The school reports the proposal is similar to a program already in operation in several schools in White County.
In the pullout program, students would leave the school campus to receive religious instruction at a designated location and then return. The school would accommodate the schedule. No academic credit would be given, although Superintendent Dan Zylstra reports state code allows for the possibility at the high school level.
In other business, Zylstra reported that the school district is taking part in its state board of accounts audit. This occurs every two years, and due to COVID-19 restrictions much of the material must be scanned and emailed.
Zystra also reported the school’s former food services director continues to assist with document retrieval for the cafeteria portion of the audit. He added food services is adjusting to the current staffing levels and continues to do “a fantastic job” nourishing the students.
The superintendent reported substitute teacher availability continues to be sufficient for needs, and administrators hope recent upward pay adjustments will continue that trend. He said West Central is “blessed to have consistent substitutes who care for our students and the well-being of the school and community.”
Personnel
The board voted to employ the following, as presented:
- Alyson Frye-Cafeteria
- John Murray-Varsity Golf Coach
- Lisa Birnell-Art Maternity Leave
Leave requests were approved for:
- Sara Strus-personal
- Sally Smidler-personal
- Lori Skalon-personal
- Kenley Newbauer-personal
- Jenna Pelsey-maternity
Field trip requests were approved for:
- Scott Ritchie - senior trip to Colorado
- Shaw Haselby - South Newton HS
The school board voted to approve Tammy Perry to the Francesville-Salem Township Public Library Board.
Zylstra presented the first reading of the updated Title IX Policy based on new guidance from the Indiana School Boards Association.
Principal reports
Elementary school principal Mike Carlsonreported that study tables have been going well, and teachers have reported their support in holding them.
A modified Thursday professional development will begin next week with certain grade levels meeting on different days. This will allow students to remain separated and also not to group too many teachers together at a time. At this time, they will be utilizing more training for the new reading curriculum.
WIDA testing is nearly complete.
Kindergarten Round Up is scheduled for April 7 with a good response on the first notice sent.
Teachers are looking at new Social Studies books for adoption.
Middle/high school principal Scott Ritchiereported that the high school is in the middle of ISTEP testing. They have been working around delays and cancellations but Mrs. Kennedy has kept them on track.
On Feb. 6, Brayden Neust, Drake and Hayden Fritz, Josiah and Zion Rodriguez, and Conner Fritz will be wrestling in the Logansport Regional.
The athletic department and Mr. Pilarski, along with West Central School Corp., have made a lot of efforts to update the softball facility. A new sound system has been added, redrilled holes for posts by the dugouts, and a new press box are in the works.
A recent late-start school day was used to let the theater class do a very abbreviated version of Hamlet. It was well received by the students.
Through grant and ECA funding, West Central has obtained a nine-hole frisbee golf course which will be installed around campus later this spring.
Executive/work session reports
The West Central School Board met in executive session Feb. 4, following the regular board meeting.
The session was held in accordance with IC 5-14-1.5-6.1(b) (5) For discussion of strategy with respect to the receipt of information about and the interviewing of prospective employees.
The school board held a work session Jan. 26. The purpose of the session was to receive information to assist with future plans for West Central.
Maintenance director David Allen led those in attendance through a walkthrough of the building mechanicals.
Another work session was held Feb. 4. The purpose of the session was to receive information to assist with future plans for West Central.
Tony Kuykendall and Peter Beiriger from Performance Services provided an overview of the corporation’s energy usage and HVAC infrastructure.
Maintenance director David Allen discussed some of the work done on buildings and grounds in the past year and highlighted potential projects for the future.
Technology director Kris Aschbrenner discussed some of the technology updates from the past year and presented on future district needs for the next few years.
