DELAWARE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2008

6:30 P.M.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

An executive session was held at 6:00 p.m. prior to the business meeting on personnel matters.

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. MINUTES

A. 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, March 18, 2008. The motion was approved unanimously.

IV. FINANCE

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

V. OLD BUSINESS

A. Substance Abuse Policy

A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by Sean Burcham to approve the updated substance abuse policy for the transportation department as presented by Superintendent Mapes. The motion was approved unanimously.

B. Corporation Grading Policy #5310 – Second Reading

A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by Sean Burcham to approve the updated corporation grading policy #5310 as presented by Superintendent Mapes. The motion was approved unanimously.

C. Delta High School Proposed Handbook Changes – Second Reading

A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Sean Burcham to approve the Delta High School Handbook changes as presented by Superintendent Mapes. The motion was approved unanimously.

D. Elementary School Proposed Handbook Changes – Second Reading

A motion was made by Sean Burcham and seconded by Lisa Clawson to approve the Elementary School Handbook changes as presented by Superintendent Mapes. The motion was approved unanimously.

VI. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FLOOR

There were none at this time.

VII. NEW BUSINESS

A. Certified Staff

1. None

B. Classified Staff

1. The Board was informed of the resignation of Scott Apking as a corporation mechanic effective immediately.

2. The Board was informed of the resignation of Ron Spoonmore as a corporation school bus driver effective March 13, 2008.

A motion was made by Sean Burcham and seconded by Norb Heban to employ the following classified positions as presented by Superintendent Mapes:

3. Employ Timothy McLaughlin as a corporation mechanic for the Delaware Community Schools effective April 9, 2008 and train as a substitute bus driver pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing. The motion was approved unanimously.

4. Employ Letitia Stone as a contracted school bus driver for the Delaware Community Schools effective April 9, 2008. The motion was approved unanimously.

5. Train and employ the following substitute bus drivers for the corporation effective immediately pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing:

Lisa Books

William Kissell

Debra Fisher

Debra DeVoe

The motion was approved unanimously.

C. Extra Curricular

1. The Board was informed of the resignation of Susan Austin as an assistant choir director at Royerton Elementary School effective at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

2. The Board was informed of the resignation of Kindel Gray as a student council sponsor at Royerton Elementary School effective at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

3. A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by Sean Burcham to appoint Elise Jennings as a volunteer assistant softball coach at Delta High School effective 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 John Adams and seconded by Sean Burcham to approve the following conference requests and field trips, while reserving the right to review #19, a field trip in 2009 to New York City, should world events raise concerns as to the safety of this trip at that time as presented by Superintendent Mapes:

1. Kathy Hottinger requests permission for the Elementary Textbook Committee members to attend a half day of Textbook/Curriculum Committee work on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at Eaton Elementary School in Eaton, IN.

2. Sheliah Dorton, Don Harman, Nannette Triplett, Amy Claghorn, Sheila Piazza, and Frida Cannon request permission to attend the INSAI School Improvement Plan Meeting on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at the Airport Holiday Inn in Indianapolis, IN.

3. Tarinna Morris requests permission to attend the Region Six IASBO Meeting on Friday, April 18, 2008 at the South Henry School Corporation in Spiceland, IN.

4. Jennifer Olfier requests permission to attend the Motivating Unmotivated Students Workshop on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at the Marriott East Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.

5. Loraine Toney, Maryann Foltz and Debbie Christopher request permission to attend the Motivating Unmotivated Students Workshop on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at the Marriott East Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.

6. Patrick Mapes requests permission to attend the IAPSS meeting entitled, “Impact on School District Operations: Now What?” on Wednesday and Thursday, April 23-24, 2008 at the Indianapolis Marriott Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.

7. Tim Brannock, Connie Stinson, and Doug Wilder request permission to attend the Annual Guidance/Counseling Workshop on Friday, April 25, 2008 at the Muncie Area Career Center in Muncie, IN.

8. Jennifer Conti requests permission to attend the Annual Guidance/Counseling Workshop on Friday, April 25, 2008 at the Muncie Area Career Center in Muncie, IN.

9. Julie Brown and Josh Landis request permission to attend the PowerSchool Users Group Meeting on Friday, April 25, 2008 at the Kokomo Middle School in Kokomo, IN.

10. Amy Claghorn and Angela Decker request permission to attend the “We Must Bear Witness: Teaching the Holocaust in Indiana Classrooms” teacher training workshop on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at the Bureau of Jewish Education in Indianapolis, IN.

11. Steve Hall, Greg Hinshaw, Doug Marshall, Tim Brannock and Joe Schmaltz request permission to attend the ISTEP Workshop on Monday, May 5, 2008 at the Horizon Center in Muncie, IN.

12. Lois Cole and Tarinna Morris request permission to attend the 2008 IASBO Annual Meeting on Wednesday through Friday, May 7-9, 2008 at the French Lick Springs Hotel and Resort in French Lick, IN.

13. Julie Brown and Josh Landis request permission to attend the UNITE Meeting (PowerSchool Users and Indiana State Reporting) on Friday, May 9, 2008 at the Brownsburg East Middle School in Brownsburg, IN.

14. John Kelly requests permission to attend the Indiana Stock Market Game Conference and Awards Program on Friday, May 9, 2008 at the Garrison at Fort Benjamin in Indianapolis, IN.

15. Christopher Conley requests permission to attend the Title I On-Line Application Training Sessions on Thursday, May 15, 2008 at the New Horizon’s Computer Learning Center of Indianapolis in Carmel, IN.

