Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - Reduction in force remains one of the main topics of discussion for the Manchester Community School Board of Trustees.
"The list continues to decline," said superintendent Diana Showalter.
Tuesday evening, the board learned that the RIF list now stands at eight, down from nine two weeks ago.
The school board will have to vote on the list April 18, but Showalter hopes the list is down to two or three by that date.
According to Showalter, two unknown factors currently are affecting the list: kindergarten enrollment and scheduling at the junior high and high school levels.
After kindergarten roundup, the school will have a better idea of how many students will attend in the fall. Showalter said preliminary numbers look "much much lower" than last year, but nothing will be final until classes begin in August.
Schedules at the junior/senior high school levels will be finalized the last week in April.
Work currently is being done to restructure classes to fit as many teachers in as possible.
"Without a doubt, at least two people will be on the (RIF) list April 18," said Showalter.
In other business the board:
• Accepted the resignation of Jane Ann Airgood, paraprofessional at Manchester Community Schools. Airgood has been with Manchester schools for 24 years. The resignation takes effect May 25.
• Hired Jennifer Metzger as volunteer assistant softball coach at Manchester High School.
• Approved minutes from the March 7 regular meeting, prepaid school lunch claims from Feb. 28, regular school lunch claims from March 21, prepaid claims from Feb. 28 and prepaid and regular claims from March 21.
• Approved professional leave requests for Ryan Good to attend the Single Wing Conclave March 2-5 in Pennsylvania and Randy Self to attend School Safety Specialists Conference April 18-19.
• Approved requests for Sunday activities for Terry McKee for a Sunday performance of the MHS band with the Manchester College wind ensemble May 7 at Cordier Auditorium on the college campus; Jim Myer for after prom activities May 21 from 1 to 4 a.m.; and Mark Spalding, French teacher at MHS, to take French II students to Fort Wayne to interact with other French students on Sundays.
• Accepted a Title II D Enhancing Education Through Technology Grant for $2,968 from the Indiana Department of education.
Manchester school board members present were Sally Krouse, president, Todd Speicher, Jan Fahs, Brian Schilling, Carlye McLaughlin and Steve Flack. Kent Terrill was absent. Superintendent is Diana Showalter.
