ISBA Names Whitko An Exemplary Board
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
PIERCETON - Whitko School Board members were recognized as an Exemplary Board by the Indiana School Boards Association recently, the highest recognition a school board can receive.
Of the 270 school boards in Indiana, 20 received the honor this year. Members must earn points by attending at least one ISBA core meeting, already be a "master board," and conduct a self-evaluation for the exemplary nod.
During Monday's regular board meeting, three teams of Whitko FFA members also were recognized as state champions of the State Animal Science Skill-A-Thon Contest.
Congratulations were sent to Whitko cross country athletes Cameron Walter and Veronica Jersey for advancing to semi-state competition.
The board attended to several items of business regarding the upcoming Whitko High School Improvement Project, recognizing Roger Boggs, Joe Kessie, Sidney Baker and Barb Smelzer as officers of the building corporation.
A resolution to approve preliminary plans, form a lease and authorizing publication of notice for a lease hearing was approved.
A hearing to consider year-round school also was held, with board president Hal Trump saying the hearing was mandatory.
"Year-round school is not something this board will approve," he added.
That statement relieved a member of the audience who attended the meeting to argue against year-round school. "If you are against it, I don't need to read my list of reasons not to approve year-round school," she said. "We did the research."
Trump said at the next board meeting, when the item comes up for a second hearing and vote, the year-round option will be denied.
The board appointed Dirk Felger as the Whitko school representative, Monte Wilkinson as a Whitley County taxpayer, and Doug Eber appointed by the Whitley County Board of commissioners to the common wage committee.
During his financial report Phil Menzie said the district was doing "OK."
"The transportation fund is what I'm most concerned about," he said "Because there has already been an additional appropriation (to the fund) and we don't know what the price of gas will be."
He said Whitley County was late in forwarding its first draw but is not on track with payments. Kosciusko County hasn't certified its assessed value yet.
The board also:
• Set the Whitko High School commencement date as June 2.
• Approved 13 field trips.
• Reviewed 10 grant applications, totaling almost $22,000, if approved.
• Heard $217,560 was received for Title I programs and the account has a total of $256,064.99
• Approved the resignation of Tracey Brandenburg as a sixth grade boys' basketball coach; hired Margaret Andrews as a Title I assistant at Pierceton Elementary School; and approved a list of substitute teachers.
• Approved the driver education program.
• Appointed Clara Marie Butt to the South Whitley-Cleveland Township Public Library.
• Heard the University Heights United Methodist Church in Indianapolis donated $150 to the South Whitley Elementary School library for parent resource materials and Whitley Manufacturing donated $300 to the South Whitley Elementary School to use at their discretion.
The next meeting is Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the administration office.
School board members are Hal Trump, E. Marie Trump, Pete Mitchell, Mike Braddock and Dave Trantor. [[In-content Ad]]
PIERCETON - Whitko School Board members were recognized as an Exemplary Board by the Indiana School Boards Association recently, the highest recognition a school board can receive.
Of the 270 school boards in Indiana, 20 received the honor this year. Members must earn points by attending at least one ISBA core meeting, already be a "master board," and conduct a self-evaluation for the exemplary nod.
During Monday's regular board meeting, three teams of Whitko FFA members also were recognized as state champions of the State Animal Science Skill-A-Thon Contest.
Congratulations were sent to Whitko cross country athletes Cameron Walter and Veronica Jersey for advancing to semi-state competition.
The board attended to several items of business regarding the upcoming Whitko High School Improvement Project, recognizing Roger Boggs, Joe Kessie, Sidney Baker and Barb Smelzer as officers of the building corporation.
A resolution to approve preliminary plans, form a lease and authorizing publication of notice for a lease hearing was approved.
A hearing to consider year-round school also was held, with board president Hal Trump saying the hearing was mandatory.
"Year-round school is not something this board will approve," he added.
That statement relieved a member of the audience who attended the meeting to argue against year-round school. "If you are against it, I don't need to read my list of reasons not to approve year-round school," she said. "We did the research."
Trump said at the next board meeting, when the item comes up for a second hearing and vote, the year-round option will be denied.
The board appointed Dirk Felger as the Whitko school representative, Monte Wilkinson as a Whitley County taxpayer, and Doug Eber appointed by the Whitley County Board of commissioners to the common wage committee.
During his financial report Phil Menzie said the district was doing "OK."
"The transportation fund is what I'm most concerned about," he said "Because there has already been an additional appropriation (to the fund) and we don't know what the price of gas will be."
He said Whitley County was late in forwarding its first draw but is not on track with payments. Kosciusko County hasn't certified its assessed value yet.
The board also:
• Set the Whitko High School commencement date as June 2.
• Approved 13 field trips.
• Reviewed 10 grant applications, totaling almost $22,000, if approved.
• Heard $217,560 was received for Title I programs and the account has a total of $256,064.99
• Approved the resignation of Tracey Brandenburg as a sixth grade boys' basketball coach; hired Margaret Andrews as a Title I assistant at Pierceton Elementary School; and approved a list of substitute teachers.
• Approved the driver education program.
• Appointed Clara Marie Butt to the South Whitley-Cleveland Township Public Library.
• Heard the University Heights United Methodist Church in Indianapolis donated $150 to the South Whitley Elementary School library for parent resource materials and Whitley Manufacturing donated $300 to the South Whitley Elementary School to use at their discretion.
The next meeting is Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the administration office.
School board members are Hal Trump, E. Marie Trump, Pete Mitchell, Mike Braddock and Dave Trantor. [[In-content Ad]]