Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON - Students in the Whitko Community School Corp. interested in playing soccer will now get a chance to play the world-popular game.
Monday, Stacy Sylvester told the Whitko Community School Corp. Board of School Trustees that a group of parents and their children is interested in getting soccer started for Whitko students. They plan to start a soccer club and see how it goes.
She said they plan to pass out information to students about the club. The club's games will be on a schedule similar to that of T-ball, she said.
"It's a growing sport," Sylvester said. "For insurance, it'd be like T-ball, too." If there are any accidents, she said, parents would be responsible to take care of them.
The group wants to use the school corporation's sixth-grade practice or football fields when they are not in use.
Volunteers will coach and they are working on getting referees.
Steve Reed, an interested parent, also said they don't want any money from the school corporation at this time. The club will be self-funded.
"We want to start this spring," Reed said. He said they know there will be some obstacles to overcome but the kids interested in soccer know the sport.
Whitko Superintendent Dr. William Worl said the corporation works with community groups on field space availability. Worl told the parents to contact the administration regarding the use of the fields.
Any Whitko parent with a child interested in joining the soccer club can contact Sylvester at 594-2757.
Opening the school board meeting was Whitko Elementary Spanish teacher Randy Lemler and his students.
The students sang "The Hokey Pokey," played "Simon Says" and said their own names, all in Spanish.
Lemler said the interesting thing about children and foreign languages is that at their age, they can learn it easier because they are "ready to learn."
He said the children also can do accents as well as their teachers.
With the game "Simon Says" in Spanish, Lemler said the children have much more in common with Spanish-speaking children than differences.
In other business, the school board:
• Announced the Whitko Classroom Teachers' Association has scheduled a "Meet the Candidates Forum" for April 25 at 7 p.m. in the lecture room at Whitko Middle School. The event is open to the public.
• Approved the renovation project invoices, which included: Addition of two new tennis courts and repair/reseal of existing tennis courts at Whitko High School, NiBlock Excavating & Asphalt, $63,350; installation of exhaust fans and duct repair of locker/shower rooms at the high school, The Schust Co., $12,445; computer and technology equipment, Great Lake Electronic Distributing Inc., $27,500; transportation center office improvements, Jessie Schwartz for construction and labor, $8,100, and Bollinger Tin Shop for the HVAC, $3,863.24; roof management program, EDIFIS, a division of Martin Riley Mock Inc., $7,950.
• Heard Whitko Middle School has begun the scheduling process for next school year.
• Heard South Whitley Elementary School is having a canned food drive this week; report cards will be sent out approximately March 25; March 25 is also a PTO-sponsored spirit day; kindergarten roundup is April 11 from 9 to 10:15 a.m. and 1 to 2:15 p.m.; the South Whitley-Cleveland Township Public Library is offering their library service to all the school's students free for the summer; and the fifth-grade classes are going to Exchange City May 7.
• Heard the Pierceton Elementary School talent show is Friday at 7 p.m.
• Heard the Winter Sports Award program for WHS is Wednesday.
• Approved the resignations of Mike Sands, girls' varsity basketball coach at WHS, effective Feb. 18, and Angie Fruits, varsity assistant softball coach, WHS, effective Feb. 11.
• Approved the employment of Phil Cox, assistant wrestling coach at Whitko Middle School, effective Jan. 30, and Janelle Keirn, varsity assistant softball coach, WHS, effective Feb. 19.
• Approved the 14 requests for educational field trips.
• Approved grant submissions totaling $60,218.63.
• Approved the receipt of grant monies totaling $786.
• Approved the donation of surplus HVAC equipment from the Trane Service Agency.
• Gave permission for the public sale of two surplus overhead doors from the bus garage.
• Heard the Indiana Department of Education, Division of School Accreditation, issued a letter according "full accreditation status" to all four Whitko schools.
• Recognized the Whitko Chamber Ensemble, which received a First Place Division I rating at the state vocal solo and ensemble contest. Students Jennifer Saldivar, Meghan Hand and Ross Adang also received a first place Division I rating for their solos.
Members of the Whitko School Board are Larry Long, Hal Trump, Deborah Collier, Dave Tranter and Michael Braddock. School Superintendent is Dr. William Worl. They meet at 7:30 p.m. on the third Monday of every month in the administration office, Pierceton.
