NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester School Board members heard from Manchester Elementary School teacher Matt Webb Tuesday regarding a state-wide Scrabble tournament.

Webb took two Manchester Elementary School fifth-grade students to compete in the tournament May 5 in Indianapolis. Webb said 42 teams competed, from fourth through eighth grades.

"It's really starting to grow in Indiana," Webb said.

Webb showed an 11-minute video of the tournament to board members. He said each participant received a certificate, Scrabble T-shirt and a Scrabble game to take back to their schools. He also said he hopes to take two teams to the tournament next year.

In other business, board members:

• Approved Metlife as the vendor for the 403 B retirement plan between the school corporation and Manchester Teachers Association.

• Denied a request of leave for one year from Rene McFadden as fourth-grade teacher at Laketon Elementary School.

Assistant superintendent Kim Thurston said he could not recommend approving McFadden's request "based on it's not part of the contract language."

Board member Thom Frantz asked if McFadden's request was not granted, would she resign her teaching position? After discussion with school corporation attorney Al Schlitt, board members directed the question to McFadden.

"I will resign if I'm not given the leave," McFadden said.

"I just can't recommend any deviation from the contract," Thurston said.

"I hate to lose a good teacher," board member Kent Trickle said. "I hope everyone understands the rationale behind it."

• Approved hiring Barton Coe Vilamaa of Fort Wayne as the architectural firm to complete renovations for the high school's gymnasium.

"They're a highly reputable firm," Thurston said, "and truthfully, all four (of the firms interviewed) were very reputable."

Thurston said last month that a conservative amount Manchester Community Schools can budget for the renovations is $2 million.

The corporation would like renovations to begin April 1 and end Aug. 1, if possible.

Renovations for the high school gymnasium include the addition of two mechanical rooms and a hallway on the west side of the gym, replacement of bleachers, demolition of the stage and the extension of the gym floor, installation of a new hardwood maple gym floor with a padded subfloor, installation of new lights in the gym, replacement of the gym ceiling, updating the sound system, heating and air-conditioning and upgrading and installing new electrical service.

The layout tentatively would consist of a game floor in its present location including two half courts facing the west side of the gym, a full basketball court and two volleyball courts. The existing stadium seats will remain and will be refurbished and refinished.

• Approved the area five Head Start facility use/food contract for the 2001-02 school year.

• Approved the following resignations: Cecilia Freeman as special education aide at Manchester High School and Beth Rhoades as sixth-grade teacher at Laketon Elementary School.

• Approved Jason Hesting as Manchester High School guidance counselor and Reed Christiansen as volunteer assistant boys' tennis coach at Manchester High School.

• The next school board meeting is Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. in the board meeting room at Maple Park, North Manchester. The meeting is open to the public.

Manchester Community Schools Board of Trustees members are: president Sally Krouse, vice president Virginia Gunter, secretary Brad Perrott, Thom Frantz, Larry Miller, Todd Speicher and Kent Trickle. Assistant superintendent and acting superintendent is Kim Thurston. School corporation attorney is Al Schlitt. [[In-content Ad]]