West Central Board to expand look at new school entrances
- Details
- Published: Tuesday, 09 May 2017 17:23
FRANCESVILLE - The West Central School Board agreed, at its May meeting, to a recommendation from its architectural/engineering consultants to combine a proposal for a new, more secure middle school entrance into a larger project for redesigning all school entrances.
The board also approved a proposal from its agriculture/FFA program to construct a greenhouse on school property.
The school board reviewed the quotes received for the middle school entrance redesign. The recommendation from Barton-Coe-Vilamaa Architects-Engineers was to reject the quotes and roll the work into the larger project for redesigning all entrances. The larger project will bring in more competitive bids from more construction companies. The board agreed to follow this recommendation and voted to reject all quotes.
The board voted permission for the school's agriculture program and FFA to construct a greenhouse on school property. Board members discussed an earlier presentation given by student Ethan Shannon about the project. The agriculture program and FFA have secured donations and have applied for grants. The cost to the school corporation would be electricity and water. The location would be determined by the administration.
In other business, the board voted to approve summer school and the required staff for elementary, special education, high school, and driver education. Summer school is funded by Title 1 and IDOE grants. Driver education is self-funded by tuition.
The board approved the first reading of the Board Policy Manual addition, Federal Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy for bus drivers.
The board approved the budget calendar for 2017-18 as presented.
Board approval was also given to the pay dates for the 2017-18 school year as presented.
The food and milk bids from the Northern Indiana Educational Service Center are not complete at this time. The recommendation for school meal pricing will be sent at a later date.
The board approved the renewal of the student accident insurance plan with Student Assurance Services as presented for the 2017-18 school year.
Principals Pat Culp and Dan Zylstra went over the recommended changes in the student handbooks for the 2017-18 school year. The board gave approval of the recommended handbook changes, as presented.
The board approved the classified staff work memorandums for 2017-18, as presented.
The board voted to adopt the science books as presented. The elementary textbooks are on-line and the secondary textbooks are on-line with a classroom textbook
The board approved the book rental fees for 2017-18 as follows:
- Kindergarten $98
- First Grade $125
- Second Grade $120
- Third Grade $120
- Fourth Grade $108
- Fifth Grade $110
- Grades 6-12 will be determined by course selection
Textbook rental fees include the $15 tech fee.
The board discussed the preventive maintenance proposals presented. Approval was given to for a contract with Precision Control Systems.
The West Central play sponsors requested that the fall play be set for 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 15. The board approved the Sunday play performance.
The board reviewed and discussed the internet provider quotes. The board voted to approve Hoosier Internet as the provider.
Student-of-the-Month certificates were presented to Evelyn Libey at the elementary school, Audrey Kroft at the middle school level, and Ava Nitcher at the middle school level.
Personnel Items:
The board accepted the resignations of:
- Lauren Gudeman – Elementary Guidance
- Alicia Querry – Cooperative School Services
- Ashton Maxwell – Cooperative School Services
The board accepted the transfer of Lindsay Hopkins to elementary guidance.
Approval was given to a personal leave request from Lori McIlvain, as presented.
A field trip request from Stephanie Thilges was approved to attend the FCCLA national conference.
A conference request was approved for elementary school principal Dan Zylstra to attend the Models Schools Conference, to be paid by the Lilly Grant.
The board held a public hearing for public comments on the contract between the school superintendent and the school board. No comments were offered and the hearing was closed.
Superintendent's Report:
Superintendent Don Street reported on the following:
The Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Reporting Policy was reviewed with the Board, and the administration explained the process. The administration will continue to review the policy and procedures.
The projected enrollment for the 2017-18 school year was shared as well as the projected 2018 general fund state budget projections. Staffing for the 2017-18 school year was reviewed.
West Central has partnered with Battle for Kids to complete a second grant for a guidance grant from Lilly.
The maintenance and custodial staff are preparing for summer cleaning and projects.
The utility usage was reviewed with the strong spring winds the wind turbine has been building credits.
Mrs. Murray and the cafeteria staff will offer a summer feeding program for students during summer school.
Principal Reports:
Elementary school principal Dan Zylstra reported that Title I held its annual Muffins with Moms events. He thanked Title I director Jodie Schlatter, who is retiring at the end of this year and who has done "such a marvelous job" with all the programs.
- On May 5 the PTC will hold its Spring Port-a-Pit event.
- Students have received their last ice cream prize for their April Accelerated Reader goal. Students who make their overall goal will be a part of the movie field trip scheduled to the ISIS Theatre in Winamac on Friday, May 19.
- On May 10, select third- through fifth-grade students will compete in the annual Pulaski County Spelling Bee at Eastern Pulaski Elementary.
- The month of May has the usual field trips for students, including a trip to the stone quarry, the Indianapolis Zoo, and Columbian Park Zoo.
- On Friday, May 12 the first-grade classes will make their last trip to Parkview Haven, reading and eating lunch with the residents to celebrate a year of learning together.
- Another unique opportunity this year happened thanks to the Jasper County Airport director, who organized a career-based “Aviation Day” for local schools. The WCES fifth-graders will attend on May 12 to learn about possible career opportunities.
- Field Day is scheduled for Thursday, May 18.
- West Central will host its Awards Day Ceremony the morning of May 23, the last day of school, and send students home with their report cards.
Middle/high school principal Pat Culp congratulated the high school students in the Introduction to Advanced Manufacturing class for recently passing the national certification test. West Central students scored better than both the state and national average on the certification test.
- Students enrolled in Intro to Advanced Manufacturing receive dual college credits from Ivy Tech with the possibility of completing 12-15 college credit hours while at West Central. Congratulations to Mr. DeMoss and the students for passing the national test.
- Throughout the school year, West Central students, Braylin Balough, Cassie Wuethrich, Ryan Shepherd, and Jerod Glasford have served on the Alliance Bank Junior Board of Directors. On Sunday May 7, West Central students, along with students from Twin Lakes, North White, and Winamac, will be honored for their participation in this endeavor. The purpose of the Alliance Bank Junior Board of Directors program is to create leaders, encourage community involvement, provide knowledge about local employers, and further develop and keep local talent. Ryan and Jerod will continue to serve our local community next year. West Central sophomores, Brittany Gasaway and Ethan Shannon will join Ryan and Jerod and the rest of the Alliance Bank team during the 2017-18 school year.
- The Trojan Opportunity Academy (TOA) continues to help students at West Central High School. To date, 74 credits have been earned in the TOA room. The West Central music department will perform two shows in May. On Friday, May 12, the Choir will perform a concert. The middle school and high school band will perform a Pops Concert on Friday, May 19. Both performances will begin at 6:30 p.m., in the high school cafeteria.
- On May 13, West Central students will board the Madam Carroll for prom. The theme for the prom is “Paris.” The Grand March will start at 7:30 p.m. for those parents and community members who would like to attend.
- Senior Awards Night is scheduled for Monday, May 15 starting at 6 p.m., in the high school cafeteria.
- Middle school students will be participating in incentive trips. The sixth-grade will be camping at Camp Tecumseh on May 8-9. A seventh-grade trip to the Glass Barn at the Indiana State Fairgrounds on May 15. On Thursday, May 19, those eighth-graders who have earned a trip to Indianapolis will enjoy an Indianapolis Indians game. West Central students will leave for Washington D.C. on May 29 via tour bus. Culp thanked Janet Kruger for organizing the trip for our students.
- The class of 2017 will graduate on Sunday, May 28. Baccalaureate services will begin at 2 p.m. with Logan Wuethrich providing the message to the seniors. At 2:30, the graduation ceremony will begin.
