DELAWARE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

TUESDAY MARCH 6, 2007

6:30 P.M.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

 

 

MINUTES

 

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

 

Absent:  Sean Burcham, President and Lisa Clawson, Member

 

I.                   CALL TO ORDER

 

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

 

II.               PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

III.            AMEND AGENDA

 

A.     A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by John Adams to amend the agenda as presented by Superintendent Gookins.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

IV.             MINUTES

 

A.     A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Norb Heban to approve the minutes of the executive session and business meeting held on Wednesday, February 20, 2007.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

V.                 FINANCE

 

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

 

B.     Request to purchase over $5,000.00.

 

Midwest Transit                Transportation                  BRF                   $65,899.00

 

A motion was made by John Adams 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.

 

VI.             COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FLOOR

 

Delta High School students, Elizabeth Marshall and Ashley Anacker were present at the meeting as a part of Mrs. Ervin’s class.

 

Two Ball State students were also present video taping the meeting.

 

Superintendent Gookins reported to the Board questions were asked at a recent PR Cabinet meeting regarding the last day for teachers this year.  Due to inclement weather, the last day for teachers has now been moved to the day after Memorial Day.  Some options to prevent this were presented to the Board.  Mrs. Sheliah Dorton informed the Board the majority of those polled felt the calendar should be left as it is.

 

VII.          NEW BUSINESS

 

A.     Certified Staff

 

A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by John Adams to approve the following Elementary School Spring Remediation Teachers as presented by Superintendent Gookins:

 

1.                  Recommendation to employ the following remediation teachers for the spring of 2007

 

Albany Elementary School:

            Grade 3:  Stephanie Orr

            Grace 4:  Susan Speicher

            Grade 5:  Travis Richey

 

DeSoto Elementary School:

            Grade 3:  Judy Reynolds

            Grade 4:  Leslie Orman

            Grade 5:  Betty Johnson

 

Eaton Elementary School:

            Grade 3:  Debbie Browning

            Grade 4:  Andrea Morsey

            Grade 5:  Becky Watters

 

Royerton Elementary School:

            Grade 3:  Chris Schwer

            Grade 3:  Laura Jones

            Grade 4:  Maryann Foltz

            Grade 5:  Debbie Christopher

 

The motion was approved unanimously.

 

B.     Classified Staff

 

1.      A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Norb Heban to transfer Melinda Corey from Delta Middle School to the second shift custodial position at Royerton Elementary School effective March 12, 2007.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

2.      A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by John Adams to employ Heidi Zickgraf as an Instructional Assistant for ISS at Delta High School effective March 7, 2007 pending the return of all approved pre-employment testing and paperwork.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

3.      A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Norb Heban to employ Lillian McFall as a 2.75-hour food service employee at Delta Middle School effective March 7, 2007 pending the return of all approved pre-employment testing and paperwork.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

4.      A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by John Adams to employ and train Leith Ann Fullenkamp and Rick Grindle as substitute bus drivers upon completion of all CDL and Corporation requirements.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

C.     Conference Requests/Field Trips

 

A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Norb Heban to approve the following Conference Requests and Field Trip as presented by Superintendent Gookins:

 

1.      Chrysta Phillips requests permission to attend the Dietary Manager’s Meeting on Thursday, March 22, 2007 at the Honeywell Center in Wabash, IN.

 

2.      Chrysta Phillips, Sharon Glaser, and Dee Orick request permission to attend the Indiana School Nutrition Association State Conference on Thursday through Saturday, April 12-14, 2007 at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne, IN.

 

3.      Jan Addington and Lisa Stewart request permission to attend the Conference for Indiana First Grade Teachers on Monday through Tuesday, April 16-17, 2007 at the Hilton in Indianapolis, IN.

 

4.      Lori Meadows and Linda Burcham request permission to attend the ECESC Secretaries’ Workshop on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at the Service Center in Connersville, IN.

 

5.      Julie Brown, Josh Landis, Lori Koza, and Chris Conley request permission to attend PowerSchool University on Sunday through Thursday, July 8-12, 2007 at the Adams Mark Hotel in St. Louis, MO.

