West Central School Board approves teacher contracts

FRANCESVILLE - The West Central School Board approved teacher contracts at its monthly meeting Thursday (Nov. 2).

Teacher salary is based upon 2016-17 evaluations, which are based upon the State ISTEP and state-assigned letter grades for schools.

The board also voted to approve the principal contracts, as presented, for the 2017-18 school year.

In addition, the board approved the salary increases for eligible classified staff, as presented.

Approval was given to the school calendars for 2018-19 and 2019-20. The calendars are very similar to the last several years.

 

In other business:

Harold Welter appeared before the board to make a presentation about the Cheryl Lyn Welter Family Charitable Foundation. Cheryl’s family has established a tax-exempt 501(c) 3 Charitable Foundation in her name for the purpose of providing grants to help teachers and others involved with local school children to provide small things that underprivileged students may not be able to afford.

The recommended changes to the high school course description books were reviewed. The board then voted to approve the changes for the 2018-19 school year, as presented.

The school board approved Gary Gudeman as the West Central Building Corporation board member appointment.

The board voted to approve the High Ability Grant, as presented.

Superintendent Don Street and the board discussed the possibility of utilizing the former drug store building in downtown Francesville.

Street also:

  • Discussed with the school board the importance of pre-school programs for children.
  • Shared that West Central received a 100 percent compliance on an Indiana Department of Education audit on special education IEP’s.
  • Reviewed the security and utilization of space project.
  • Reported the Capital Projects Fund will be used for the replacement of the middle school/auxiliary gym roof this summer as well as other projects.

 A "Student of the Month" certificate was presented to Kayli Wireman at the middle school level. Liam Sanchez (elementary school) and Zach Sparks (high school) were not able to attend the board meeting.

 

Personnel items:

The board approved the resignations cafeteria workers Jerilean Hendrickson and Della Myers; and instructional assistant Lea Overman.

The board approved personal leave requests for Rebecca Reed and Jennifer Istre.

A field trip request was approved for the sixth-grade camping trip to Camp Tecumseh on May 7-8, 2018.

Conference requests were approved for:

IFLTC Conference – Nov. 2-4 - Rebecca Reed

School Nutrition Industry Conference – Jan. 21-23 - Jessica Murray

 

Principal Reports:

Elementary school principal Dan Zylstra reported that the elementary celebrated Family Literacy Night Nov. 2, along with the Book Fair the entire week.

On Nov. 14, Student Council will host its Turkey Twist Dance. That same night, while the students dance, parents are invited to a presentation from Sgt. Terry Hall on “Body Safety.” He will be presenting to all students K-12 on Nov. 15.

The elementary school’s professional development time has been spent examining math content and instruction. On Dec. 1, the elementary school will hold its second “Math Fact Master” prize room, offering prizes to students based on the number of points they earned during the months of October and November.

Middle/high school principal Pat Culp reported that all middle/high school students and staff are invited to attend the annual Veteran's Day program at 11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 10. West Central graduate Eric Rodriquez will be the speaker. Following the program, lunch will be served to the veterans in the media center.

The Body Safety Program will be presented to parents on Tuesday, Nov. 14 and to students in grades K-12 on Wednesday, Nov. 15 by Sgt. Terry Hall. The program is designed to empower children without scaring them. The program gives information on signals and myths of abuse. Teachers and parents will learn how to handle a report on an incident of abuse.

On Nov. 29 at 1:30 p.m., Champions Together will be presenting at West Central High School. Champions Together is a collaborative partnership between the Indiana High School Athletic Association and Special Olympics Indiana that promotes servant leadership among student athletes, while changing their lives, as well as the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics International is supporting Champions Together as a model program to activate schools through “Project Unify,” which also has the endorsement of the National Federation of High Schools.