DELAWARE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2008

6:30 P.M.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

 

 

MINUTES

 

 

Present:  Harry Fowler, President; Norb Heban, Vice-President; John Adams, Secretary; Lisa Clawson, Member; Sean Burcham, Member; Steve Hall, Assistant Superintendent; Pat Mapes, Superintendent

 

 

I.                   CALL TO ORDER

 

At 6:30 p.m. Board President Harry Fowler called the meeting to order.

 

II.                PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

III.             AMEND AGENDA

 

A.     A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Sean Burcham to amend the agenda as presented by Superintendent Mapes due to a postponement of the Tuesday, March 4, 2008 meeting of the Board of School Trustees because of inclement weather.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

IV.              MINUTES

 

B.     A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by Lisa Clawson to approve the minutes of the business meeting and executive session held on Tuesday, February 19, 2008.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

V.                 FINANCE

 

A.     A motion was made by Sean Burcham and seconded by Norb Heban to approve the list of vouchers as presented.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

B.     Purchase over $7,500

 

Midwest Transit            Corporation                   BRF                   $136,984.00

 

A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by Sean Burcham to approve the purchase of two school busses from Midwest Transit at a total cost of $136,984.00 as presented by Superintendent Mapes.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

VI.              OLD BUSINESS

 

A.     Substance Abuse Policy – Second Reading

 

By consensus of the Board the Substance Abuse Policy for Transportation will be tabled until the April 8, 2008 meeting of the Delaware Community Board of School Trustees.

 

VII.           COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FLOOR

 

A.     Several Delaware County citizens were present at the meeting to express concerns regarding common construction wages in conjunction with Delaware County construction jobs along with a recent common wage hearing held at the Delaware Community School Corporation.  Speaking to the Board with these concerns were the following:  Chris Hiatt, who is a resident of the Muncie Community School District, and Delaware Community School District residents:  Ed Nanny, Victoria Rabenstein, and Charles Lancaster.  The group complimented the school board representatives for their work and support of Delaware County taxpayers.

 

Board President, Harry Fowler, thanked the concerned taxpayers for their comments.  Mr. Fowler added the Board is very conscientious about supporting our taxpayers.

 

B.     Julie Costello was present as a patron in our district.  She asked if anyone was present at the meeting who was running for school board in the upcoming election.  Jerry Brooks was present in the audience and Norb Heban, current vice-president of the Board, was also present.

 

VIII.        NEW BUSINESS

 

A.     Certified Staff

 

1.       The Board was informed of the retirement of Cindy Morgan as a Guidance Counselor at Eaton Elementary and Albany Elementary Schools effective at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

 

2.      A motion was made by Sean Burcham and seconded by John Adams to approve the extension of leave for Katie Maine through the end of the 2007-2008 school year.  She will return at the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

3.      The Board was informed of the resignation of Patty Russell as a Family and Consumer Science teacher at Delta Middle School effective at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

 

4.      The Board was informed of the resignation of Kelli Clanin as a Special Education teacher at Delta Middle School effective at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

 

B.     Classified Staff

 

1.       The Board was informed of the resignation of Daniel Campbell as a corporation mechanic effective at the end of the day on February 22, 2008.

 

A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Lisa Clawson to accept the following recommendations of employment for classified positions as presented by Superintendent Mapes:

 

2.      Employ Jan Wray as a contracted school bus driver for the Delaware Community Schools effective March 5, 2008 pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

3.      Employ Scott Apking as a corporation mechanic for the Delaware Community Schools effective March 27, 2008 pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

4.      Employ Kathie Hoang as an ESL Tutor for Royerton Elementary School to be paid as a vendor pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

The motion was approved unanimously.

 

C.     Extra Curricular

 

1.       The Board was informed of the resignation of Katie Maine as a Delta High School Student Council Advisor for the second semester of the 2007-2008 school year.

 

2.      The Board was informed of the resignation of Seemann Baugh as a Head Swimming and Diving Coach for Delta Middle School effective at the conclusion of the Winter Sports Awards Banquet on March 5, 2008.

 

3.      The Board was informed of the resignation of Marvin Campbell as a Delta High School Head Wrestling Coach effective immediately.

