DELAWARE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
TUESDAY MARCH 20, 2007
6:30 P.M.
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
An Executive Session was
held at 6:00 p.m. to discuss a negotiated lease and personnel.
MINUTES
Present: Sean Burcham, President; Harry Fowler,
Vice-President; Norb Heban, Secretary; Lisa Clawson, Member; Pat Mapes,
Assistant Superintendent; Steve Hall, Assistant Superintendent; Steve Gookins,
Superintendent
Absent: John Adams, Member
I.
CALL TO ORDER
At
6:30 p.m. President Sean Burcham called the meeting to order.
II.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III.
AMEND AGENDA
A. A motion was made by Harry Fowler and seconded by
Norb Heban to amend the agenda as presented by Superintendent Gookins. The motion was approved unanimously.
IV.
MINUTES
A. A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by
Lisa Clawson to approve the minutes of the executive session and business
meeting held on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 and the executive sessions held on
Thursday, March 15, 2007 and Friday, March 16, 2007. The motion was approved unanimously.
V.
FINANCE
B. Request to purchase over $5,000.00.
Midwest Transit Transportation BRF $65,899.00
A
motion was made by Harry Fowler and seconded by Norb Heban to approve the
purchase of a 66-passenger bus from Midwest Transit as presented by
Superintendent Gookins. The motion was
approved unanimously.
C. Financial Report – February, 2007
Superintendent Gookins presented the Board with the financial report for February of 2007. A discussion followed on budgetary concerns for the next two years. Superintendent Gookins feels there is no cause for concern at this time.
VI.
OLD BUSINESS
A. None
VII.
COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE
FLOOR
Mr.
Joe Russell member of the Delaware County Council was present at the
meeting. He handed out the 2005-2006
Indiana School Statistical Report from the Farm Bureau to all members of the
Board.
Mr.
Russell took a moment to commend the Delta High School FFA program for their
input at this year’s farm festival. He
heard many positive comments from the public commending them for their
wonderful job at the farm festival.
Mr.
Russell brought up several other topics.
He would like to be included should there be a local committee formed to
advise the school on the 2% circuit breaker law. He also was hoping the Board would address the situation on
County Road 200 East where water flows over the road. Mr. Russell also commented the 40th graduating class
of Delta High School would be coming up soon.
Lastly he congratulated Mr. Gookins on his retirement and thanked him
for his years of service.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS
A. Certified Staff
1. The Board was informed of the resignation of
Michael Jones as the Athletic Director at Delta High School effective at the
end of the day on June 30, 2007.
B. Classified Staff
1. A motion was made by Harry Fowler and seconded by
Lisa Clawson to employ Deborah Whitney as a second shift custodian at Eaton
Elementary School effective March 21, 2007 upon approval of all pre-employment
paperwork. The motion was approved
unanimously.
2. A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by
Lisa Clawson to employ Robin Starrett as a school bus driver trainer for the
corporation effective immediately upon approval of any pre-employment
paperwork. The motion was approved
unanimously.
C. Extra Curricular
1. The Board was informed of the resignation of Daniel
Vaughn as an assistant baseball coach at Delta High School.
A motion was
made by Norb Heban and seconded by Harry Fowler to appoint the following ECA
positions at Delta High School and Delta Middle School as presented by
Superintendent Gookins:
2. Recommendation to appoint Rusty Dreher as a
volunteer assistant softball coach at Delta High School for the spring, 2007
season pending all approved paperwork is completed.
3. Recommendation to appoint Jino Stuffel as a
volunteer assistant softball coach at Delta High School for the spring, 2007
season pending all approved paperwork is completed.
4. Recommendation to appoint Eric Ryan as an assistant
track coach at Delta Middle School for the spring, 2007 season pending all
approved paperwork is completed.
The motion
was approved unanimously.
D. Conference Requests/Field Trips
A motion was
made by Harry Fowler and seconded by Lisa Clawson to approve the following
conference requests and field trips as presented by Superintendent Gookins:
1. Kim Kemper requests permission to attend the School
Transportation Association of Indiana Annual Conference on Monday, March 26, 2007
at the Hilton Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.
2. Don Harman, Lori Koza, Nanette Triplett, Carol
Arms, Rick Voke, and Frida Cannon request permission to attend the
4mat/Learning Styles School Visit on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at Warsaw
Community Schools in Warsaw, IN.
3. Camille Mealy requests permission to attend the
Regional Arts Panel Training on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at the Arts Place in
Portland, IN.
4. Susan Speicher requests permission to attend the
Indiana Energy Workshop on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at the East Central
Education Service Center in Connersville, IN.
5. Leigh Ann Chalfant requests permission to attend
the Professional Development for Improving Instruction in Family and Consumer
Sciences Workshop on Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in
Indianapolis, IN.
