Principals Rick DeFries and Ryan Dickinson are the designated school safety specialists. Chris Schramm, from the county sheriff's office, is now certified in school safety.

Schramm reported to the school board that he has talked to the middle/high school and elementary school teachers on options for protection. He also stated that officials don’t want to put too much information out on how situations will be handled, and that law enforcement officials now have entry cards to the school. Ninety percent of classroom doors are now shut and locked and Schramm gives teachers suggestions on what to do in a crisis situation.

A state trooper presentation will be held at Eastern Pulaski and West Central schools in the near future on school safety. Schramm stated that EPCS is as safe as can be, but still needs to be prepared. DeFries and Dickinson said they are meeting with students and staff reiterating school safety. The SchoolGuard app was also discussed.

In other business, there was a lengthy discussion on the awning at the front of the high school. Foster presented options and asked for input and feedback. There was discussion of demolition, renovation (paint, lights), and having an engineer look at the structure for deterioration and stability. Board consensus was to have the awning inspected to determine if it is structurally sound and go from there.

The board voted to add two new policies, Section 619 – Suicide Awareness and Prevention and Section 620 – Student Religious Civil Liberties to school board policy. The purpose of Section 619 is to protect the health and well-being of all students by having procedures in place to prevent, assess the risk of, intervene in, and respond to suicide. Section 620 reads that Eastern Pulaski Schools will neither promote nor disparage any religious belief or non-belief in any of its programs or services.

Two quotes were submitted to install Phase Loss Protection on the three main services on the campus to prevent power loss and damage to equipment. Several calls were made to vendors to obtain quotes and only two were received. After discussion, the board voted to accept the quote from H & G from South Bend for $8,787 as submitted.

Spotlight on WCMS – Project Based Learning: Middle school principal Ryan Dickinson stated that this class is taught by middle school teacher Melissa Newman, and is a rotational class whereby each seventh-grade student will have the class for nine weeks. Students Chase Keller, Luke Dickinson, and Josh McCarnan reported on their experience in the class and the skills they have learned. Mrs. Newman stated that students learn time management, communication skills, like skills and how to compromise. This is the second year for the class.

The board accepted a donation from Psi Iota Xi for the high school art department.

Superintendent Dan Foster gave a financial report for the period ending Feb. 28. All funds had positive balances. The board approved all claims as submitted. The superintendent also reported on the following:

• Legislative Session: It’s not quite done, but has to be finished by March 14. Senate Bill 65 is still in limbo.
• The ISBA Regional Meeting will be May 2 at Christo’s in Plymouth.
• Rachel’s Challenge will take place March 13, beginning with the school and ending with a community event. Rachel’s Challenge is a non-profit established to perpetuate Darrell Scott’s daughter, Rachel’s, example of kindness and compassion and the two-page “Code of Ethics” she wrote a month before her death at the Columbine High School Shooting. The nonprofit is “making schools safer, more connected places where bullying and violence are replaced with kindness and respect; and where learning and teaching are awakened to their fullest.”
• A concrete/asphalt project meeting will be held at 2 p.m., March 13. More details of the project will be shared, including timelines.
• Mr. DeFries, Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Schramm, Mrs. Collins, and the Sheriff’s Department were thanked for their work to make the schools safer.

Personnel:

Resignation/Retirement: Elementary school instructional assistant Alison Clauson,  submitted her resignation. Connie Vanaman, from food service, submitted her resignation.

Employment: Kaitlyn Rushing was recommended for the middle school girls’ track coach, and Mandy Bennett was recommended as a volunteer middle school girls’ track coach.

Leave Request: Bus driver Chris Graves submitted a special leave request.

After discussion, the board voted to approve all personnel items as submitted.

Principal Reports:

Middle school principal Ryan Dickinsonreported that students have finished ISTEP, the applied skills portion. Round two is coming up.

Winter athletics is over, with many teams having winning seasons. The wrestling team finished as conference champions with a 25-0 record.

A music concert was held March i in the cafeteria ... a “coffee house” type of event.

High school principal Rick DeFriesreported that numerous field trips have taken place over the past month. High school art teacher and Totem sponsor Mrs. Dickinson took students to a Josten’s Clinic to learn how to put a yearbook together. Student Council representatives went to the Indiana General Assembly to learn leadership skills. The Chemistry II and Environmental Science classes went to Cook Nuclear Plant and learned how nuclear energy is used.

Winter sports are finished, and athletes are moving into spring sports.

The spring musical, “Hello, Dolly!” will run the weekend of April 6-8 with four performances.

The choir will participate in the Bi-County Choral Festival March 12 at Caston.

Elementary school principal Jill Collins reported on the Innovation Fair/Science Fair and upcoming activities.

The students have wrapped up the first round of ISTEP and celebrated with a pancake party.

iRead testing will be completed by March 14 for third-grade students.

Book Madness is in full swing to coincide with March Madness.

The Kindness Box is just about full; to celebrate there will be a “red carpet” event.

On March 20, preschool students will tour the elementary school with kindergarten screening on April 6.

Board Comment: The “Music Café” performance was commended, along with Mrs. Melissa Newman. The Psi Iota Xi was commended for their donation. Mr. Schramm was thanked for his report on school safety.