NORTH MANCHESTER - Changes to requirements at the state level prompted the Manchester Community Schools to revise the calendar for the 2004-05 school year.

Because the state now mandates that all kindergarten students attend 180 days of school like the other grade levels, MCS adopted an alternate kindergarten schedule at its regular meeting Tuesday night. The alternate schedule ensures that kindergarten students get the required numbers of days even if there are weather or scheduled delays. Four schedules have been designed to establish procedures for weather delays, early dismissals for parent-teacher conferences, late arrivals for parent-teacher conferences and early dismissals for professional development days. The alternate schedules and new school calendars will be distributed to parents in the next school newsletter.

"I know this is a challenge for parents and babysitters," said MCS superintendent Diane Showalter. "I hope the parents understand that this is not our doing. But we do have activities planned that are worthy of students coming for the shortened plan.

"Children want to come to school. They don't like to miss kindergarten."

In another change to the calendar, the Manchester School Board approved changes to the parent-teacher conference schedule. This year the conferences for parents of students in kindergarten through eighth grade will take place on four half days: Oct. 13, 14, 20 and 21. Conferences at Manchester High School will take place Oct 13 and 14 as well as Jan. 26 and April 27.

The board also changed the last day of school, pending weather cancellations, from May 25 to May 26 for students in grades one through 12. The last scheduled day for kindergartners is May 25.

"Because we can no longer count October 22 as anything but a vacation day, we must change the last day of school to May 26," said Showalter.

The Manchester School Board also approved changing the grading periods at Manchester Junior High School from six weeks to nine weeks.

"With the nine-week grading periods, parents would receive midterms after 4-1/2 weeks," said Showalter. "That gives 4-1/2 weeks to make improvements. This way parents get almost a monthly progress report for their students."

In other business, Trane was chosen to execute the Guaranteed Energy Savings project for the Manchester Community School Corp.

The board also adopted a $100,000 amendment to the capital projects fund. The money will be used to renovate the tennis courts at the high school. Since the courts are used in physical education classes, the project fits into the CPF budget, but the proposal was not without opposition from one audience member.

"I have watched academic cuts made and I have seen athletic cuts made," said Mike Kiester. "I think it is quite arrogant to throw money into the tennis courts when there are other things that could be done. It's a slap in the face to the other athletic programs."

In other business, the board:

• Tabled a decision to declare many computers obsolete and useless. All the licensed software must be removed from the computers before they can be reused, sold or dismantled. Board member Thom Frantz suggested that the school check with Heartland Career Center to see if it would be a project they might want to take on in a class. Frantz also suggested sending letters to the software companies to get permission to reuse the computers without removing the software. "I would hate to throw 170 computers away if students could use them," Frantz said.

• Approved a request for early graduation for Aletta Vermuelen, a junior at Manchester High School.

• Approved the resignations of Mike West, Manchester High School volleyball coach; Christine Beery as special education assistant at Laketon Elementary School; and Michelle Smith as instructional assistant for Manchester Elementary School.

• Approved the hirings of Marilyn Sexton-Mason as musical director for Manchester High School; Dane Simcoe as assistant football coach at Manchester Junior High School; Jeremy Yates as volunteer assistant football coach for Manchester Junior High School; and Sarah Dillon as varsity volleyball coach at Manchester High School for the remainder of the 2004-05 school year.

• Approved the retirement of Connie Wagner, a cook at Manchester High School.

• Approved an overnight field trip request for the Manchester High School Choir to perform with the All Midwest Choir at the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade Nov. 23-25.

• Approved overnight professional leave requests for Becky Richert, Peggy Gilbert, Susan Klinger, Rhonda Snover, Kay Sponseller and Dave Zinsmeister to attend the NCTE Annual Convention in Indianapolis in November.

• Approved overnight professional leave requests for Christine Fisher and Marcheta Tate to attend the 14th Annual Illinois Reading Recovery Institute in January.

• Approved an overnight professional leave request for Debra Schuh to attend the Art Education Association of Indiana Conference in Vincennes in November.

• Heard a presentation from Midwest Benefit Solutions Consultants regarding health insurance benefits and alternatives that may be helpful in the future.

Manchester school board members are Sally Krouse, president, Todd Speicher, Thom Frantz, Kent Terrill, Brian Schilling, Carlye McLaughlin and Brad Perrot. Superintendent is Diane Showalter. [[In-content Ad]]