DELAWARE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2008

6:30 P.M.

DELTA MIDDLE SCHOOL

An executive session was held at 5:45 p.m. prior to the business meeting on personnel matters.

MINUTES

Present: Norb Heban, President; John Adams, Vice-President; Lisa Clawson, Secretary; Tyce Stebbins, Member; Steve Hall, Assistant Superintendent; and Patrick W. Mapes, Superintendent.

Absent: Sean Burcham, Member

I. CALL TO ORDER

At 6:30 p.m. Board President, Norb Heban, called the meeting to order.

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. AMEND AGENDA

A. A motion was made by Lisa Clawson and seconded by John Adams to amend the agenda as presented by Superintendent Mapes. The motion was approved unanimously.

IV. MINUTES

A. A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Lisa Clawson to approve the minutes of the business meeting and executive session held on Tuesday, October 7, 2008. The motion was approved unanimously.

V. FINANCE

A. A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Tyce Stebbins to approve the list of vouchers as presented. The motion was approved unanimously.

B. Purchase over $7,500

None

VI. OLD BUSINESS

A. None

VII. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FLOOR

A. Sheliah Dorton, DCCTA President, thanked the Corporation for sending 31 participants to the RTI Conference in Indianapolis. Sheliah felt the conference was well worth the time of those who attended.

VIII. NEW BUSINESS

A. Certified Staff

1. None

B. Classified Staff

1. The Board was informed of the resignation of Teresa Terrell as a food service employee at Delta Middle School effective October 31, 2008.

2. The Board was informed of the resignation of Kathy Sammons as a custodian at Albany Elementary School effective October 13, 2008.

A motion was made by Lisa Clawson and seconded by Tyce Stebbins to approve items 3 through 7 of the following classified staff recommendations as presented by Superintendent Mapes:

3. Recommendation to transfer Elizabeth Davis as a contracted school bus driver to another route effective October 22, 2008.

4. Recommendation to transfer Angela Morris as a contracted school bus driver to another route effective October 22, 2008.

5. Recommendation to increase the working time of DeLinda Cooper as a food service employee at Delta Middle School by fifteen (15) minutes per day.

6. Recommendation to transfer Angela Morris as a food service employee from a two (2) hour position at Eaton Elementary School to a 2.75 hour position at Delta Middle School.

7. Recommendation to employ Cindy Vaughn as a Wellness Coordinator for the Corporation paid by the North Central Indiana School Consortium Grant at a rate of $2,000.00 per school year effective immediately.

The motion was approved unanimously.

C. Extra Curricular

A motion was made by Lisa Clawson and seconded by John Adams to approve the appointment of the following extra curricular positions as present by Superintendent Mapes:

1. Appoint Drew Smith as a Head Boys and Girls Diving Coach for Delta High School effective for the 2008-2009 season pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

2. Appoint David Hasenmyer as a Boys Assistant Swim Coach for Delta High School effective for the 2008-2009 season pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

3. Appoint Julie Titus as a Head Eighth Grade Girls Basketball Coach for Delta Middle School effective for the 2008-2009 season.

4. Appoint Jacob McGee as a Volunteer Wrestling Coach for Delta Middle School effective for the 2008-2009 season pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

The motion was approved unanimously.

D. Conference Requests/Field Trips

A motion was made by Lisa Clawson and seconded by Tyce Stebbins to approve the following conference requests and field trips as presented by Superintendent Mapes:

1. RTI Groups from each school as listed by Mr. Steven Hall request permission to attend the RTI Conference Joint Presentation of IDOE and ISTA on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at the Marriott Conference Center in Indianapolis, IN.

2. Chris Conley, Chris Hannah, Joe Schmaltz, Leslie Orman, Doug Marshall, John Kelly, Kathy Hottinger, and Lisa McKee request permission to attend the Acuity Train-the-Trainer Workshop on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at the Test Middle School in Richmond, IN.

3. Susan Speicher requests permission to attend the Star Lab Demonstrations on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 and Thursday, October 30, 2008 at Albany Elementary School in Albany, IN.

