Valley Board Hires 2 Coaches
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MENTONE -Ê"It's awfully sad that the public finds more interest in (the hiring of) an assistant coach to any sport than any academic (issue)," said Tippecanoe Valley School Board President Bruce Andrews Monday at the board meeting.
Andrews was referring to the recommendation by Scott Backus, the varsity baseball coach, to hire Ron Shewman as assistant varsity baseball coach. He said he has received numerous phone calls concerning Shewman's hiring.
"We've discussed this in executive session," said board member Mark Wise. "There are concerns about the candidate, allegations." However, he said, to move the baseball program along, he moved to approve Shewman. Board member Rod Eaton seconded.
Board member Tom Weaver said they received a lot of information about the issue in a short period of time. He said he guessed this was the best they can do at this time.
"I, too, am not comfortable (with this) because of the information we received about an hour ago," board member Fred McSherry said. But, like Wise, he said they need to move the baseball program along.
Backus recommended hiring Kris Pettit and Shewman as assistant varsity baseball coaches. Pettit's position is not a new one, he said, but he will be providing the team assistance and should be compensated. Two salaries will be divided among Backus, Shewman and Pettit.
In public discussion, Kevin Hane said he agreed the issues have been poorly handled in the school corporation. He said he supports hiring Shewman and that an athletic director should not also have a coaching position as it is a conflict of interest.
"The hiring of this baseball (coach) has been handled poorly as have other aspects of this school corporation," he said.
He said Superintendent Dr. Karen Boling is not community-oriented and her contract needs to be bought out.
Kelly Fields said he agreed that the hiring of the baseball coach was handled poorly. He said if Backus wants to hire Shewman and Pettit, then they should give him their support.
The school board approved hiring Shewman and Pettit by a vote of 4 to 1. Weaver voted against the recommendation.
Classified salaries for 1999-2000 were approved by the school board. The salaries include those for custodians, educational assistants, transportation, secretaries, treasurers, educational assistants and for swimming pool, work-study, substitutes and mileage.
A bus mechanic will receive $32,250 per year. A regular route bus driver with one or more years of experience will receive $66.50 per day. Substitute teachers will receive $45 per day for less than 60 semester hours; $50 per day if they have 60 semester hours or more; and $55 per day if they have a bachelor's degree.
Mileage will be 31 cents per mile.
In other business, the school board:
• Approved a contract with R.W. Clinton for the feasibility study of the high school.
• Boling told the board it is now the consensus that Henry Township owns Prill School.
Since Nov. 17, 1980, TVSC has had a lease agreement with Prill School Museum Association. In January, TVSC was notified that the association wants to cancel the remainder of the lease.
In checking on the cancellation, it came to the corporation's attention that the Prill School deed was never changed to show the school corporation as the property owner. The county recorder's office shows Prill School under ownership of the Henry Township Trustee.
The school board voted to let Henry Township do as they pleased with Prill School.
• Approved out-of-state trips to: Chicago for Lisa Paxton's Farm Business Management Class on April 14; to Washington, D.C., for seniors and high school teachers Scott Smith and Wayne and Joyce Cumberland, March 30 and 31; to Chicago for LAMP students and LAMP teacher Angie Miller; to Oak Lawn, Ill., for Sandy Moriarty and Karla Hayden, Mentone teachers, March 25; to Chicago for technology associate Doug Bowyer, April 17; to Orlando, Fla., for middle school teacher Jane Hunn, April 6 to 9.
• Accepted grant money in the amount of $280 from the DEKKO Foundation.
• Approved letting Charles Tucker continue farming eight acres of property next to the middle school on the south side of CR 800. In the past, Tucker has cash rented the property.
Schools are required by Indiana Code to receive bids on lease property. One step of the bidding process is to receive appraisals from two employees or licensed professionals. The appraisals came in at a price of $65 to $145 per acre.
The board said that since Tucker has already put fertilizer on the property, they will let him farm it this year. Next year bids will be taken.
• Announced the building trades open house will be May 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. at 5640 N. CR 200S.
