Manchester School Board Hears Patrons' Tax Concerns
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
NORTH MANCHESTER - The North Manchester School Board approved the proposed 2002 school budget Tuesday.
The proposed budget totals $13,851,956.
Two community members voiced their concerns at the meeting to the board. Opal Patterson said she was impressed with what has been done but is concerned about a tax increase.
"Think of people like me on Social Security when you make your decisions," said Patterson. She said taxes are increasing at a faster rate than her income.
Charles Signs brought up the budget along with the recently released school ranking report. The report states that 82 percent of Indiana schools fall into the unsatisfactory ranking, although acting superintendent Kim Thurston does not agree with the report.
"As an educator with 20 years experience, I don't believe that 82 percent of schools in Indiana are unsatisfactory," said Thurston.
He said the principals' association, superintendents' association and teachers' association are devising a ranking system of their own.
The budget will be adopted on Sept. 18, followed by a state budget hearing in October with the state tax commissioners, who will make the final approval.
In other business, the board:
• Heard reports from the Kids at Heart Science Olympiad, where students competed in science-related activities.
Sue Gnagy and three elementary students, each jiggling with medals around their neck, spoke about their participation in events.
"(The Science Olympiad) built upon the knowledge (the students) had learned in class," said Gnagy.
The students built structures to a specific height with certain materials. The structures needed enough strength to hold a baseball. In another event, students had to secure an egg from breaking using certain materials. Then their designs were tested. The egg was dropped from a second-story window.
"It was a real treat to see the smiles on the students' faces when the medal was placed around their neck," said Gnagy.
Thirty students participated in the event.
• Discussed software filtering and other Internet related business.
"Internet is a valuable tool and it has certain inappropriate materials," said Thurston.
The board proposed Internet and server guidelines and the appropriate ethical usage. The final reading will be Sept. 18.
• Updated the superintendent search. Indiana University, Purdue, Ball State and Indiana State are helping in the search, said school board president Sally Krouse.
The group said, according to Krouse, that applications should be sent out in January and there should be a good pool of applicants by July 1. The schools are not charging Manchester Community Schools for the help, besides mileage and a meal, said Krouse.
Manchester Community Schools Board of Trustees includes: president Sally Krouse, vice president Virginia Gunter, secretary Larry Miller, acting superintendent Kim Thurston, principal Nancy Alspaugh, Todd Speicher, Brad Perrott, Kevin Trickle and Thom Frantz. [[In-content Ad]]
NORTH MANCHESTER - The North Manchester School Board approved the proposed 2002 school budget Tuesday.
The proposed budget totals $13,851,956.
Two community members voiced their concerns at the meeting to the board. Opal Patterson said she was impressed with what has been done but is concerned about a tax increase.
"Think of people like me on Social Security when you make your decisions," said Patterson. She said taxes are increasing at a faster rate than her income.
Charles Signs brought up the budget along with the recently released school ranking report. The report states that 82 percent of Indiana schools fall into the unsatisfactory ranking, although acting superintendent Kim Thurston does not agree with the report.
"As an educator with 20 years experience, I don't believe that 82 percent of schools in Indiana are unsatisfactory," said Thurston.
He said the principals' association, superintendents' association and teachers' association are devising a ranking system of their own.
The budget will be adopted on Sept. 18, followed by a state budget hearing in October with the state tax commissioners, who will make the final approval.
In other business, the board:
• Heard reports from the Kids at Heart Science Olympiad, where students competed in science-related activities.
Sue Gnagy and three elementary students, each jiggling with medals around their neck, spoke about their participation in events.
"(The Science Olympiad) built upon the knowledge (the students) had learned in class," said Gnagy.
The students built structures to a specific height with certain materials. The structures needed enough strength to hold a baseball. In another event, students had to secure an egg from breaking using certain materials. Then their designs were tested. The egg was dropped from a second-story window.
"It was a real treat to see the smiles on the students' faces when the medal was placed around their neck," said Gnagy.
Thirty students participated in the event.
• Discussed software filtering and other Internet related business.
"Internet is a valuable tool and it has certain inappropriate materials," said Thurston.
The board proposed Internet and server guidelines and the appropriate ethical usage. The final reading will be Sept. 18.
• Updated the superintendent search. Indiana University, Purdue, Ball State and Indiana State are helping in the search, said school board president Sally Krouse.
The group said, according to Krouse, that applications should be sent out in January and there should be a good pool of applicants by July 1. The schools are not charging Manchester Community Schools for the help, besides mileage and a meal, said Krouse.
Manchester Community Schools Board of Trustees includes: president Sally Krouse, vice president Virginia Gunter, secretary Larry Miller, acting superintendent Kim Thurston, principal Nancy Alspaugh, Todd Speicher, Brad Perrott, Kevin Trickle and Thom Frantz. [[In-content Ad]]