MENTONE - An accreditation presentation by Superintendent Dr. Karen Boling and high school space discussed by Principal Charles Mills were just two of the topics heard by the Tippecanoe Valley school board Monday.

Boling presented an update on the North Central Accreditation Program. Valley is now starting its second year in the program and is focusing on improvements in education. She said the program is trying to set standards for students to be successful as they move from school to school and, ultimately, to their future goals.

The program, for staff and students, moves students to focus on careers. It also encourages parental and community involvement and will install student assessment measures.

Boling said Valley is one of three schools in Indiana selected to pilot the endorsement but that does not guarantee approval for the final endorsement.

Mills asked the board to look into the need for space at the high school.

Mills said four major changes have occurred since that school was built: technology, special education services, increased graduation requirements and curriculum shifts with increased emphasis on academic achievement.

Some of the problems Mills listed were inadequate classrooms for special education, inadequate office space, a library too small for a comprehensive high school and a lecture room that is unable to accommodate activities for which it is used.

Board member Mark Wise passed around a tax rate schedule and said, "I'm real sensitive about who's going to pay for the construction. I don't think that the taxpayers are going to stand for anymore right now."

Two students voiced their concerns to the board over the decision to drop the winter guard program.

Kristen Schull, a sophomore at Valley, said, "Winter guard is what we live for. It's like taking away our lives. If you worked hard and became part of a team, someone would back you up. This is what we love and we're trying to make a comeback. We need time to make a comeback."

An emotional Wendy Whitaker said she couldn't believe it when one of her best friends told her there would be no winter guard. "We chose to be a team and to be together. They used to win gold medals and we want the opportunity to do that too."

Mills said several problems arose, even though the program was excellent. He said the lack of personnel, lack of parental support and lack of financial support contributed to the action. But the major problem is the lack of a dedicated individual to lead the group. He said if something should develop the issue could be revisited.

Board President Bruce Andrews told the girls to get the information needed and to discuss the issue with the principal.

In other business, the board:

• Approved a $1,000 bonus to Jim Mitterling, who worked on his own time to help with the bus garage problems. The issue was passed three-to-one, with Mark Wise abstaining.

• Approved the extra-curricular staff of Tina Feldman, Matthew Babbitt, Alissa Trippiedi, Tara Nelson, Steff Bibler, Shanna Webb, Susan Davis and Tara Reed.

• Approved out-of-state trips for Virginia Higgins and Susan Kinney to Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., and the FFA to Trafalgar, Louisville, Ky., and Kansas City, Mo.

Approved grants for Lynette Shoemaker for creative communications language arts for $250 and a technology plan grant from the Indiana Department of Education for $219,050.

The board also appointed Tim Fleck and Tamara Murphy to the Akron Public Library board. [[In-content Ad]]