4. Matt Moulton requests permission to attend the Classroom Management and Effective Teaching of Children and Adolescents with Emotional and Behavioral Problems Seminar on Monday, November 3, 2008 at the Holiday Inn Express, SE in Indianapolis, IN.

5. Connie Stinson, Doug Wilder, and Tim Brannock request permission to attend Ivey Tech. Community College’s Annual Counselor and Principal Luncheon on Thursday, November 5, 2008 at Ivy Tech in Muncie, IN.

6. Cindy Vaughn requests permission to attend the Consortium Meeting on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at the Ball State University Alumni Center in Muncie, IN.

7. Deborah Christopher requests permission to attend the Empowering Students for the Future Workshop on Thursday, November 6, 2008 at IUPUI in Indianapolis, IN.

8. Jennifer Conti requests permission to attend the Indiana School Counseling Association Conference on Friday, November 7, 2008 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.

9. Reece Mann requests permission to attend the Indiana School Counseling Association Conference on Friday, November 7, 2008 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.

10. Julie Titus requests permission to attend the Indiana School Counseling Association Conference on Friday, November 7, 2008 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.

11. Kim Kemper requests permission to attend the IASBO Performance Evaluation and Group Unemployment Workshop on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at the Primo West in Indianapolis, IN.

12. Machelle Ross requests permission to attend the Annual Case Conferences on Monday through Friday, December 1-5, 2008 at Royerton Elementary School in Muncie, IN.

13. Kim Hunter requests permission to attend the Indiana Library Federation’s 2008 Annual Conference on Wednesday and Thursday, November 19-20, 2008 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, IN.

14. Matt Lyons and Nancy Kunk request permission to take the Vocational Ag./Industrial Tech. students from Delta High School to the FFA National Convention at the Indiana Convention Center on Thursday, October 23, 2008 from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The motion was approved unanimously.

E. Information and Proposals

1. Superintendent

a. School Board Exemplary Status

Superintendent Mapes congratulated the Board members for reaching Exemplary Board Status with the Indiana School Boards Association.

b. Robert P. Bell Education Fund Grant Recipients

Superintendent Mapes congratulated several Delaware Community School recipients of Robert P. Bell Education Grants. Those recipients are as follows:

Becky Watters – Eaton Elementary fourth grade teacher

Richard Williams – Delta High School English 12 teacher

Lance Brand – Delta High School Biology 2 teacher

Rose Davis/Matt Huber – Albany Elementary first grade teachers

Rhonda Miller – Delta Middle School sixth grade language teacher

c. Early Graduation Request

Superintendent Mapes informed the Board Devan Crabtree, Delta High School senior, has passed all requirements while at the Delta Learning Center for graduation and has cited personal reasons for early graduation.

A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Lisa Clawson to approve Devon Crabtree for early graduation. The motion was approved unanimously.

d. Policy #5130 Enrollment of Students without Legal Settlement (First Reading)

Superintendent Mapes recommended updating policy #5130 due to the State assuming control of the general fund of all public schools in Indiana beginning on January 1, 2009. This will affect the enrollment of students without legal settlement due to the way payment will be made to the schools for the educational needs of these students. Superintendent Mapes informed the Board that as of January 1, 2009 the school will begin receiving money for all cash tuition students who were enrolled prior to the State count day of September 12, 2008 and those students will not have to pay a fee to attend second semester of the 2008-2009 school year. Those students who enroll after September 12, 2008 will still have a fee based on the State’s per student fees as they will not receive any State money for the 2008-2009 school year. Superintendent Mapes recommended updating the policy to allow enrollment of these students, but with contingencies to that enrollment. Mr. Steven Murphy, school attorney, helped with the draft to update this policy.

e. Facility Study Update

Superintendent Mapes introduced Mr. Richard Gill, a member of the Facilities Study Committee, to update the Board on the work of this committee over the last several months. All committee members present were asked to stand and be recognized.

Mr. Gill informed the Board the Facilities Study Committee members have been faithful in attending most if not all of the meetings. These members were a great group with lots of diversity, including school officials, teachers, moms, and business men.