 

6.      Nancy Kunk, Matt Lyons and Joe Scott request permission to take the Delta FFA to the Farm Festival at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 13-14, 2007 from 7:45 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

 

The motion was approved unanimously.

 

D.     Information and Proposals

 

2.                  Superintendent

 

a.      Robert P. Bell Education Fund Grant Awards

 

Superintendent Gookins informed the Board Ms. Sheila Piazza was a recipient of the Robert P. Bell Education Grant.  Sheila is an art teacher at Delta Middle School.

 

b.      Delta Learning Center Update

 

Several Board members recently went to look at the Feeny Building to assess the possibility of relocating the Delta Learning Center.  Superintendent Gookins shared with the Board his recommendation against purchasing the building and for leasing a facility for the Delta Learning Center.  Superintendent Gookins brought some demographic information for the Board to see.  He advised the Board it is difficult to look at buying another building to maintain while enrollment throughout the Corporation is declining. 

 

A discussion followed which included the Priority Suspension School and Expulsion School as well as the relocation of the Delta Learning Center.

 

The consensus of the Board was to meet in Executive Session after the next Business Meeting on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 to put together a lease proposal for the Feeny Building.

 

c.       Tax Draws and Settlements

 

Superintendent Gookins advised the Board we received a letter from the Delaware County Auditor informing us spring tax draws will be late.

 

3.                  Steve Hall, Assistant Superintendent

 

a.      None

 

3.      Pat Mapes, Assistant Superintendent

 

a.      A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by John Adams to approve the request to surplus various items no longer used at Central Office as presented by Assistant Superintendent Mapes.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

b.      Use of Facilities Insurance Recommendation

 

Assistant Superintendent Mapes advised the Board about two months ago Hanover Insurance sent an agent to look at our facilities.  They made two recommendations for those who use our facilities.  The first recommendation was to inform groups who use our facilities they will need to add Delaware Community School Corporation as an additional insured on their liability insurance.  A second recommendation was for all bleachers on our property to be brought into compliance with consumer product safety guidelines.  Mr. Steve Murphy, school attorney, has helped to draft a letter to be sent to those who use our facilities and/or maintain bleachers on our property.

 

The consensus of the Board was to approve sending the letter as presented by Assistant Superintendent Mapes.

 

4.      Director of Maintenance

 

a.      Director of Maintenance, Barry Harris informed the Board the first construction meeting for Phase II of the Delta High School Exterior Wall Project took place today, March 6, 2007.  Superintendent Gookins informed the Board construction is set to begin next week providing the weather cooperates.  Director of Transportation, Kim Kemper will need to work on rerouting busses as well as student and parent traffic around the staging area.  Superintendent Gookins also informed the Board we will need to pay some of the money owed on the project prior to receiving our tax draw due to the lateness of the tax draw.

 

Superintendent Gookins also advised the Board they are still drying out the gym floor.  Once the drying is complete, the refinishing work will begin.  The target completion date is April 9, 2007.  The adult recreation project was moved to April due to the gym floor’s inaccessibility.

 

5.      Director of Transportation

 

a.      None

 

VIII.      LETTERS/NOTES

 

A.     A note from Don Patton’s family was received thanking the Corporation for the donation to the scholarship fund in memory of Mr. Patton.

 

IX.             BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

 

Norb Heban – Thank you all for coming this evening.  Please note, we receive the Board information several days in advance of the meeting, which explains our ability to move so quickly through many items of business.  Thank you as well to the Ball State students for coming.

 

John Adams – I would concur with my fellow Board member.  Thank you all for coming.  It is good to see some of our administrators here.

 

Harry Fowler – I concur with my fellow Board members.  Thank you everyone for coming.

 

X.                 FUTURE MEETINGS

 

A.     The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building.

 

XI.             ADJOURNMENT

 

A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by John Adams and Board Vice-President, Harry Fowler adjourned the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

 

XII.          An executive session followed the business meeting on personnel matters.

 

 

 

SEAN BURCHAM                                                                                                                            

 

HARRY FOWLER                                                                                                                             

 

NORB HEBAN                                                                                                                                  

 

JOHN ADAMS                                                                                                                                  

 

LISA CLAWSON