6. Barry Harris requests permission to attend the
Facility Management Show on Wednesday through Thursday, April 18-19, 2007 at
the Navy Pier in Chicago, IL.
7. Steve Hall and Chris Conley request permission to
attend the Title I Application Assistance Meeting on Monday, April 23, 2007 at
the Department of Education in Indianapolis, IN.
8. Angi Duckwall and Lois Cole request permission to
attend the Anthem Healthy Women’s Conference on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at
the Ritz Charles in Carmel, IN.
9. Melinda Stephan and Emily Filler request permission
to attend the Motivating Unmotivated Students Workshop on Thursday, April 26,
2007 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.
10. Lori Koza and Melinda Stephan request permission to
attend the Guidance and Counseling Workshop on Friday, April 27, 2007 at the
Muncie Area Career Center in Muncie, IN.
11. Tim Brannock, Connie Stinson, and Doug Wilder
request permission to attend the Muncie Area Career Center’s Counseling
Workshop on Friday, April 27, 2007 at the Muncie Area Career Center in Muncie,
IN.
12. Dawn Raleigh requests permission to attend the HHC
Academic Coaches’ Meeting at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 at the Pendleton
Heights High School in Pendleton, IN.
13. Debbie Eichhorn requests permission to take the
DeSoto and Albany Elementary Schools’ choirs to Emens Auditorium on Friday,
April 13, 2007 from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
14. Pam Addison and Brian Lewis request permission to
take the Fifth Grade classes from Eaton Elementary School to Camp Tecumseh in
Brookston, IN from Monday, April 23, 2007 at 8:30 a.m. to Wednesday, April 25,
2007 at 1:45 p.m.
The motion was approved unanimously.
E. Information and Proposals
1. Superintendent
a.Funding for Priority School
Superintendent Gookins advised the Board the
Priority School was originally funded by a CAPE grant, which was to last for
three years. We have stretched the
money to last four years, but the Expulsion and Suspension School’s funding is
now at an end. Meetings have been held
with high-level officials to determine ways to continue funding this valuable
alternative educational opportunity for the students in Delaware County.
A discussion followed with the Board on the
possibilities of keeping the Priority School open for at least the next two
years.
A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by
Harry Fowler to approve a two year commitment to the priority school for up to
$54,000 per year as presented by Superintendent Gookins. The motion was approved unanimously.
b.Outstanding External Organization Award from Ball
State University
Superintendent Gookins congratulated Don Harman,
Sue Paul and Cindy Vaughn for special recognition by Ball State University in
presenting the Delaware Community School Corporation with this year’s
Outstanding External Organization Award.
c.
DHS Gym Floor Update
Superintendent Gookins informed the Board we are
still on target for completing the gym floor in early April. The floor has been dried out and they are
working on sanding it now.
d.Health Insurance Consortium Update
Superintendent
Gookins informed the Board this has been a good quarter for the insurance
consortium and it is doing quite well.
Mr. Gookins shared examples of the money savings we are enjoying due to
the consortium.
e.
ESCRFT – Educational
Service Centers Risk Funding Trust – Update
Superintendent Gookins presented the Board with a
PowerPoint presentation to bring them up to date on the Educational Service
Centers Risk Funding Trust. This would
be a Trust for school corporations coordinated through the Indiana Service
Centers. The goal of a Trust such as
this would be to stabilize fluctuating insurance premiums and to even reduce
premiums over time.
After a discussion of the pro’s and con’s of the
Risk Funding Trust Superintendent Gookins warned the Board to remember the
insurance companies will do everything they can to undercut this historic
effort by the school corporations. The
savings possible from this effort will not likely be seen for a few years.
2. Steve Hall, Assistant Superintendent
a.
College Mentor for
Kids Presentation
Assistant Superintendent Hall informed the Board
two Ball State University students involved with the College Mentor for Kids
(CMFK) program were present to update the Board on how that program is
going. The mission of the CMFK program
is to motivate at-risk children and communities to achieve their potential by
fostering inspiration to transform lives, using education to change attitudes,
and providing connections to increase opportunities. The program was started at Indiana University in 1995 and now has
20 chapters with 19 on various college campuses in Indiana and one in
Illinois. The Ball State University
Chapter was chosen this year as the CMFK Chapter of the Year and we couldn’t
ask for a better group to partner with us.
Assistant Superintendent Hall introduced Lindsay
Kotter, President of the Ball State Chapter of CMFK and Christina Hartwig,
Vice-President. Lindsay informed the
Board they meet once a week with the schools from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and do
various activities with the students.
Mrs. Kathy Hottinger, principal of Eaton Elementary
School added that she cannot say enough about the job Lindsay has done this
year. Our students get to see much of
the Ball State University Campus during the year, which brings many
possibilities into their thinking at a very young age. The communication between this program and
our school has been wonderful this year.
