EPCS Board considers director-of-curriculum post

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Published: Friday, 12 June 2015 16:02

Board also amends 2015-16 school-year calendar

WINAMAC - The Eastern Pulaski Community School Board is considering adding a Corporation Director of Curriculum position to its staff.

Superintendent Dan Foster asked the board for feedback on the proposal at its June meeting.

He stated that many different people are doing many different portions of curriculum development at each building. He added this position could encompass curriculum development, grant administration and other duties as deemed necessary. Salary and education were discussed as well. 

In other business, Foster recommended amending the 2015-16 school year calendar to relieve end-of-school-year pressure resulting from school make-up days. The recommendation includes adding school days on Dec. 21 and 22, using those two days for final exams for the first semester; making April 22, 2016 a regular school day (the current calendar has it as a no-school or make-up day); and making May 20 the last student day, ending school before Memorial Day.  After discussion, the board voted to approve the calendar as amended. 

Foster recommended refinancing the 2006 pension bonds. He reported this refinance will save well over $100,000 and be applied to the school account, adding this is a "win-win" for taxpayers.  After discussion, the board voted to approve the refinancing. 

High School students Hannah Wilson and Anthony Ricchio were selected as the first and second alternates respectively for the Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation School Board Scholarship.  Amber Thompson is this year’s recipient.

 With former operations manager Dave DeLorenzo leaving and with the ongoing building rennovation project, Foster explained to the board that extra help is needed for manual labor-type duties, including mowing and moving furniture. These would be temporary, full-time positions, possibly through September. After discussion, the board voted to hire two summer employees. 

After finding that some students are attempting to repair or replace parts on their school-assigned iPad, Foster recommended amending the Student iPad Agreement, adding that all repairs and replacements must be done by Eastern Pulaski Schools Technology Department.  After discussion on iPad usage, the board voted to amend the Student iPad Agreement. 

Foster recommended the purchase new staff iPads.  The new version will have more storage space.  There are funds budgeted in Capital Projects for this purchase. The board approved the recommendation.

After discussion, the board approved the social studies textbook adoption, as recommended by each building’s adoption committee. 

Foster recommended declaring old weight room equipment as surplus equipment and to dispose of it properly.  There is an online auction for some of the equipment.  After discussion, the board voted to accept the recommendation.

Foster gave a financial report for the period ending May 31.  The Condition of Funds Statement indicated that all corporation funds had positive balances, on track with previous years.

Personnel: 

The following individuals submitted their retirement requests:

• Barbara Behnke – Mrs. Behnke has been a high school science teacher for 28 years.
• Sarah Bonnell – Mrs. Bonnell has been an elementary school teacher for 32 years.
• Marsha Good – Mrs. Good has been an elementary school instructional assistant for 13 years.
• Judy Poor – Mrs. Poor has served as an instructional assistant and bus driver for 30 years.

Foster thanked each for their years of service, their dedication to education, and wished them well.  

Michelle Parks, Wyatt Schmicker and Danna Sommers submitted their resignations as instructional assistants at the elementary school. 

Meredith Fitch was recommended to fill one of the open high school English teaching positions. 

Rick Green was recommended for the position of Director of Operations, overseeing all custodial and maintenance operations. 

Cody Hook, middle school social studies teacher, was recommended for the open varsity wrestling coach position.

Administrator contracts for principals Jill Collins, Rick DeFries, Ryan Dickinson, and athletic director Bill Ball were recommended, with a one-year extension, but no increase in pay at this time.

After discussion, the board voted to approve all requests and recommendations regarding personnel, as submitted. 

Field trip requests were approved by the board as follows:

• Kyle Johnson, varsity boys’ basketball coach, submitted an overnight field trip request to Spiece Fieldhouse in Ft. Wayne. The team has taken this trip in the past. 
• Sponsors  Erica Richwine and Shannon Burgess submitted a field trip request for Sunshine Society to take their annual mother-daughter trip to Chicago in November. This trip has been taken for many years. 
• Jenni Belcher, varsity softball coach, submitted an overnight field trip request for a softball camp and overnight field trip. This trip was taken last year. 
• Scott Roudebush, varsity golf coach, submitted an overnight field trip request to take the varsity golf team to regional competition in Battle Ground. 

Reports:

Foster reported on the following: 

• Bus Inspection will be June 29. 
• Appreciation Breakfast: A very nice program with five retirees recognized.
• Graduation: The program went well. The Class of 2015 was congratulated and wished well. 
• The elementary school renovations are moving forward with bids going out next week.
• With golf and softball winning their sectionals that makes seven sectional wins this school year, which is a record.  Four students went to state last week for track and field – Claire Collins, Kyle Collins (achieving a new record in the 1600 meter), Bill Williamson (achieving a new record in the pole vault), and Zen Zupin (achieving a new record in the 800 meter). All students were commended. 

During board comment the following were commended: all of the retiring staff, the staff helping to move the weight room equipment, Mrs. Dickinson for painting the mural on the weight room wall, the textbook adoption committee, and the graduating class of 2015.