16. Julie Brown requests permission to attend the PowerSchool Administration Meeting and Training on Wednesday and Thursday, June 18-19, 2008 at the Kokomo Career Center in Kokomo, IN.

17. Nancy Kunk and Matt Lyons request permission to take the FFA students from Delta High School to the Rushville Fairgrounds in Rushville, IN. on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

18. Tim Cleland requests permission to take the Journalism students from Delta High School to the Ball State University Journalism Day on Friday, April 25, 2008 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

19. Lance Brand and Amy Lewman request permission to take the National Honor Society students from Delta High School to New York City on Thursday through Monday, April 30-May 4, 2009 for purposes of cultural and historical enrichment.

The motion was approved unanimously.

E. Information and Proposals

1. Superintendent

A. 2008-2009 Staffing

Superintendent Mapes informed the Board early enrollment numbers for the 2008-2009 school year indicate a need for an additional math teacher at Delta High School. Superintendent Mapes informed the Board we would be posting this vacancy to add a math teaching position.

Superintendent Mapes informed the Board the following policies (B, C, D and E) are being recommended in response to new insurance guidelines from ESCRFT:

B. Development of Administrative Guidelines Policy #3100 – First Reading

C. Update Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy #8355 – First Reading

D. Volunteers Policy #8530 – First Reading

E. Update Child Abuse and Neglect Policy #8820 – First Reading

All four policies will be brought back for a second reading at the April 22, 2008 Board meeting. There were no questions from the Board at this time.

F. Skillman Corporation Presentation

Superintendent Mapes introduce Mr. Victor Landfair of the Skillman Corporation to present the Board with the findings of the Feasibility Study conducted for the Delaware Community School Corporation. Mr. Landfair shared with the Board the general findings of a study conducted on all our school buildings along with the administration building. The Feasibility Study looked at concerns regarding the educational and functional use of these buildings along with safety and security and technology advances in education. The Board was given information on everything needed to bring these buildings up to code with all safety and curriculum needs being met.

2. Assistant Superintendent

A motion was made by Sean Burcham and seconded by Norb Heban to approve the following tennis events to be run by Mr. Tim Cleland as presented by Assistant Superintendent Hall:

A. Tim Cleland requests permission to use the tennis courts at Delta High School for the 13^th annual Tim Cleland Tennis Camp on Monday through Friday, June 16-20, and July 7-18, 2008 from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day.

B. Tim Cleland requests permission to use the tennis courts at Delta High School for a Middle School Tennis Clinic on ten selected evenings in April and May from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. on each selected date.

C. Tim Cleland requests permission to use the tennis courts at Delta High School for the Seventh Annual Penguin Classic Tennis Tournament on Tuesday through Sunday, June 24-29, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day.

The motion was approved unanimously.

D. A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Sean Burcham to accept the donation of a Sharp microwave by Mr. and Mrs. Tom Kemp for the Delta High School teachers’ lounge. The motion was approved unanimously.

E. Delta Middle School Proposed Handbook Changes – First Reading

Assistant Superintendent Hall introduced Mr. Don Harman, principal of Delta Middle School. Mr. Harman presented the Board with the middle school’s proposed handbook changes. The proposed changes will be brought back to the Board on April 22, 2008.

VIII. LETTERS/NOTES

A. None

IX. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

During this section of the Board meeting, foreign exchange student, Ricardo Henriques, asked to speak with the Board. Ricardo is here from Brazil and is staying with Paul and Cynthia Whitehair. He presented the Board with a gift from his country and answered questions regarding his stay in the United States. He has enjoyed the people and teachers at Delta along with playing sports.

Sean Burcham – I would like to thank everyone for coming this evening. Thank you to the Skillman Corporation for their presentation this evening. Mr. Cleland’s Penguin Classic Tennis Tournament is a first class event and very fun to play in.

Norb Heban – I would concur with my fellow board member and thank everyone for coming. Thank you to the Skillman Corporation for a first class job. Thank you to all the Administrators for your time on this and Mr. Barry Harris for the tremendous job. It is good to see all the information presented.

John Adams – I would concur with my fellow Board members. Thank you to the Skillman Corporation for all this information. Also, thank you to Delta High School for the bulletin board here in the boardroom. Again, thank you to Barry Harris and all the Administrators for their hard work on this project. I am looking forward to seeing how the study comes out.

Lisa Clawson – I’d like to thank everyone for coming this evening. Thank you to the Skillman Corporation for the hard work in putting this together. I would also like to announce I have received a letter from a Delta High School Freshman who is a part of the National Young Leaders Group and as a part of this group has been invited to a conference during the Inauguration in Washington DC. He is asking for donations to help with the prohibitive cost of this opportunity.

Harry Fowler – I would also concur with my fellow Board members. Thank you everyone for being here this evening. Thank you to the Skillman Corporation for a great job on the study and this evening’s presentation. It’s so important for a Board to have some objectives and to be able to set some goals for the present as well as for the future. We must look at all options, whether buildings or consolidation, to ensure the best education and safety for our students. Taxpayers may rest assured this study will be a help to the Board as we consider our objectives for our schools and how we manage money now and in the future. I would just like to mention all our candidates for Board seats are present with us this evening.

X. FUTURE MEETINGS

A. The next regular meeting of the Board of School Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building.

B. The ISBA Board Member Academy will be held on Thursday and Friday, July 10-11, 2008 at the Indianapolis Marriott East Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.

XI. ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Sean Burcham and Board president, Harry Fowler adjourned the meeting at 7:53 p.m.

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

HARRY FOWLER

NORB HEBAN

JOHN ADAMS

LISA CLAWSON

SEAN BURCHAM