Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - The task of finding substitute teachers will no longer cause headaches for clerical and administrative staff at Manchester Community Schools.
By a 5-1 vote Tuesday night, the Manchester School Board approved a motion to use the services of Region 8 Substitute Service to find coverage for teachers who miss a day of school. The service costs $7,200 for one year.
Region 8 Substitute Service uses a large database to fill available substitute positions, taking the chore away from secretaries, principals and other administrators. Manchester's current substitute teacher list will be given to the service and then they given first choice for any Manchester jobs.
"I think this is in the best interest of the school corporation," said superintendent Diana Showalter. "(We can) give it a shot this year and see how it works out."
"It's worth a try for a year," said board member Carlye McLaughlin.
Although he felt $7,200 was a lot of money, Todd Speicher said, "I'm willing to try it for a year."
The service has a 98 to 99 percent fill rate on most days, and all substitute teachers are screened by Region 8. All members of the service are required to go through a one-day training orientation and must be licensed.
Brian Schilling voted against the motion.
In other business, the board:
• Adopted the 2006 budget, which totals $9,643,550. The board also adopted the 2006-2008 capital projects fund, the 2006-2015 bus replacement fund, a budget reduction authority resolution and a tax neutrality resolution.
• Approved professional leave requests for Jane Bellinger to attend Autism Team Training in Bloomington Oct. 11-12, Nov. 3-4 and March 9-10; Christine FIsher, Kim Meyer and Marcheta Tate to attend the 15th Annual Illinois Reading Recovery Institute in Chicago Jan. 18; Bobbi Lautzenheiser to attend the AHPERD State Conference in Indianapolis Nov. 9-11.
• Accepted the donation of a wheelchair to Manchester High School from Cruizin Illusions Car Club. The new chair will replace an older one that is no longer usable because parts ar no longer available.
• Accepted two $1,000 grants from the Community Foundation of Wabash County - one for Pioneer Day at Manchester Elementary and the other for swim lessons for MES fourth graders at the Manchester Community Pool.
• Accepted the resignation of Andrew Tharp as head freshman boys basketball coach at Manchester High School.
• Approved the hiring of Lisa Williams, instructional assistant at MES and Rex Reimer as volunteer assistant boys basketball coach at MHS.
Manchester school board members are Sally Krouse, president, Thom Frantz, Kent Terrill, Speicher, Schilling, McLaughlin and Steve Flack. Superintendent is Diana Showalter. Frantz was absent Tuesday evening.
