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Indiana Area School Board Observer Corps reports. The Indiana Area School District Board of Directors met on Members Leonard Anderson and Bill Balint were absent. There was no public comment at the beginning of the meeting. Committee Reports: The Finance Committee: No meeting. Athletics: No meeting. Mrs. Paccapaniccia questioned the staffing of the new weight room between 2:45 and 10:00. Mr. Snyder, Senior High Athletic Director, had asked her about the possibility of hiring a certified athletic trainer to be in charge of the room during after-school hours.. Mr. Airhart agreed that the committee should discuss this suggestion. Building and Grounds: No meeting. Clerk of Works Weslee Hursh passed around photos of the gymnasium building site and reported that construction is slightly delayed because the building has not yet been delivered. They are hoping it will arrive by June 27 th. Instruction: Mr. Schroth reported that the committee is currently completing the math component of the Long Range Plan. He expects to delivery a completed final report to the Board in late fall. This is to be included in the district’s strategic plan. He noted that because of the length of the process, the committee might need their consultant for more hours than were originally funded. Mrs. Hatcher questioned the possible elimination of a reading teacher at the junior high. Dr. Clawson referred to a letter sent to the Board concerning this. She explained that Title I funds have been cut because Horace Mann does not meet the poverty guidelines to receive federal funding. The district felt that no elementary school should be without a reading teacher, so they were considering eliminating a reading teacher at the junior high instead. Mrs. Hatcher asked if the district couldn’t fund a junior high reading teacher despite the cut in federal funding. Dr. Clawson said this was possible if the budget allowed. Once they get final confirmation from the federal government concerning the loss of monies, the district will have to decide which teaching positions are the most vital to fill for next school year. Mr. Mosgrove, junior high assistant principal, presented revisions to the Attendance, Behavioral Guidelines and Discipline Policy Handbook. Over-the-counter medicines were added to the list of medications students may not have in school, which caused some discussion concerning cough drops. Mrs. Schrecongost expressed fear that students could be suspended for carrying them. Mr. Mosgrove replied he did not intent to be the “cough-drop police.” Mrs. Schrecongost continued the questioning and asked that there be a consistent policy among staff on how to deal with OTC medications. Dr. Clawson felt that the policy manual was clear on the guidelines. There was also some discussion on use of electronic devices, but Mr. Mosgrove felt that the policy covered this by the wording of “cell phones and other electronic devices” must be left in lockers during the school day. The board all voted to approve the changes to the handbook. The board approved the treasurer’s report; the agreement with Citizens Ambulance; employed 2 new building secretaries, Becky Hilditch and Elizabeth Susick; employed new junior high principal Christopher Stultz; accepted the retirement of 1 staff member; granted tenure to 4 teachers; approved changes to the substitute list; approved the College Board Chinese Teaching Program for 2007-9; and agreed to approve a resolution urging member of congress to co-sponsor the No Child Left Behind Improvements Act of 2007. Public Comment: Parent Chris Dickinson spoke to the Board, urging them to keep the junior high reading program, despite the cut in federal funding for Title 1. The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will be June 25 th. The Indiana Area School District Board of Directors met on All members were present. There was no public comment at the beginning of the meeting. The Finance and Athletics Committees have not met since last Board meeting. The Building and Grounds Committee had Clerk of Works Weslee Hursh report to the Board on progress of the new high school gym building. The full board also discussed the energy usage at the junior high, which is extremely high. The committee will continue to monitor this problem. The Instruction Committee continued to work on the Long Range Plan. They organized the 2020 graduation requirements at the most recent meeting and will prioritize them at the next meeting. The newly hired consultant was at the committee meeting and Dr. Clawson reported that he stressed the connection between the committee’s Long Range Plan and the district’s Strategic Plan, and the key role the administration should play in both plans. The board approved the retirements of 7 staff members, a medical leave, and changes to the substitute list. The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting is April 23, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. Karen Ross, observer The Indiana Area School District Board of Directors met on All members were present. Anise Markle was appointed temporary secretary. There was no public comment at the beginning of the meeting. The Athletic Committee report was given by Ron Airhart. The district is surveying secondary students on athletic interests to plan for future intermural activities and also the possible addition of a varsity women’s golf and men’s volleyball teams. The committee is continuing to discuss the cut/no cut policy. Mrs. Paccapaniccia suggested the committee look into changing the mascot name from “Little Indians” to “Indians.” The Instruction Committee chair, Diana Paccapaniccia, resigned and Walter Schroth was announced as the new chair. The committee is working on a long-range plan. The Finance and Building and Grounds committees did not meet. The board approved next year’s school calendar, the retirements of two staff members, the hiring of one new teacher, and changes to the substitute list. The board authorized the submission of the Chinese Guest Teacher Program Host District Application after a discussion concerning the plans the district might have to make Chinese a permanent part of the curriculum after the expiration of the grant money. Under old business, Walter Schroth moved that a consultant be hired for the Instruction Committee. Because this item was not on the agenda, it was opened to public comment. Joe Girardi, a school board candidate, questioned the need for this expense. The motion passed 6-3. The meeting was adjourned. Observer: Karen Ross The Indiana Area School District Board of Directors met on Members Balint and Schrecengast were not present. Board President Joe Trimarchi announced that Acting Superintendent Deborah Clawson has been elected as District Superintendent beginning March 12, 2007 through June 30, 2011. The board approved the primary ballot question : “Do you favor imposing an additional 0.7% earned income tax? The revenue generated from the increased tax rate will be used to reduce taxes on qualified residential properties by $______. The current earned income tax rate is ____% Members of the ARIN board were present to answer any questions about the 2007-08 General Operating Budget for ARIN. The district’s share of the $2,903,129 budget is $131,970. The budget was approved. The board also approved a PILOT (Payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with the Indiana Players. Cynthia Hatcher was named as Indiana’s nominee to the ARIN board of Directors to serve until the end of her current term on the IASD board in December. She is currently president of the ARIN board. Observer: Nancy Fricke The Instruction Committee of the Indiana Area School District Board Board member Walter Schroth led a long-range planning session. Present were Acting Superintendent Clawson, committee chair Paccapaniccia, many teachers, two school board candidates and a few other community members. The group spent 90 minutes adding to a “brainstorming” list of expectations for 2007 graduates begun in a previous session, then began grouping items by category with a goal of eventually prioritizing the list. Schroth stated this exercise was necessary in order to properly “brainstorm” what expectations might be for 2020 graduates. About 20 minutes were spent on 2020 expectations. The committee expects to meet twice a month on the first and third Wednesdays to continue this process. (Note that Paccapaniccia resigned as chair of this committee at the March 26 Board meeting (see below) and Schroth was appointed chair. The board approved hiring a consultant to work with the committee on their long-range planning project.) Nancy Fricke, observer
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