Valley OKs Contracts, Discusses Creationism
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MENTONE - A total of $8,621,061 in contracts was awarded for the Mentone School project at the Tippecanoe Valley School Board meeting Monday.
Bids were awarded except for the bid for educational equiptment. This will be decided later and will have no effect on the progress of the project.
Bart York of Skillman Corp. said the bids came in around 3 percent higher than expected.
He said the bond sale would begin next week and close at the end of the month.
Bids were also awarded for the new bus garage. Kinder Building of Fort Wayne was awarded the contract pending examination of the constructor's work. The base bid from Kinder was $369,803. The board expressed concern over the bids still being 35 percent over the $285,000 budget.
In other action, a section of the policy manual drew lengthy discussion from the public. The origin of life curriculum was recognized by the board as an educationally sound and important issue that should be presented to the students. Theories of evolution and creation will be included in the origin of life curriculum.
Chuck Zimmerman spoke to the board about the ACLU's stand on the subject. He said law states that schools are not allowed to teach theology.
Larry Hunter of Akron said he thought the policy was very fair and that this allowed parents to discuss the issue with their children. He said there was no law that says you could not teach theology.
Ivan Schular, a retired science teacher from Tippecanoe Valley, said he had always taken the freedom to teach both the creation and evolution theories. He said he presented both points of view and that the way the subject was presented was the key. He said the majority of students favored the creation theory, and ended by saying he was glad to see the policy was in writing.
Zimmerman asked the board if they received federal money. He added that the schools do not have the time to present everyone's opinion and that the children have a federal right of privacy and a federal right to say no. Student representative Erin Anglin stated she favored the presentation of both sides for a more rounded education.
In other business the school board:
• Approved the 1998-99 school calendar.
• Accepted a $250 donation to Mentone for purchase of supplies.
• Accepted $1,800 to the high school and Akron school from Indiana School Academic Improvements Program.
• Heard about middle school drug testing from Duane Burkhart. [[In-content Ad]]
MENTONE - A total of $8,621,061 in contracts was awarded for the Mentone School project at the Tippecanoe Valley School Board meeting Monday.
Bids were awarded except for the bid for educational equiptment. This will be decided later and will have no effect on the progress of the project.
Bart York of Skillman Corp. said the bids came in around 3 percent higher than expected.
He said the bond sale would begin next week and close at the end of the month.
Bids were also awarded for the new bus garage. Kinder Building of Fort Wayne was awarded the contract pending examination of the constructor's work. The base bid from Kinder was $369,803. The board expressed concern over the bids still being 35 percent over the $285,000 budget.
In other action, a section of the policy manual drew lengthy discussion from the public. The origin of life curriculum was recognized by the board as an educationally sound and important issue that should be presented to the students. Theories of evolution and creation will be included in the origin of life curriculum.
Chuck Zimmerman spoke to the board about the ACLU's stand on the subject. He said law states that schools are not allowed to teach theology.
Larry Hunter of Akron said he thought the policy was very fair and that this allowed parents to discuss the issue with their children. He said there was no law that says you could not teach theology.
Ivan Schular, a retired science teacher from Tippecanoe Valley, said he had always taken the freedom to teach both the creation and evolution theories. He said he presented both points of view and that the way the subject was presented was the key. He said the majority of students favored the creation theory, and ended by saying he was glad to see the policy was in writing.
Zimmerman asked the board if they received federal money. He added that the schools do not have the time to present everyone's opinion and that the children have a federal right of privacy and a federal right to say no. Student representative Erin Anglin stated she favored the presentation of both sides for a more rounded education.
In other business the school board:
• Approved the 1998-99 school calendar.
• Accepted a $250 donation to Mentone for purchase of supplies.
• Accepted $1,800 to the high school and Akron school from Indiana School Academic Improvements Program.
• Heard about middle school drug testing from Duane Burkhart. [[In-content Ad]]