Thus, the board will be purchasing some updated equipment and looking to pursue the renovations next summer, the superintendent said. Those renovations will be added to longer-term plans which also include renovating the pool area in the not-to-distant future.
In other business, Zylstra told the board that after polling students and ensuring appropriate licensure, the high school will put plans in place to offer a Graphic Design Pathway for high school students.
Also in his report to the board, the superintendent said the district will be looking forward to potential amendments to the 2022-23 calendar to allow for more professional development time for teachers. The district will apply to the state for a HB1003 waiver and use eight early release days to provide longer sessions of professional development to teachers.
Lastly, Zylstra noted the school has enjoyed functioning under the new relaxed COVID-19 protocols. With no required close contact tracing and very few cases requiring quarantines, he reported the schools are operating as normally as they have since the spring of 2020.
Personnel
The board approved the following employments, as presented:
- David Allen - Head Baseball Coach
- Corey Howat - Assistant Baseball Coach
- Eric Rodriguez - JV Baseball Coach
- Brian Pilarski - Head Softball Coach
- Shelby Powell - Assistant Softball Coach
- Becky Reed - Head Track Coach
- Hillary Durie- Assistant Track Coach
- Greg Buschman- Assistant Track Coach
- David Reif - Middle School Track Coach
- Sara Strus - Middle School Track Coach
Field trip requests were approved, as presented:
- Stephen Sholey - MS/HS Band - Music in the Parks Performance
- Teri Rickaby - MS/HS Choir - Purduettes Performance
- Stephanie Thilges - FCCLA State Leadership
The school board granted a request for a band/choir Sunday performance on May 15, at 2 pm.
Zylstra presented the second reading of updates for the board policy manual. The updates clean up language regarding non-certified vacation allotments, insurance contributions, and contractual days. The board voted to approve the policy manual update.
Principal reports
Elementary Principal Mike Carlson expressed how much the elementary school enjoys joining in and celebrating FFA week with dress-up days, and ending the week with a petting zoo. Everyone always looks forward to it. The elementary school appreciates being included by the FFA each year.
The elementary celebrated Read Across America. Student council members read books to the lower grades.
Testing time has arrived again. CoGAT testing for high ability is finished. Third grade students have done the practice test for IREAD, and the actual test will be given in three sections next week.
Middle/High School Principal Angie Radtke reported that they were finishing up the last round of observations this week. They received some really good feedback on the professional development that Mr. Carlson did for the whole corporation after Christmas break, so they decided to pick up where he left off with John Hattie’s Visible Learning.
The juniors just took the SAT, and the state told Mrs. Kennedy that there was a great turnout with only two students not able to take the test. Kudos to Mrs. Kennedy for all the hard work organizing, coordinating, and communicating everything that is required for an assessment of that scale.
Mrs. Radtke has met with the seventh grade and given them information on the Lifewise Academy. They plan to offer that program to the middle schoolers next year as an elective option.
The varsity boys basketball team finished the season with four wins. Everyone is super proud of them and can’t wait to see what next year brings.
Middle school wrestling is still going on and continuing the Trojan Wrestling tradition of winning.
The middle school girls basketball teams are having a terrific season. The seventh grade is undefeated, and the 8th grade has only had one loss. They are tenacious and fun to watch.
Congratulations to Blayden Huber for earning Academic All-State honors from the Indiana Football Coaches Association.
Alexa Schultz, Ewen Cameron, and Nate Thompson all won golds at state solo and ensemble this past weekend.
March 9 is the end of the third nine-weeks grading period.
Executive sessions
The school board also met in two executive sessions, before and after the regular board meeting, to receive information about and interview prospective employees.