 

4.      The Board was informed of the resignation of Matt Perdue as a Delta High School Girls Varsity Basketball Coach effective immediately.

 

A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by Sean Burcham to approve the following Extra-Curricular appointments as presented by Superintendent Mapes:

 

5.      Appoint Lauren Griffis as a Delta High School Student Council Sponsor for the second semester of the 2007-2008 school year.

 

6.      Appoint Julie Titus as an Assistant Girls Track Coach at Delta Middle School for the 2007-2008 season.

 

7.      Appoint Brittney O’Bryant as a Volunteer Junior Varsity Assistant Girls Softball Coach at Delta High School for the 2007-2008 season pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

8.     Appoint Rusty Dreher as a Volunteer Assistant Girls Softball Coach at Delta High School for the 2007-2008 season pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

9.      Appoint Jino Stuffel as a Volunteer Assistant Girls Softball Coach at Delta High School for the 2007-2008 season pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

The motion was approved unanimously.

 

D.    Conference Requests/Field Trips

 

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

 

1.       Cindy Morgan requests permission to attend the Renewing Gold Star Program on Friday, March 7, 2008 at the Radisson Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.

 

2.      Lance Brand requests permission to attend the Argonne National Laboratories ACTS Program on Friday, March 7, 2008 at the Argonne National Laboratories in Chicago, IL.

 

3.      Stan Daugherty requests permission to attend the Indiana Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association State Convention on Sunday through Monday, March 16-17, 2008 at the Marriott Center East in Indianapolis, IN.

 

4.      Deborah Christopher requests permission to attend an ISTEP Meeting on Monday, March 17, 2008 at the Department of Education Office in Indianapolis, IN.

 

5.      Steve Hall, April Williams, and Morgan Jones request permission to attend the 21st Century Spring Conferences on Monday through Tuesday, April 21-22, 2008 at the Hilton North in Indianapolis, IN.

 

6.      Cheri Ridley and Julie Blakely request permission to take the ninth and tenth grade English Honors Students from Delta High School to the Szechuan Garden Chinese Restaurant in Muncie, IN on Thursday, March 6, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

 

7.      Joe Scott and Nancy Kunk request permission to take the Delta FFA from Delta High School to the Farm Festival on Tuesday through Wednesday, March 11-12, 2008 with Matt Lyons requesting to attend on Wednesday, March 12, 2008.

 

8.     Leigh Chalfant requests permission to take students from Delta High School to the Allegre Restaurant (Ball State) and Marsh Supermarket on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 from 11:45 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.

 

The motion was approved unanimously.

 

E.     Information and Proposals

 

1.             Superintendent

 

a.      Corporation Grading Policy #5310 – First Reading

 

Superintendent Mapes informed the Board a committee was formed to review the corporation grading policy, particularly with regard to dual credit offerings.  Mr. Greg Hinshaw, principal of Delta High School, along with the committee is recommending weighted grades for dual credit courses due to their level of difficulty.  A discussion followed regarding the changes to policy #5310.  The policy will be brought back to the Board for a second reading at the April 8, 2008 Board meeting.

 

b.      Best Buy Award

 

Superintendent Mapes congratulated Sheila Piazza, Delta Middle School Teacher, and Jeri Harman, DeSoto Elementary School Teacher, for receiving the Best Buy Teach Award.  Both teachers received $2,000 for use at their school from the Best Buy Awards program.

 

c.       Request for a Task Force Committee

 

A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by Sean Burcham to approve the Superintendent to form a task force committee for the purpose of reviewing the feasibility study.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

d.      Request for a Proposal Review Committee

 

Board President, Harry Fowler appointed himself and Sean Burcham to serve on the proposal review committee.

 

Superintendent Mapes advised the Board proposals will be accepted on April 3, 2008.  A review date will be set after that.

