Public Snubs Tippy Valley Facility Meeting
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
AKRON - Despite the fact it was a community forum to discuss the facility needs of Tippecanoe Valley High School, no members of the community were present Thursday.
School corporation board members, Superintendent Dr. Karen Boling and several teachers were present, but that was all. At one point, Boling said the number of people present at the meeting was "very disappointing."
TVHS principal Charlie Mills led the discussion on the needs of the high school. He first went over a list of 13 facility goals for the high school.
"The goals that are listed are goals that a committee put together," Mills said. The committee consisted of teachers, parents and administrators. He said the list isn't exhaustive but includes some of the most pressing issues.
The first goal is to have a secure building.
"In this day and age, the need to have a secure building is pretty obvious," Mills said. Twenty-five years ago, when the building was first built, society was different than it is today and security wasn't a big issue, he said. "This building - doors have been open and shut, pounded on for years. They're worn."
The forum wasn't a complaint session, Mills said, but there are building issues which need to be taken care of. And the community doesn't always know how much the building is used during the day and at night.
Another facility goal, Mills said, is to have adequate classroom space.
"Our enrollment is growing. Right now, we have the highest point of enrollment ever," Mills said.
According to the enrollment figures Mills provided, the current high school enrollment is 687 students, up from 538 in 1990-1991. Next year, the corporation is predicting 728 students and as many as 769 in the 2006-07 school year.
"Ever since I've been at this corporation, we've been a growing corporation," Mills said.
Currently, two teachers must share a former janitorial closet for a classroom. Not only have custodians lost storage but so has the physical education department.
"I've subdivided as many places as I can subdivide," Mills said.
A related facility goal for the high school is to have adequate space to meet the needs of changing curriculum, such as technology education. Mills said the graduation requirements have increased over the years and they will continue to increase.
"Warsaw has already increased theirs. Columbia City requires 50 (credits), that's the most I know of in this area," he said. As more subjects are required, Mills said, more space will be needed.
Other facility goals for the high school include having an energy-efficient building and increasing classroom, conference and office space for special education; locker facilities for all students; storage space for janitorial supplies, equipment, paper and textbooks; facilities for drama and large group presentations; space for library and media services; office space; a building that meets current codes; and a building that will meet the needs of the school corporation for the next 20 years without major modifications.
Esther Thompson suggested dividing the gym into six classes with a second story and then building a new gym. She said classes should be centrally located.
Mills said the varsity gym is already used as a study hall every day.
Lisa Paxton, a teacher, said the corporation is losing students because there is not enough space at the high school. She said more needs to be done to reach the students in the middle of the grade spectrum, which can only be done with adequate facilities.
She also said, "Facility-wise, I would like the kids to have more opportunities for hands-on activities." She said storage is a concern and she stores school supplies at home so they will be safe.
Mills said from time to time, parents who graduated from TVHS will stop by occasionally to pick up their children and will tell Mills, "I don't remember there being this many kids in here (the cafeteria)."
Also discussed was the possibility of virtual reality classes, whether or not the corporation needs to teach respect and discipline, the increase in the number of special education students, and alternative school for disruptive students.
Mills said the next step will be for the school board to discuss their options and decide whether or not to have a feasibility study completed. [[In-content Ad]]
AKRON - Despite the fact it was a community forum to discuss the facility needs of Tippecanoe Valley High School, no members of the community were present Thursday.
School corporation board members, Superintendent Dr. Karen Boling and several teachers were present, but that was all. At one point, Boling said the number of people present at the meeting was "very disappointing."
TVHS principal Charlie Mills led the discussion on the needs of the high school. He first went over a list of 13 facility goals for the high school.
"The goals that are listed are goals that a committee put together," Mills said. The committee consisted of teachers, parents and administrators. He said the list isn't exhaustive but includes some of the most pressing issues.
The first goal is to have a secure building.
"In this day and age, the need to have a secure building is pretty obvious," Mills said. Twenty-five years ago, when the building was first built, society was different than it is today and security wasn't a big issue, he said. "This building - doors have been open and shut, pounded on for years. They're worn."
The forum wasn't a complaint session, Mills said, but there are building issues which need to be taken care of. And the community doesn't always know how much the building is used during the day and at night.
Another facility goal, Mills said, is to have adequate classroom space.
"Our enrollment is growing. Right now, we have the highest point of enrollment ever," Mills said.
According to the enrollment figures Mills provided, the current high school enrollment is 687 students, up from 538 in 1990-1991. Next year, the corporation is predicting 728 students and as many as 769 in the 2006-07 school year.
"Ever since I've been at this corporation, we've been a growing corporation," Mills said.
Currently, two teachers must share a former janitorial closet for a classroom. Not only have custodians lost storage but so has the physical education department.
"I've subdivided as many places as I can subdivide," Mills said.
A related facility goal for the high school is to have adequate space to meet the needs of changing curriculum, such as technology education. Mills said the graduation requirements have increased over the years and they will continue to increase.
"Warsaw has already increased theirs. Columbia City requires 50 (credits), that's the most I know of in this area," he said. As more subjects are required, Mills said, more space will be needed.
Other facility goals for the high school include having an energy-efficient building and increasing classroom, conference and office space for special education; locker facilities for all students; storage space for janitorial supplies, equipment, paper and textbooks; facilities for drama and large group presentations; space for library and media services; office space; a building that meets current codes; and a building that will meet the needs of the school corporation for the next 20 years without major modifications.
Esther Thompson suggested dividing the gym into six classes with a second story and then building a new gym. She said classes should be centrally located.
Mills said the varsity gym is already used as a study hall every day.
Lisa Paxton, a teacher, said the corporation is losing students because there is not enough space at the high school. She said more needs to be done to reach the students in the middle of the grade spectrum, which can only be done with adequate facilities.
She also said, "Facility-wise, I would like the kids to have more opportunities for hands-on activities." She said storage is a concern and she stores school supplies at home so they will be safe.
Mills said from time to time, parents who graduated from TVHS will stop by occasionally to pick up their children and will tell Mills, "I don't remember there being this many kids in here (the cafeteria)."
Also discussed was the possibility of virtual reality classes, whether or not the corporation needs to teach respect and discipline, the increase in the number of special education students, and alternative school for disruptive students.
Mills said the next step will be for the school board to discuss their options and decide whether or not to have a feasibility study completed. [[In-content Ad]]