DELAWARE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION

SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2007

6:30 P.M.

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

 

 

An Executive Session was held at 6:15 p.m. to discuss items related to personnel.

 

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 Sean Burcham 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 Norb Heban and seconded by Lisa Clawson to approve the minutes of the executive sessions and business meeting held on Tuesday, July 10, 2007.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

V.                 PRESENTATION

 

Superintendent Mapes presented Mr. Sean Burcham with a plaque and gavel in honor of his contributions during his 2006-2007 term as Board President.

 

VI.              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

 

Sam Pierce Chevrolet            Corporation                 TSP                 $33,739.95

 

A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Lisa Clawson to approve the purchase of a 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche as a Corporation vehicle from Sam Pierce Chevrolet as presented by Superintendent Mapes.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

C.     Review Assessed Valuation and Tax Rates

 

Superintendent Mapes and the Board reviewed the assessed valuation and tax rates for the Delaware Community School Corporation.  For the past three years, the Delaware Community School Corporation’s tax rates have decreased while the assessed value has increased and enrollment has declined.  With tax rates around our state going up, it is important to be good stewards of finances bringing quality programming for the best dollar amount possible.  The Delaware Community School Board is doing everything possible to continue doing their part in making sure our school system is fiscally responsible.

 

VII.           OLD BUSINESS

 

A.     Policy #5250 – Second Reading

 

A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Lisa Clawson to approve policy #5250 as presented by Superintendent Mapes.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

VIII.        COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FLOOR

 

A.     No one addressed the Board.

 

IX.              NEW BUSINESS

 

A.     Certified Staff

 

1.       The Board was informed of the resignation of Chad Briggs as an Assistant Principal at Delta High School effective July 18, 2007.

 

2.      A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by Sean Burcham to approve the request for a leave of absence by Andrea Morsey as presented by Superintendent Mapes.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

3.      A motion was made by Sean Burcham and seconded by Lisa Clawson to employ Lisa McKee as an Academic Coach at Eaton Elementary School for the 2007-2008 school year pending completion of all pre-employment testing.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

B.     Classified Staff

 

A motion was made by Sean Burcham and seconded by Norb Heban to employ the following classified staff recommendations as presented by Superintendent Mapes in numbers one (1), two (2), four (4), five (5), and six (6):

 

1.       Employ Jan Russell as an instructional assistant at Eaton Elementary School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending completion of all pre-employment testing.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

2.      Employ Misty Chastain as an athletic trainer for Delta High School at a salary of $32,000.00 with benefits effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending completion of all pre-employment testing.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

3.      A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by John Adams to employ bus drivers, bus aides, and substitute bus drivers as presented by Superintendent Mapes for the 2007-2008 school year.  The motion was approved four in favor with Sean Burcham abstaining.

 

4.      Employ Angela Morris as a full time school bus driver effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending completion of all pre-employment testing.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

5.      Employ Pam Thomas as a full time school bus driver effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending completion of all pre-employment testing.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

6.      Employ Harvey Mercer, Michel Batten, and Dwight Knox as substitute bus drivers effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending completion of all pre-employment testing.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

The motion to employ those classified employees listed in numbers one (1), two (2), four (4), five (5), and six (6) was approved unanimously.

 

C.     Extra Curricular

 

1.       The Board was informed of the resignation of Penny Wright as a head coach for the girls swim program at Delta High School effective immediately.

 

2.      The Board was informed of the resignation of Ford Clark as a class sponsor at Delta High School effective immediately.

 

A motion was made by Sean Burcham and seconded by Lisa Clawson to appoint the following extra-curricular coaching positions as presented by Superintendent Mapes:

 

3.      Appoint Craig Vickery as an assistant boys tennis coach at Delta High School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

4.      Appoint Dawn Chapman as a girls varsity golf coach at Delta High School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

5.      Appoint Caitlin Stassen as an assistant varsity volleyball coach at Delta High School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

6.      Appoint Moses Tugume as an assistant boys soccer coach at Delta High School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

7.      Appoint Kelley Marsh as a volunteer girls cross country coach at Delta High School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

8.     Appoint Dave Edwards as an assistant varsity football coach at Delta High School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

9.      Appoint Terry Faust as an assistant varsity football coach at Delta High School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

10.  Appoint Brendon Hottinger as a volunteer assistant varsity football coach at Delta High School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

11.   Appoint Trent Fine as a head freshman football coach at Delta High School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

12.  Appoint Chad Stewart as an assistant freshman football coach at Delta High School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

13.  Appoint Ryan Flannery as an assistant freshmen football coach at Delta High School effective for the 2007-2008 school year pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

14.  Appoint Ed Humphrey as a head seventh grade football coach at Delta Middle School effective for the fall season pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

15.   Appoint Eric Ryan as an assistant seventh grade football coach at Delta Middle School effective for the fall season pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

16.  Appoint Matt Cumings as an assistant eighth grade football coach at Delta Middle School effective for the fall season pending successful completion of all pre-employment testing.

 

The motion was approved unanimously.

 

D.    Conference Requests/Field Trips

 

A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by John Adams to approve the conference request and field trip items #1 and #2 as presented by Superintendent Mapes:

 

1.       Greg Hinshaw requests permission to attend the Advanced Safety Specialist Academy on Monday through Tuesday, October 29-30, 2007 at the Sheraton Hotel in Indianapolis, IN.

