In related business, Klitzman updated the board on legislation affecting education under discussion at the Indiana General Assembly, including the “voucher bill” (public funds to private schools), and the funding formula (state budget).

Klitzman said it has been projected that if the voucher bill passes, $58.5 million will go to private schools – funds that will be lost to public schools, resulting in a loss of services and programs.

The superintendent also told the board that if they had not approved some budget cuts in the last year, proposed reductions and approved transferring utilities and liability insurance into the capital projects fund, the school corporation would have far less appropriation available and the general fund would have a negative balance.

In other business, the results of a driver’s training survey were shared with the school board. Of the 25 area schools surveyed, 12 offer driver’s training during the summer for a fee, 12 do not offer the program at all and contract, instead, with private vendors to provide the training for a fee. Eastern Pulaski is the only school to offer driver’s training during the school year at no cost.

Klitzman told the board the school is not longer in a position to continue to offer driver’s training.

The superintendent reported that the only summer school program to be offered this year will be summer physical education. However, high school students may make up a credit in math or language arts over the summer through the Indiana Virtual Academy.

The board approved Klitzman’s recommendation to keep the textbook rental fee at $85 and $5 for the handbook. The board also agreed to keep the cafeteria meal prices at $1.50 for students and $2 for adults (by law, adult meals must reflect the actual cost of the meal). These fees have not been increased since the 2007-08 school year.

Klitzman said he is “very pleased” to be in a position to hold book rental and school lunch fees constant for another year, and at one of the lowest rates in the state. “That has to help our families where we have so many struggling during these challenging economic times.”

The board approved the retirement of elementary school teacher Jean Rife, who has taught at Eastern Pulaski for 32 of her 35 years in education in the kindergarten, first and second grade levels.

Teacher Peach Roth updated the board on the “senior technology project” instituted for high school seniors to make up instructional time due to snow days this school year, avoid moving back the graduation date. The project is “Personal Money Management Webquest.” Seniors are to work on the project on their own time, with the expectation the project will take four or more hours to complete.

The project is located on Moodle on the school’s website and is a budget worksheet, budget summary report, and a budget problem scenario – each assigned a point value for a final grade. The school’s computer lab and the Winamac public library’s computer lab are available for seniors to work on the project after school hours. The Webquest grade will be listed on each student’s transcript as a senior project.

The board approved the recommendations of the science textbook committee for new textbooks, beginning next school year. The committee was chaired by Dr. Darlene Gordon, and committee members were parents and teachers, including Kullen Day, Kari Sutton, Tammy Blankenship, Angel Hanson, Jamie Wenzler, Marilyn Newman and Scott Taylor.

The school principals presented to the board their proposed changes to their 2011-12 student handbooks. All handbooks had only minor changes and will be presented for approval at the May meeting.

During board comment, commendations were given to the science textbook committee. Mrs. Rife was thanked for her years of service and wished well. The price of fuel was also discussed.

The next board meeting will be Monday, May 9, in the Distance Learning Lab.