EPCS will provide school bus transportation to pick up Tippecanoe Township students. Jim Fluery, a Monterey resident, suggested to the board that a sign be placed in the windows of EPCS buses to distinguish them from Culver buses. Winamac's "Warrior" logo will be used for this purpose.

In other business, Supt. Dr. Robert Klitzman reported that all three of the corporation's schools received "outstanding" scores on the state's accountability classifications. The high school passed all nine of its required "cells," and the elementary also passed all 17 of its cells. Both received an "A" rating on proficiency or improvement. The middle school passed 16 of its 17 cells, and received a "B" rating.

Based on the ISTEP scores for grades 3-8, EPCS is ranked 13th out of over 300 public and private schools in the state whose students take the ISTEP.

Also in other business, the board hired Larry Plummer and Sandi Dilts DeSabatine as part-time social studies teachers. They will fill the teaching vacancy left by Bill Ball when he accepted the athletic director position. Klitzman explained that staff reviewed the position and were able to consolidate it into a part-time position. The same classes will be offered, but not as many sections.

The principals reported that their buildings are ready for the start of school and expressed appreciation for the summer cleaning of the buildings and campus. Meet the Teacher night will be Tuesday (Aug. 16) from 5 to 6 p.m., at the elementary school; and 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the middle/high school. School begins Wednesday (Aug. 17).

During the public comment period, a few patrons and teachers offered concerns about or support for Supt. Klitzman following his July 15 arrest on misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated in Clinton County. The school board met in executive session before the meeting to discuss unspecified personnel issues, but no discussion, nor action regarding the superintendent was made during the public meeting.

Board member Cathy Fritz attempted to introduce a motion to suspend the services to the board of school attorney Dan Murphy, but the action failed. Murphy is representing Klitzman in his Clinton County case.

In his legislative update to the board, Klitzman said that because there is a teacher's contract in place for the year, the legislative changes regarding collective bargaining will become effective next year. He noted that areas for collective bargaining have been "greatly" reduced.

In his other report items, Klitzman said teacher evaluations will include teachers meeting specific criteria. The backbone of evaluations will be meeting the national common core standards and student data.

The board was told the corporation's discipline/behavior plan has been approved by the state department of education.

The board also learned employees will have an option to have a high deductible plan on their employee health insurance with a Health Savings Account (HSA) which gives them more control of their health insurance spending.

Klitzman reported to the board that the elementary school lighting project is complete and the pneumatic controls changeover continues on schedule.

In other personnel matters, the board received the resignation of part-time nurse Rose Fox who has accepted another position. Duane Johansen and Josh Burgess will serve as assistant coaches for soccer and high school football, respectively. Instructional assistants Leslie Link and Michell Parks are moving from special education to corporation-wide assistants.

The next school board meeting will be Monday (Sept. 12), in the Distance Learning Lab.