PIERCETON - Dr. G. William Worl, superintendent of Whitko Community School Corp., submitted his notification of retirement to the school board Monday.

With "very, very, very great reluctance," the school board accepted his retirement, which is effective at the end of the 2002-03 contract year on July 1.

In his letter of retirement, Worl wrote, in part, "I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Board of School Trustees and the Whitko school community for the opportunity to serve as Superintendent of Schools for the past seven years.

"I would also like to thank the teachers, support staff, bus drivers and administrators with whom I have had the pleasure of working for their support and cooperation during my term as superintendent, and for their willingness to work together to achieve school district goals."

He also wrote that he believes Whitko Community School Corp. is well-positioned to address the challenges that will need to be faced in the future.

After the meeting, Worl said his plans for retirement were to simply spend time with his family and do some of the things he hasn't had time to do. Having worked for 40 years, Worl said, he and his wife thought 40 was "a nice round number" to retire on.

In other business, the school board:

• Heard the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance approved Whitko's petition for approval of taxable retirement/severance liability funding bonds of 2002 for $1.825 million. A meeting is scheduled with the Indiana Bond Bank on Nov. 12 to finalize the arrangements for the sale of bonds.

• Heard the South Whitley Elementary School parent-teacher conferences are Nov. 19-20; the Whitko Middle School conferences are Oct. 29.

• Approved the policy revisions, additions, replacements and technical corrections as presented.

• Approved the driver education program for the 2002-03 school year. Worl said students get six hours in the car and 30 hours in the classroom. The fees for the year are "constant" with the fees from last year and the program is self-funded with no support from tax dollars.

• Approved the receipt of $1,500 in grant money from the Indiana Department of Education, Indiana NEXT grant.

• Saw a presentation from the Whitko High School "Expect Respect" students, which included acting and dancing. Fourteen students are involved in the group, which focuses on self-responsibility, self-esteem and character.

• Heard Oct. 20-26 is National School Bus Safety Week, Oct. 20-26 is America's Safe Schools Week and Oct. 23-31 is Red Ribbon Week.

• Heard the Whitko Marching Pride competed in the ISSMA District Contest at Northrop High School on Oct. 5 and received a First Division rating. The band also competed Oct. 19 at the ISSMA Regional competition at Carmel High School.

• Said the school board was awarded "Master Board" status by the Indiana School Board Association at the regional meeting on Oct. 9 at Plymouth.

• Commended Walter Malicki for being selected as a "Realizing the Dream" teacher by the University of Indianapolis. Malicki's influence was one of the key factors that encouraged University of Indianapolis freshman Amy Gingery to pursue a college education.

Members of the Whitko School Board are Hal Trump, E. Marie Trump, Michael Braddock, Dave Tranter and Pete Mitchell. They meet at 7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of every month in the administration office, Pierceton. [[In-content Ad]]