AKRON – During the Tippecanoe Valley School Board meeting Monday night, the board heard about IREAD-3 results for 2012-13, projected enrollment for 2013-14 and new athletic scoreboards. A few months ago, Superintendent Brett Boggs told the board, Akron Elementary Principal Chrissy Mills reported on how Valley fared on the IREAD-3 after the first round of testing. Third-graders who don’t pass the state test in the spring have an opportunity to retake the test in summer. If a third-grader does not pass the test the second time, they may be held back from advancing to fourth grade. Last night, Boggs provided the board with the IREAD-3 results after the summer testing. At Akron Elementary, 54 of 67 third-graders (81 percent) passed without exemptions in the spring. After the summer testing, 64 of 67 students (96 percent) passed without exemptions. With exemptions, 100 percent of Akron’s third-graders passed after the summer testing. Exemptions include a student who has previously been retained two times prior to fourth grade; students with disabilities whose case conference committee has determined that promotion is appropriate; and English Learner students whose “Individual Learning Plan” committee has determined that promotion is appropriate. Every student that took the summer IREAD-3 at Akron improved their score. One student earned a perfect score of 650. At Mentone Elementary, 64 of 74 third-graders (86 percent) passed without exemptions in the spring. After the summer testing, 72 of 74 students (97 percent) passed without exemptions. With exemptions, 100 percent of Mentone’s third-graders passed. “I want to commend our principals, the folks who worked with these students, to get them to where they needed to be,” Boggs stated. Later in the meeting, Boggs reported on elementary school student enrollment and class size projections. He said the enrollment projection for the 2013-14 school year is based on the April enrollment at both schools. In first through third grade at both elementaries, the class sizes are projected to be between 19 to 23 students. Boggs said that’s an “excellent” class size. He thanked the board for allowing him to add a teacher at Mentone Elementary for a fourth third-grade class to keep all class sizes at 21 students. The largest class sizes will be in fourth and fifth grades at Mentone. All classes are projected to be about 26 students, with one fifth-grade class at 27 students. The projected enrollment at Akron includes 64 first-graders; 59 second-graders; 67 third-graders; 67 fourth-graders; and 61 fifth-graders. At Mentone, the projected enrollment includes 81 first-graders; 78 second-graders; 84 third-graders; 78 fourth-graders; and 79 fifth-graders. Boggs concluded by stating Valley would like to see more students enrolled at Tippecanoe Valley schools. He then reported on several new scoreboards installed on the high school and middle school campus. There is a new 25-second play clock at each end of the field. The softball and baseball fields have new scoreboards. The varsity gym has an upgrade over the previous scoreboard. “The scoreboards feature wireless technology and LED lighting,” Boggs stated. The scoreboard removed from the softball field was donated to the Mentone Youth League, while the scoreboard removed from the baseball field was donated to the Akron Youth League. The remaining scoreboards will be sold through an online auction. The current football field and track lighting that has been present since TVHS originated in 1975 is being replaced this summer. The new lighting will feature four 70-foot poles, each with a poletop assembly of 11 lamps. The poles consist of a precast concrete base with a galvanized steel pole. The new lights include a 25-year product assurance and warranty program. New power feeds to the poles are being installed. The poles, fixtures and control panel are manufactured by MUSCO Lighting. Demolition of the existing poles and lights, and installation of the new poles and lights, will be completed by Michiana Contracting of Plymouth. Michiana Contracting also has completed the soil borings, which are being used by a structural engineer to design the base for the poles. The construction phase of the project is set to begin next week, with the project to be completed by Aug. 9. The Akron and Mentone youth leagues have indicated an interest in the used lighting once it has been removed. “We are willing to split the lights between the two,” Boggs said. Reporting on the wind turbine, Boggs said it currently is not operating as a result of damage from a lightning storm. Valley is working with SUREnergy, the company that maintains the wind turbine, to determine the repairs necessary. “That’s all I can tell you right now,” Boggs said. Tom Craft, board member, asked if this happened last year, too. Boggs replied there were a few issues last year that kept the turbine from working.