Superintendent Gookins added his appreciation for
the girls attending the meeting and for what they are doing for our children.
b.
Delta High School
Student Handbook – First Reading
Assistant Superintendent Hall advised the Board
this would be a first reading on handbooks for all schools. No Board action would be required
tonight. Assistant Superintendent Hall
introduced Greg Hinshaw, principal of Delta High School to cover the changes
being considered for the Delta High School Student Handbook.
Mr. Hinshaw informed the Board he felt the changes
being considered would only change written policy to match common practice
currently at Delta High School. A
discussion followed outlining the changes being considered.
c.
Delta Middle School
Student Handbook – First Reading
Assistant Superintendent Hall introduced Trent
Liggett, Assistant Principal of Delta Middle School to present the changes for
the Delta Middle School Student Handbook.
Mr. Liggett also indicated most of the changes being considered at the
Middle School level would change the written policy to match common practice. There were also some language changes for
clarification. A discussion followed
outlining the proposed changes.
d.
Elementary Rules
Folder – First Reading
Assistant
Superintendent Hall introduced Kathy Hottinger, principal of Eaton Elementary
School to present the changes for the Elementary Rules Folder. Mrs. Hottinger outlined the proposed changes
for the Board.
Assistant
Superintendent Hall provided the Board with a schedule of the adult fitness
activities, which will begin soon providing the gym floor is complete and open.
The adult fitness activities are being publicized in our school newsletters and
there will be an article in the Star Press soon.
3. Pat Mapes, Assistant Superintendent
A
motion was made by Harry Fowler and seconded by Lisa Clawson to surplus various
items at Eaton Elementary School and Delta High School as presented by
Assistant Superintendent Mapes:
a.
Request to surplus
various items no longer used at Eaton Elementary School.
b.
Request to surplus
equipment no longer used at Delta High School.
The
motion was approved unanimously.
A
motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by Lisa Clawson to approve the
following athletic camp requests: request by Tom Devine for the Learn-to-Swim
program, request by Grant Zgunda for the Delta Football Camp, and the request
by Paul Keller for the Boys’ Basketball Camp as presented by Assistant
Superintendent Mapes pending Delta High School construction requirements:
c.
Tom Devine requests
permission to use the swimming pool at Delta High School for a Learn-to-Swim
program from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the following dates: Saturday’s – April 14, 21, 28, and May, 5,
12 and 19, 2007.
d.
Grant Zgunda requests
permission to use the football field at Delta High School for the 9th Annual
Delta Football Camp from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, 2007 through
Friday, June 1, 2007.
e.
Paul Keller requests
permission to use the gymnasium at Delta High School for the Boys’ Basketball
Camps from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the following dates: April 23, 2007 through May 3, 2007/Grades
3-4; May 7 through May 17/Grades 5-6; and June 4, 2007 through June 8/Grades
7-8.
The
motion was approved unanimously.
4. Director of Maintenance
a.
A progress meeting
for the Delta High School exterior project took place today. Rain has delayed much of the work. The fire marshal has been on site to make
sure the building will remain safe for our students during the construction.
5. Director of Transportation
a.
We are finding
Transfinder to be a great program as we work through it with training,
etc. We will be able to have a
presentation of the software for you once we get it all up and running.
IX.
LETTERS/NOTES
A. None
X.
BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
Norb Heban – Thank you to Mr. Cleland and the various
students who are working on the Delta High School web site. Also congratulations to the Delta Troupers
for a great job on the play “The Crucibal” this past weekend. Thank you to all for coming this evening.
Lisa Clawson – Thank you everyone for coming. Thank you to everyone for all the hard work
being done for our corporation. You are
making our corporation great!
Harry Fowler – Congratulations to Don Harman, Sue Paul and
Cindy Vaughn for the award you received from Ball State University. Thank you to Greg Hinshaw, Kathy Hottinger
and the rest of you for coming and for supporting the Board and the
Corporation. Thank you to the girls
from College Mentor for Kids for coming this evening. The mentor program is a great program with wonderful success.
Sean Burcham – Thank you Mr. Russell for coming tonight and for
your work on the County Council. Thank
you also Mr. Gookins for all your work for our Corporation.
XI.
FUTURE MEETINGS
A. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday,
April 3, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building.
B. The ISBA regional meeting will be held at a place
to be determined on Thursday, May 10, 2007.
C. The IAPSS/IASBO/ISBA School Budgeting Seminar will
be held on Friday, May 18, 2007 at the Hilton North in Indianapolis, IN.
XII.
ADJOURNMENT
A
motion was made by Harry Fowler and seconded by Lisa Clawson and President Sean
Burcham adjourned the meeting at 8:41 p.m.
XIII. An executive session was held following the
business meeting on personnel matters.
SEAN BURCHAM
HARRY FOWLER
NORB HEBAN
JOHN ADAMS
LISA CLAWSON