Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - Parents of students in grades kindergarten through sixth grade will see a positive change in book rental fees for the 2006-07 school year.
The prices are lower than last year.
"We are happy to be able to do that for parents," said Superintendent Dr. Diana Showalter. "Most of the fees have gone down."
The rental fees are as follows: kindergarten, $65.25; first, $91.25; second, $96.25; third, $109; fourth, $86.50; fifth, $102,25; and sixth, $99.75.
Later in the meeting the school board approved changes to the handbooks for each school in the corporation.
At Manchester Junior/Senior High School, the most significant change in the handbook related to students at the junior-high level.
"It's time we put some teeth in junior high," said Manchester Junior/Senior High School Principal Nancy Alspaugh. She said many students feel that "it doesn't count until you get into high school."
In order to encourage students to take junior-high studies seriously, a plan will be implemented beginning in the 2007-08 school year. Students who do not successfully complete at least two of the three trimesters of language arts and math, and at least one of the two trimesters of science and social studies, will be allowed to advance to the ninth grade but will be required to retake the class at the junior high school until they pass it.
"Teachers are aware (of the plan), (and I) got very favorable responses from them," said Alspaugh.
At Laketon Elementary School, the "catch-up room" was added to the handbook. According to LES Principal Bill Reichhart, students who do not complete homework must spend their lunch period and recess in the catch-up room working on homework. The school already uses the catch-up room, but it was not in the handbook until now.
At Manchester Elementary School, students are not supposed to take "distracting and expensive toys" such as cellular telephones or portable electronic devices to school. Any student who takes such an item to school and use them inappropriately will have them taken away. Parents will be asked to pick up the item at the school.
In other business, the board:
• Heard a presentation on the Guided Reading Accelerates Student Progress program. The GRASP program helps improve reading skills by encouraging them to read at their own level and improve their skills by repetitive reading.
• Heard a presentation about the Reading Recovery program. The program, now in its 10th year at Manchester Elementary School, helps students improve reading skills with one-on-one work with teachers and paraprofessionals.
• Accepted a $400 donation from the Rotary Club for the fluoride program.
• Approved the new facilities rental agreement and a code of ethics for board members.
• Hired Jack Fisher, technology assistant at MES; Carrie Clothier, girls varsity soccer coach; Priscilla Metzger, elementary counselor for MES and LES; Kathy Hawkins and Patty Good, kindergarten Jump Start teachers; Kathy Domenico, Tina Hill and Rebecca Ramer, second-grade Jump Start teachers; Becky Cook and Randy Myers, second-grade Jump Start teachers; and Melissa Curless and Joyce Eberly, third-grade Jump Start teachers.
• Accepted the resignation of Mark Heiden, teacher.
• Approved maternity leave for Janelle McLaughlin from Aug. 14 to Jan. 2.
• Approved an overnight field trip request for the publications staff members to attend the Midwest Yearbook Workshop June 19-20 at Notre Dame.
• Approved professional leave requests for Nancy Alspaugh to attend the IHSAA Board of Directors summer meeting June 21-22 in Indianapolis and the National Federation of High School Sports Conference June 26-30 in Orlando, Fla.; Dave Harms and Randy Self to attend the IBH Drug Testing Study Conference June 26 in Washington, D.C.; Showalter to attend the Phoenix Leadership Seminar June 20-23 in Scottsdale, Ariz.; Kevin Walter to attend the National Council of Teachers of English National Conference Nov. 16-19 in Nashville, Tenn.; and Jason Helsing to attend Power University July 9-13 in Chicago, Ill.