The next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. April 17. Board members include Bruce Andrews, Tom Weaver, Fred McSherry, Mark Wise and Rod Eaton. [[In-content Ad]]
MENTONE -Ê"It's awfully sad that the public finds more interest in (the hiring of) an assistant coach to any sport than any academic (issue)," said Tippecanoe Valley School Board President Bruce Andrews Monday at the board meeting.
Andrews was referring to the recommendation by Scott Backus, the varsity baseball coach, to hire Ron Shewman as assistant varsity baseball coach. He said he has received numerous phone calls concerning Shewman's hiring.
"We've discussed this in executive session," said board member Mark Wise. "There are concerns about the candidate, allegations." However, he said, to move the baseball program along, he moved to approve Shewman. Board member Rod Eaton seconded.
Board member Tom Weaver said they received a lot of information about the issue in a short period of time. He said he guessed this was the best they can do at this time.
"I, too, am not comfortable (with this) because of the information we received about an hour ago," board member Fred McSherry said. But, like Wise, he said they need to move the baseball program along.
Backus recommended hiring Kris Pettit and Shewman as assistant varsity baseball coaches. Pettit's position is not a new one, he said, but he will be providing the team assistance and should be compensated. Two salaries will be divided among Backus, Shewman and Pettit.
In public discussion, Kevin Hane said he agreed the issues have been poorly handled in the school corporation. He said he supports hiring Shewman and that an athletic director should not also have a coaching position as it is a conflict of interest.
"The hiring of this baseball (coach) has been handled poorly as have other aspects of this school corporation," he said.
He said Superintendent Dr. Karen Boling is not community-oriented and her contract needs to be bought out.
Kelly Fields said he agreed that the hiring of the baseball coach was handled poorly. He said if Backus wants to hire Shewman and Pettit, then they should give him their support.
The school board approved hiring Shewman and Pettit by a vote of 4 to 1. Weaver voted against the recommendation.
Classified salaries for 1999-2000 were approved by the school board. The salaries include those for custodians, educational assistants, transportation, secretaries, treasurers, educational assistants and for swimming pool, work-study, substitutes and mileage.
A bus mechanic will receive $32,250 per year. A regular route bus driver with one or more years of experience will receive $66.50 per day. Substitute teachers will receive $45 per day for less than 60 semester hours; $50 per day if they have 60 semester hours or more; and $55 per day if they have a bachelor's degree.
Mileage will be 31 cents per mile.
In other business, the school board:
• Approved a contract with R.W. Clinton for the feasibility study of the high school.
• Boling told the board it is now the consensus that Henry Township owns Prill School.
Since Nov. 17, 1980, TVSC has had a lease agreement with Prill School Museum Association. In January, TVSC was notified that the association wants to cancel the remainder of the lease.
In checking on the cancellation, it came to the corporation's attention that the Prill School deed was never changed to show the school corporation as the property owner. The county recorder's office shows Prill School under ownership of the Henry Township Trustee.
The school board voted to let Henry Township do as they pleased with Prill School.
• Approved out-of-state trips to: Chicago for Lisa Paxton's Farm Business Management Class on April 14; to Washington, D.C., for seniors and high school teachers Scott Smith and Wayne and Joyce Cumberland, March 30 and 31; to Chicago for LAMP students and LAMP teacher Angie Miller; to Oak Lawn, Ill., for Sandy Moriarty and Karla Hayden, Mentone teachers, March 25; to Chicago for technology associate Doug Bowyer, April 17; to Orlando, Fla., for middle school teacher Jane Hunn, April 6 to 9.
• Accepted grant money in the amount of $280 from the DEKKO Foundation.
• Approved letting Charles Tucker continue farming eight acres of property next to the middle school on the south side of CR 800. In the past, Tucker has cash rented the property.
Schools are required by Indiana Code to receive bids on lease property. One step of the bidding process is to receive appraisals from two employees or licensed professionals. The appraisals came in at a price of $65 to $145 per acre.
The board said that since Tucker has already put fertilizer on the property, they will let him farm it this year. Next year bids will be taken.
• Announced the building trades open house will be May 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. at 5640 N. CR 200S.
The next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. April 17. Board members include Bruce Andrews, Tom Weaver, Fred McSherry, Mark Wise and Rod Eaton. [[In-content Ad]]