Mr. Gill went on to inform the Board of the process the committee had used to narrow down the options and come up with a consensus list of possibilities from the committee. These options included priorities from all buildings with the possibility of looking at some consolidation of buildings, and also the possibility of simply doing nothing which all members of the committee agree is not really a viable option in the long run. Mr. Gill then introduced Mr. Al Holdren to conclude the Facilities Committee’s report for the Board.

Mr. Holdren reiterated the diversity of the group and commended the committee as being a very dynamic group for the community. Mr. Holdren stated the Superintendent should be commended for his work in putting together this diverse group of people to form the committee.

Mr. Holdren also reiterated the Facilities Study Committee agrees that to do nothing is not a viable option for the future, but they consider it the option to be presented for now. Mr. Holdren went on to say the committee would like to postpone their presentation of options to the Board until sometime in the spring. This decision was based on the need to study the options further based on the economic crisis in our country and upcoming election results as well as some more positive events occurring recently in our own area.

Mr. Holdren commended the Skillman Corporation for the terrific job. He also informed the Board the committee would continue to meet over the next few months hoping to return to the Board with three or four options sometime early in the spring. Mr. Holdren then thanked the Board for their time.

Mr. Norb Heban, Board President, thanked the committee on behalf of the Board for the time and effort they have put into the Feasibility Study for our schools. Mr. Heban added the Board is conservative when it comes to spending money and appreciates the conservative approach being taken by this committee.

2. Assistant Superintendent

A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Lisa Clawson to approve items a and b to surplus various items as presented by Assistant Superintendent Hall:

a. Request to surplus four (4) office chairs from Central Office

b. Request to surplus several computer monitors as listed from Eaton Elementary School

The motion was approved unanimously.

c. Safe and Drug Free Grant

Assistant Superintendent Hall informed the Board each year we submit the Safe and Drug Free Grant Application. The monies given will be used to conduct our student random drug testing program.

d. DHS Language Arts Course

Assistant Superintendent Hall informed the Board Mr. Jim Koger, Principal Delta High School, recommends approval of a new Language Arts Course as submitted by Mr. Williams. The course, entitled World Literature, would be open to all juniors and seniors.

By consensus the Board approved proceeding with studies regarding the possibility of adding a new course entitled World Literature to Delta High School’s Language Arts Department as presented by Assistant Superintendent Hall.

IX. LETTERS/NOTES

A. None

X. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

Tyce Stebbins – First off, I would like to extend my thanks to all those who applied for and received the Bell Grants. Thank you as well to everyone who has been a part of the Task Force Committee. I hope it continues in a positive direction for our schools. Thank you to those who worked on the presentation. Thanks as well to everyone for coming this evening.

Lisa Clawson – I would concur with my fellow board member on all counts. Congratulations as well to all our fall sports teams. May they have continued success. Thanks to all for coming this evening.

John Adams – I would also concur with my fellow board members. I know this Task Force Committee is a necessary evil, but very important to the Board and the community that we take a look at these things. I would commend all those who worked hard to get such a great and diverse group of people working together on this. The Board is supporting your work as you get the recommendations together. Congratulations to those who received the Bell Grants. We appreciate all the hard work going on in and for our schools.

Norb Heban – I would like to thank all our teachers who fill out the field trip evaluations for us and would like to stress how valuable we feel those are to us as we read through them. Also, congratulations to those who’ve been awarded Bell Grants for making sure we stay on top of those kind of things. Mr. Harman, thank you for the hospitality of Delta Middle School this evening.

XI. FUTURE MEETINGS

A. The next regular meeting of the Board of School Trustees is scheduled for Wednesday, November 5, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at Eaton Elementary School.

B. The ISBA Current Issues in Special Education Seminar will be held on Friday, November 14, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Marriott North Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.

C. The ISBA Legal Seminar will be held on Friday, December 12, 2008 at the Marriott East Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.

XII. ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Lisa Clawson and Board President Norb Heban, adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m.

NORB HEBAN

JOHN ADAMS

LISA CLAWSON

SEAN BURCHAM

TYCE STEBBINS