 

2.      Tim Cleland requests permission to take the boys tennis team from Delta High School to the Jeffersonville, IN Invitational on Friday through Saturday, August 17-18, 2007.

 

The motion was approved unanimously.

 

3.      Linda Case, Melba Fox, Lourdes Davis request permission to take various third and fourth year Spanish students from Delta High School to Mexico City, Merida, and Isla Mujeres during Delta High School’s Spring Break.

 

By consensus of the Board Linda Case, Melba Fox, and Lourdes Davis were given permission to explore the possibility of taking students on a trip to Mexico City, Merida, and Isla Mujeres and to begin the process of planning for the trip under the stipulation the status of Board approval would be subject to change should world security changes warrant a change in status.  The request is to be brought back to the Board following the initial planning meetings to take place after the opening of the 2007-2008 school year.

 

E.     Information and Proposals

 

1.             Superintendent

 

a.      Opening of School

Ø  August 13               Employee Meeting

Ø  August 15               First Student Day

 

b.      Corporation SA5 Report

 

Superintendent Mapes presented the Board with the SA5 report for the Corporation’s School Lunch and Textbook Rental ECA Funds.

 

A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by Sean Burcham to approve the SA5 as presented by Superintendent Mapes.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

c.       Director of Technology

 

Superintendent Mapes recommended the Board establish a Director of Technology position for our school system. 

 

A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by John Adams to approve establishing a Director of Technology position with a salary range of $50,000 to $53,000 with all the benefits of a director’s position.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

d.      Fuel Bids

 

Superintendent Mapes recommended our 2007-2008 school year purchase of fuel be awarded to Norrick Petroleum based upon the bid pricing as presented.

 

A motion was made by Norb Heban and seconded by Sean Burcham to approve the purchase of fuel for the 2007-2008 school year from Norrick Petroleum as presented by Superintendent Mapes.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

2.            Assistant Superintendent

 

a.      Annual Financial Report

 

Assistant Superintendent Hall presented the Board with the Annual Financial Report

 

A motion was made by Sean Burcham and seconded by Lisa Clawson to accept the Annual Financial Report as presented by Assistant Superintendent Hall.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

b.      Energy Education Presentation

 

Assistant Superintendent Hall introduced Mr. Bill Yates, Energy Educator, who presented the Board with an update on the Energy Education Program.  Mr. Yates reported the program has shown approximately a 20% energy savings during the past nineteen months since being implemented.

 

3.            Director of Maintenance

 

a.      DHS Phase II Project Update

 

Director of Maintenance, Barry Harris, was unable to attend tonight’s meeting.  Superintendent Mapes advised the Board the project is beginning to make good progress with a completion date projected for the middle of September.

 

4.            Director of Transportation

 

a.      Indiana Code 35-47-5-2.5

 

Director of Transportation, Kim Kemper, informed the Board Indiana Code 35-47-5-2.5 does not allow our bus drivers to carry a pocket knife.  Ms. Kemper’s recommendation was the adoption of a resolution which would allow bus drivers to carry pocket knives for the purpose of minor repairs and/or other emergencies while on the job.

 

A motion was made by John Adams and seconded by Sean Burcham to adopt the resolution to allow bus drivers to carry a pocket knife to use as an emergency tool as presented by Director of Transportation, Kim Kemper.  The motion was approved unanimously.

 

b.      Transfinder Presentation

 

Director of Transportation, Kim Kemper, presented the Board with a demonstration of the newly acquired transportation software, Transfinder.  The software will help us serve our students much more efficiently.

 

X.                 LETTERS/NOTES

 

A.     None

 

XI.              BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

 

Lisa Clawson – I would like to thank everyone for coming this evening.  Thank you to Kim Kemper and Bill Yates for your presentations.  Congratulations to our new employees.

 

John Adams – I would concur with my fellow Board member.  Thank you as well to the administrators and to central office staff who are doing a lot of good work.  I am looking forward to school opening.

 

Norb Heban – Thank you everyone for coming.  Thank you Ms. Fox for helping to get the Mexico trip underway.  I appreciate the efforts to keep the safety of our kids at the forefront of the planning.  Congratulations to our new employees.

 

Sean Burcham – I would concur with my fellow Board members.  Thank you to all for the presentations.  Thank you Kathy Hottinger for being here with your new employees.

 

Harry Fowler – I would concur with all of my fellow Board members.  I also look forward to the school year starting.  It is going to be a great year at Delaware Community Schools.

 

XII.           FUTURE MEETINGS

 

A.     The New Employee Orientation Day will begin at Central Office on Thursday, August 2, 2007 at 8:00 a.m.

 

B.     The next meeting of the Board of School Trustees is scheduled for Tuesday, August 7, 2007 with a budgetary work session beginning at 5:00 p.m. and a business session at 6:30 p.m. at the Administration Building.

 

C.     The ISBA/IAPSS Fall Conference will be held at the Indiana Convention Center/RCA Dome on Sunday through Tuesday, Sept. 30-October 2, 2007.

 

XIII.        ADJOURNMENT

 

A motion was made by Sean Burcham and seconded by John Adams and President, Harry Fowler adjourned the meeting at 7:45 p.m.

 

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

 

 

 

HARRY FOWLER                                                                                                                           

 

NORB HEBAN                                                                                                                                

 

JOHN ADAMS                                                                                                                                 

 

LISA CLAWSON                                                                                                                             

 

SEAN BURCHAM