the school giving student directory information to the military. The board voted to amend the policies as presented.

Foster presented two school board policies for the first reading. School Board Policy Section 619 – Suicide Awareness and Prevention is required per the last legislative session. It was also recommended to add Section 620 – Student Religious Civil Liberties. Section 620 basi cally says to treat all groups fairly. After discussion it was determined that the policies will be brought back at the March meeting.

Spotlight on EPES: Jump Rope for Heart. Elementary school physical education teacher Denise Parcel reported that Jump Rope for Heart is a community service program which helps students to be heart-healthy and promotes daily activity. The event raises funds for the American Heart Association. Records go back 10 years, and in that time, approximately $93,000 has been raised. (Miss Parcel has conducted the event for over 30 years.) This year alone, students raised $12,531.90.

Foster gave a financial report for the period ending Jan. 31, 2018. All funds had positive balances. The board voted to approve all claims as presented.

The superintendent also reported on the following:

• Elementary school principal Jill Collins was commended for the Mentor Program. The middle school wrestlers were commended for their exemplary behavior at the New Prairie wrestling meet. Athletic director Bill Ball was commended for coordinating the girls’ basketball regional.
• Legislative Update: Many bills are being watched including Senate Bill 177 regarding diplomas, along with Senate Bill 65 – instruction on human sexuality, and Senate Bill 8 – cursive writing, to name a few. The Calendar Bill is “dead;" however, at any time a bill that is “dead” could be attached to another bill.
• ISRSA/NCISSC Legislative Day will be Feb. 13 in Indianapolis.
• A thank you card was shared from the Al Hanselman family.

Personnel:

Resignation/Termination/Retirement – Faye Fagner submitted her resignation for the purpose of retirement. She has been an instructional assistant at the elementary school for 22 years.

Employment –

• Track Coaches were presented for approval.
• Food service director Lenora Hoover  recommended Judy Cloud to move from the high school to the elementary school, and recommended Mary Ortman for the high school opening.
• Amanda Moss was recommended for an open elementary school instructional assistant position.

Unpaid Leave Request –

• Bus driver Ryan Harrison submitted a request for an unpaid leave.
• Elementary school instructional assistant Sarah Mitchell submitted a request for an unpaid leave.

The board voted to approve personnel items as submitted.

Foster presented two out-of-state field trip requests:

• High school science teachers Emily Hintz and Craig Barr submitted a request for their chemistry II/environmental science classes to tour Cook Nuclear Plant in Stevensville, Mich.
• High school physics teacher Jeremy Wegner submitted a request for his physics class to tour Fermi National Accelerator in Batavia, Ill.

After discussion, the board approved the trips as presented.

Principal Reports:

Elementary school principal Jill Collins reported that mid-year assessments are winding down. The entire staff was commended. Rif Read-in was last week. Pennies for Patients began last week, and so far, students have raised $1,700. The Mentor Program is going well. The first round of ISTEP testing will begin before the next board meeting.

Middle school principal Ryan Dickinson reported that freshman orientation was held Jan. 24. High school guidance counselor Kate Daily and middle school guidance counselor John King coordinated the event. Mr. King is now meeting with all eighth graders and their parents to prepare for high school.

Data Dive Days were held for English/Language Arts and Math; it is time set aside to look at data pertaining to students’ strengths and weaknesses. MS wrestlers recently had a meet at New Prairie, which they won, but more importantly, Mr. Dickinson received a kind email from a parent from a different school commending the Winamac students.

High school principal Rick DeFries reported that Winamac hosted the girls’ 2A basketball regional. Athletic director Bill Ball was commended for coordinating the event. Mrs. Burger and Mrs. White were commended for coordinating the hospitality room. The girls’ basketball team was commended for advancing to sectional finals. Coach Kroft was commended for finishing his first year with a 15-10 record.

Carter Hettinger, Harley Pugh, Ethan Messer, Keenan Day and Jake Armstrong were congratulated for advancing to regional in wrestling. Jake Armstrong was a sectional champion, a regional runner-up and wrestled at semi-state.

A student of the month program has been restarted at the high school. One student per month will be chosen from eight different subject areas. This month the following students were chosen for the program: Matthew Cleveland, Gage Collins, Jasmine Felda, Kelsey Crawford, Calvin Larkin, Mandi Hettinger, Henry Antrim and Havana Sanders.

Just after Christmas, high school physics teacher Jeremy Wegner went with a group from Notre Dame to work with Mexican Universities in physics education. This program has opened several doors for Mr. Wegner, including a summer trip to Europe. This summer he will be hosting his own International Masterclass at the public library.

High school teacher Kevin Zupin was commended for coordinating the Martin Luther King Day Program and promoting the #bettertogether Bitmojis, promoting solidarity.

Board Comment: Miss Parcel and Mrs. Collins were commended for promoting philanthropy. Mr. Day was commended for teaching core values to the middle school wrestlers. The RIF readers were commended, along with the PTA for providing snacks for ISTEP testing. Boy Scout Troop #777 was welcomed to the meeting.