 

2.            Assistant Superintendent

 

a.      A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Norb Heban to allow Grant Zgunda to use the football fields and auxiliary gym at Delta High School for the 10th Annual Delta Football Camp on Tuesday through Friday, May 27-30, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. each day.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

b.      A motion was made by Sean Burcham and seconded by Lisa Clawson to grant permission for Pat Ervin and the Delta High School National Honor Society to hold a blanket fund raiser at each elementary school registration in the fall of 2008.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

c.       Delta High School Proposed Handbook Changes – First Reading

 

Assistant Superintendent Hall informed the Board Delta High School principal, Mr. Greg Hinshaw was unable to be present this evening due to a meeting at the high school.  Superintendent Mapes highlighted several proposed changes to the Delta High School Handbook to be considered.  The changes included new rules and regulations for parking lot safety, and a “no drop/add” policy for the scholastic programs.  A discussion followed on the changes.  The proposed changes will be brought back for a second reading at the April 8, 2008 Board meeting.

 

d.      Elementary School Proposed Handbook Changes – First Reading

 

Assistant Superintendent Hall introduced Mr. Joe Schmaltz, principal of DeSoto Elementary School.  Mr. Schmaltz presented the Board with proposed changes to the Elementary School Handbook.  These changes included some wording and cosmetic changes along with additions to the emergency school dismissal plans, the addition of language to include the new MealsPlus program, and changes in the nursing services section due to a change in the law regarding this area.  A discussion followed on the changes.  The proposed changes will be brought back for a second reading at the April 8, 2008 Board meeting.

 

e.      Student Drug Testing Agreement

 

A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Lisa Clawson to switch the student onsite drug testing contract to Midwest Toxicology Services in conjunction with Witham Health Services at a cost of $30.00 per test to begin in April, 2008.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

IX.              LETTERS/NOTES

 

A.     None

 

X.                 BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

 

Lisa Clawson – Congratulations to Mrs. Cindy Morgan on her retirement.  Congratulations to Sheila Piazza and Jeri Harman on their Best Buy Teach Awards.  Also, congratulations to Delta Middle School on the health and fitness award.

 

Assistant Superintendent Hall also expressed his congratulations to Delta Middle School on their silver award for the Healthy Hoosier School Awards.  Only one school from each district may be submitted for consideration for these awards.

 

John Adams – I would concur with my fellow Board member.  I would like to congratulate Mrs. Cindy Morgan on her retirement.  I would also like to mention the boys’ basketball game.  It was a tough loss and I’m very proud of the positive manner in which our students and players reacted after the game.  Thank you as well to our administrators and the great work they are doing.  Thank you also to Barry Harris.  We appreciate all the hard work you do as well as the extra work right now.  Thank you as well to all the taxpayers for coming and speaking.  One more item, I would like to thank Kelly Alles, Special Education Teacher at Albany Elementary School, for taking our special needs children out and allowing them to have experiences they may not normally be able to have.

 

Norb Heban – I would echo what has already been said.  I would like to thank Mr. Hiatt and others from the taxpayers group for their comments this evening.  I have been a part of those Boards and it can be frustrating.  I would like to thank Mrs. Pat Ervin for the fund raiser which will be putting money towards our new Dollars for Scholars efforts.  I would also like to mention it was great to see our FFA students working at the Farm Festival and I was very proud of the nice comments of the public regarding the great job they are doing.  Mr. Daugherty, thank you for a great sports’ awards banquet.

 

Sean Burcham – I would concur with my fellow Board members.  I would also like to thank those from the taxpayers group for coming.  Everyone is always welcome.

 

Harry Fowler – I would concur with my fellow Board members.  I would also like to thank Royerton Elementary School for the bulletin board decorations.  I’d also like to mention the family fitness program at Delta High School.  It is wonderful that we are able to open our facilities to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I would also like to thank those who came from the Delaware County Taxpayers group.  We appreciate the comments.  It can be frustrating as we are bound by law to award contracts to the lowest bidder, not necessarily local contractors.  We will be talking with our attorney regarding this issue.

 

XI.              FUTURE MEETINGS

 

A.     The next meeting of the Board of School Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building.

 

B.     The 2008 ISBA Spring Regional Meeting will take place on Thursday, March 20, 2008 at Welliver’s Smorgasbord in Hagerstown, IN with registration beginning at 6:00 p.m.

 

XII.           ADJOURNMENT

 

A motion was made by Lisa Clawson and seconded by Sean Burcham and Board President Harry Fowler adjourned the meeting at 7:37 p.m.

 

XIII.        An executive session was held following the business meeting on personnel matters and litigation.

 

 

 

HARRY FOWLER