BOARD MINUTES
Rising Sun-Ohio County Community School Corporation
September 8, 2009
The regular session of the Board of School Trustees was held as advertised on September 8, 2009 at 7:25 P.M. in the Administration Building. Members present were Christopher Whitham, Timothy Elbright, Harlan Holt Hoffman, Corey Potts, Felix Massey III, and Superintendent Stephen Patz. Also present were Gloria Holland, Keith Majewski, Noel Bostic, Jamie Works, Robert White, Andrea Levi, Jonathon Pickett, Rachel Romans, Emily Walton, Dena Walton, Justine Warner, Felisha Cyrus, Arial Fields, Stormy Fields, Ashley Vecchiola, Tina Lauderback, Alexandra Koons, Andrew Koons, Penny Koons, Chris Kaeser, Jordon Walton, Debbie Thomason, Myra Massie, and Tina Massie.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members of the Board reviewed minutes from the August 11, 2009 meeting. Upon motion by Timothy Elbright and seconded by Harlan Holt Hoffman to approve minutes as presented, members voted as follows: Aye – Timothy Elbright, Harlan Holt Hoffman, Corey Potts, Christopher Whitham, and Felix Massey III.
Members of the Board reviewed claims. After a brief discussion on the extra cost concerning the prevention of the HINI virus, upon motion by Corey Potts and seconded by Christopher Whitham, members voted as follows: Aye – Corey Potts, Christopher Whitham, Timothy Elbright, Harlan Holt Hoffman, and Felix Massey III.
The Superintendent presented the following recommendations for open Extra-Curricular position at the Elementary/Middle School.
Angela Wilson – Middle School Drama Club
Andrea Levi/Nancy Swart/Jennifer Mossburger – Middle School Academic Coaches
Kristin Market – Middle School SADD
Nancy Swart – National Junior Honor Society/Concessions
Upon motion by Harlan Holt Hoffman and seconded by Tim Elbright to accept the recommendations, members voted as follows: Aye – Harlan Holt Hoffman, Timothy Elbright, Corey Potts, Christopher Whitham, and Felix Massey III.
Mr. Patz recommended Chris Nobbe as the High School Girls’ Head Track Coach. Mr. Nobbe is the Head Boys’ Track Coach and the Summer Strength & Conditioning Coach. Upon motion by Christopher Whitham and seconded by Harlan Holt Hoffman to accept the recommendation, members voted as follows: Aye – Christopher Whitham, Harlan Holt Hoffman, Timothy Elbright, Corey Potts, and Felix Massey III.
Mr. Patz recommended Bill Bollier as the High School Girls’ Assistant Basketball Coach. Mr. Bollier is a retired teacher and a veteran coach from the Fort Wayne area. Upon motion by Harlan Holt Hoffman and seconded by Christopher Whitham to accept the recommendation, members voted as follows: Aye- Harlan Holt Hoffman, Christopher Whitham, and Felix
Massey III, Nay – Tim Elbright and Corey Potts.
The Superintendent recommended Joseph Hite as a new bus driver for the route opened by the retirement of Carroll Chase. Upon motion by Timothy Elbright and seconded by Christopher Whitham to accept the recommendation, members voted as follows: Aye – Timothy Elbright, Christopher Whitham, Corey Potts, Harlan Holt Hoffman, and Felix Massey III.
Mr. Patz recommended Jenny Roeder for the LPN position. Funding of $6,000 was received from City Council and $6,000 from County Council to complete the first semester. An emergency grant of $50,000 for the LPN position and supplies will be requested from the Regional Foundation to fund the remainder of the school year and possibly next year. Mr. Patz noted that Mrs. Roeder’s aide position will be posted with the understanding that Mrs. Roeder will be returning to her current position when the LPN is not in need. Upon motion by Christopher Whitham and seconded by Corey Potts to accept the recommendation, members voted as follows: Aye – Christopher Whitham, Corey Potts, Timothy Elbright, Harlan Holt Hoffman, and Felix Massey III.
Andrea Levi and some 8th Grade students did a presentation and demonstration of the Pre-Engineering Class. Mrs. Levi noted the students were using a NXT program with Lego construction, and the students were in the third week of a six-week class. They were as follows: Alexandra Koons and Jonathon Pickett demonstrated their automatic weapon that shot Legos at a stuff animal; Justine Warner demonstrated a flipping gymnast that talked; Rachel Romans & Emily Walton demonstrated a spider that crawled backward and forward; Ashley Vecchiola and Arial Fields demonstrated a remote control spin art; and Myra Massie demonstrated a operating tank. Mrs. Levi has developed the curriculum and the Echo Grant funded the materials. All 7th & 8th grade students will participate in the class, which will open more interest for Project Lead the Way at the High School level. Mr. Majewski noted that the program has grown faster than anticipated with two additional engineering classes to be offered next year.
Mr. Patz presented a list of surplus TV’s and wall/ceiling mounts to advertise for a possible silent auction. The new projection systems at the buildings have replaced the need for the equipment. Upon motion by Christopher Whitham and seconded by Harlan Holt Hoffman to proceed with the auction, members voted as follows: Aye – Christopher Whitham, Harlan Holt Hoffman, Timothy Elbright, Corey Potts, and Felix Massey III.
The Superintendent presented the 2010 Budget for the required hearing. Mr. Patz noted that the General Fund will be very tight, and our student count is down. The Capital Projects Fund is the same as last year and covers utilities, maintenance and the technology department. The Transportation Fund covers bus drivers, bus aides, half of the Transportation Secretary salary, repairs and fuel for the 20 buses/mid buses. The Bus Replacement Fund is to cover the purchase of a 66-passenger bus. A discussion ensued on the increase of special needs students, the extra cost and need of personnel. This was the first hearing of the budget and will be presented for adoption at the October Board Meeting.
Mr. Patz presented a possible plan for additional parking close to the Little League Field and High School Softball Diamond. The purpose is to prevent parking in the lawn areas. The city would do the backhoe work to ready the area for gravel. The school would share the cost of the project with the Park Board and City with the schools cost being approximately $6,000. After a discussion of other alternatives to the problem, all board members agreed to proceed with a plan with the city on the parking lot, landing scaping and needed barriers.
Jamie Works, school nurse, was present to discuss the current impact of the HINI virus on the school. At this point, things seem to be better than expected. One problem is tracking absent students and if they are absent due to the virus. A possible solution was to use the Power School Software to send an automatic phone message to the parents on the concerns of why the student is absent. There was a brief discussion on the participation of parents logging in to the student information.
Mr. White announced the joint city council/county council meeting in October and the concern of the board members presents at the meeting to show support of the school funding. Members of the board were in agreement to attend.
Board secretary Corey Potts brought up the topic of again looking at early retirement packages for the teachers. After a brief discussion on the cost of health insurance and a possible meeting with the teachers, Mr. Patz noted that it could be a case of shifting money around in the previous offer and would look into the matter.
The Board of School Trustees of the Rising Sun-Ohio County Community School Corporation did not discuss any subject matter in executive session other than the topic specified in the public notice.
Upon motion by Corey Potts and seconded by Harlan Holt Hoffman to adjourn the meeting, members voted as follows: Aye – Corey Potts, Harlan Holt Hoffman, Christopher Whitham, Timothy Elbright, and Felix Massey III.
The meeting adjourned at 9:20 P.M.