Tippy Valley Honors Retiring Industrial Tech Teacher
March 16, 2021 at 2:13 a.m.
Tippy Valley Honors Retiring Industrial Tech Teacher
By Amanda Bridgman-
Franklin is retiring after 29 years teaching industrial technology at the high school and said he has loved his time spent with his students and colleagues. Franklin said he and his wife Becky look forward to traveling and spending time in all 50 states, along with him having more time to pursue other interests and hobbies.
TVSC Superintendent Blaine Conley teared up during Monday's meeting accepting Franklin's retirement and thanked him for his service.
Also Monday, the board heard about happenings at the high school from Principal Brandon Kresca during the Spotlight on Valley section of the agenda. Kresca said TVSC has been vigilant on mask wearing and cleaning in between classes. The high school also moved from two to three lunch periods to allow for more social distancing and had to go back to traditional row seating in the classrooms, abandoning what Kresca said was the more collaborative-style seating arrangements prior to COVID-19 restrictions.
"We tried to give the best in-school experience we could this year, and I think we've done a good job on that," he said.
He said when the school year began, the high school had 75 students using the virtual learning option, but that number spiked to over 125 by the end of the second semester. Kresca credited his teachers with learning how to use synchronous teaching through Microsoft Teams to make it a positive learning experience.
Also new at the high school is a new club called the Bring Change To Mind Club (BC2MC), a national organization whose mission is to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness. There are 320 BC2MC clubs in high schools throughout the United States and 45 in Indiana.
Valley also was named a Model School with Project Success, an organization that ensures higher academic outcomes for students with disabilities. TVSC is finishing its second year in the program. Other accomplishments that were recognized was the high school Future Farmers of America (FFA) team, eSports students and athletes.
New course offerings for the 2021-22 school year will include current problems/events and ethnic studies, math lab SAT prep, human services, principles of teaching, principles of culinary, intro to strength and conditioning, musical theory/theater and new dual-credit business classes and FACS classes.
The board also heard from Kresca that they would like to change the student handbook to state that a high school student who misses more than 18 days not be allowed to attend prom.
The board tabled a resolution to oppose House Bill 1005 and Senate Bill 412 until more discussion could be had.
A donation of $800 was accepted from Jonesy's Junction, who donated 100 pounds of pulled pork for the annual FFA Community Appreciation Supper held the last week of February.
Two more community input meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday in the high school commons, and 6 p.m. March 23 in the high school commons.
The next regular TVSC School Board meeting is 6 p.m. April 19 at Mentone Elementary School.
Franklin is retiring after 29 years teaching industrial technology at the high school and said he has loved his time spent with his students and colleagues. Franklin said he and his wife Becky look forward to traveling and spending time in all 50 states, along with him having more time to pursue other interests and hobbies.
TVSC Superintendent Blaine Conley teared up during Monday's meeting accepting Franklin's retirement and thanked him for his service.
Also Monday, the board heard about happenings at the high school from Principal Brandon Kresca during the Spotlight on Valley section of the agenda. Kresca said TVSC has been vigilant on mask wearing and cleaning in between classes. The high school also moved from two to three lunch periods to allow for more social distancing and had to go back to traditional row seating in the classrooms, abandoning what Kresca said was the more collaborative-style seating arrangements prior to COVID-19 restrictions.
"We tried to give the best in-school experience we could this year, and I think we've done a good job on that," he said.
He said when the school year began, the high school had 75 students using the virtual learning option, but that number spiked to over 125 by the end of the second semester. Kresca credited his teachers with learning how to use synchronous teaching through Microsoft Teams to make it a positive learning experience.
Also new at the high school is a new club called the Bring Change To Mind Club (BC2MC), a national organization whose mission is to end the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness. There are 320 BC2MC clubs in high schools throughout the United States and 45 in Indiana.
Valley also was named a Model School with Project Success, an organization that ensures higher academic outcomes for students with disabilities. TVSC is finishing its second year in the program. Other accomplishments that were recognized was the high school Future Farmers of America (FFA) team, eSports students and athletes.
New course offerings for the 2021-22 school year will include current problems/events and ethnic studies, math lab SAT prep, human services, principles of teaching, principles of culinary, intro to strength and conditioning, musical theory/theater and new dual-credit business classes and FACS classes.
The board also heard from Kresca that they would like to change the student handbook to state that a high school student who misses more than 18 days not be allowed to attend prom.
The board tabled a resolution to oppose House Bill 1005 and Senate Bill 412 until more discussion could be had.
A donation of $800 was accepted from Jonesy's Junction, who donated 100 pounds of pulled pork for the annual FFA Community Appreciation Supper held the last week of February.
Two more community input meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday in the high school commons, and 6 p.m. March 23 in the high school commons.
The next regular TVSC School Board meeting is 6 p.m. April 19 at Mentone Elementary School.
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