Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester School Board passed the 2002 budget Tuesday with a unanimous vote.
The budget totals $13,851,956.
The adoption passed despite Charles Signs' objections.
Signs reminded the board of the current stock situation since Monday's New York Stock Exchange reopening. He said the market was not doing well and offered his opinion to halt the capital projects fund for at least a year.
"I see no emergency why that gymnasium needs to be touched," said Signs, referring to the proposed renovations to the high school gym.
Signs mentioned with America's likelihood of military action in reaction to terrorist attacks in New York and Washington on Sept. 11, the government aid would not be as readily available.
Assistant superintendent and acting superintendent Kim Thurston said the gymnasium has not been touched since the 1960s.
Following Signs' comments, board president Sally Krouse thanked him and the board passed the budget.
The school board will present the architect's improvement plans on Oct. 2 and the adoption hearing will be held Oct. 16.
In other business, the school board:
• Heard complaints from three parents about a sixth-grade book, "The Great Gods," which is about Greek mythology.
"This is garbage. We shouldn't teach our children this," said Vicky O'Brien holding the book toward the board. O'Brien has five children in Manchester Schools, three in the sixth grade.
She read two excerpts from "The Great Gods" saying that they depicted rape and suicide.
"That's disgusting," said O'Brien when she finished reading the passages.
Tim Baker agreed, saying the book was "inappropriate." He said Greek mythology was on the ISTEP test, and, instead of having his children read this book, he would rather teach them about mythology to pass the test.
Paula Lewis agreed with O'Brien and Baker.
Thurston handed out policy packets to the parents that showed the proper procedure for taking care of parent concerns.
"The Great Gods" has been in the classroom since 1994. Tuesday's complaints are the first for the book.
The Web address for a complete list of the Manchester Community School Board's policies is www.neola.com/manchester-in/policies_toc.htm
• Adopted the statewide Internet policies and computer and privacy technology that are to be adopted by all public school corporations across the state.
Manchester Community Schools Board of Trustees includes: president Sally Krouse, vice president Virginia Gunter, secretary Larry Miller, acting superintendent Kim Thurston, principal Nancy Alspaugh, Todd Speicher, Brad Perrott, Kevin Trickle and Thom Frantz.
