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NORTH MANCHESTER - If a pilot program at Wabash Community Schools works, Manchester Community Schools soon may have an alternative to expelling students for disciplinary problems.
Tuesday night at the regular meeting, the Manchester Community School Board of Trustees heard a presentation from representatives of Wabash Community Schools about the Success For All Learning Academy.
The program, designed and implemented by officials in Wabash this year, provides an alternative to expelling students that still separates the students from the general population.
The Success For All Learning Academy requires students serve 120 hours of community service, attend counseling sessions provided by the school and Bowen Center, attend classes at the academy and have no disciplinary referrals during their time at the academy. If participants complete all requirements of the academy, the expulsion is erased from their record.
The Wabash officials told the Manchester Community School Board that they hope the program helps them increase the school's graduation rate.
In other business, the board:
• Heard an update on the beginning of ISTEP testing from Manchester Elementary School Principal Bonnie Ingraham. She told the board that after the first day of testing Monday fourth grade teachers said students were focused, worked consistently and stayed busy during the testing. The tests will continue for 21 more days.
• Approved hiring Michelle Smith, Manchester Junior/Senior High School educational assistant; Angilee Beery, volleyball coach at Laketon Elementary School; Michael Spaulding, Manchester Junior High School musical assistant director; Brenda Self, Junior High yearbook advisor; Diana Nettleton, half-time special education teacher at LES; and Jenny Howard, full time special education teacher at LES.
• Approved professional leave requests for M.A. Hire to attend the 2006 Indiana School Nurses Conference in Indianapolis Oct. 17-19; and Jabin Burnworth to attend the Healthy Foods Local Farms Conference in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 28.
• Approved Sunday field trip requests for Dave McKee, varsity boys soccer coach, to attend High School Soccer Day at Indiana University Sunday; and Marilyn Mason to take the cast of Fiddler On The Roof to see a production of Fiddler On The Roof at the Roundbarn Theatre in Nappanee Oct. 1.
Manchester school board members are Sally Krouse, president, Todd Speicher, Jan Fahs, Kent Terrill, Brian Schilling, Steve Lambert and Steve Flack. Superintendent is Dr. Diana Showalter.
