Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - An experiment by Tippecanoe Valley school board member Rod Eaton Monday showed patrons and other board members the importance of reading. Eaton distributed slips of paper with symbols to audience and board members to demonstrate the importance of reading.
"I'm really concerned about the Reading Recovery program. We have got to come up with the money somewhere," said Eaton. "There is a lot of kids struggling and they need help. Our help is money. I see lots of trivial things that could be cut.
"I'm scared to death that kids can't alphabetize. It's not my kids but it's somebody's kids. We're the ones that make the policy. I challenge Karen (Boling). I don't care where you get the money but I want the money."
Reading Recovery is an intensive program that uses a one-on-one approach to help students who are reading behind the level of their peers.
School superintendent Dr. Karen Boling told Eaton that the biggest concern for the program was the money. "Schools do not have Reading Recovery because it is so expensive. Teachers do want to do Reading Recovery but they have to be sponsored by a school."
Burket principal Karen Shelley said, "We are doing so well for the size of the corporation. There are bigger cities such as Fort Wayne that are not even in a compatible situation as we are."
Eaton said, "I don't want to compare with other schools. We've got to do something. I don't know what to tell second- and third-grade teachers when they say that several kids are falling behind."
Also discussed was the possibility of accepting a snow removal contract. In the past the corporation called O Henry Backhoe Service to remove snow at the Akron, middle and high schools when the snow was 2 inches deep or more.
Board member Mark Wise said he didn't feel the need to hire someone unless the need was there. He said he didn't have a problem with signing a contract but would be disappointed if calls were put out too often.
A motion was approved that no contract be accepted and that each school principal use his or her own discretion.
The board also:
• Approved the 1999 salary of Doug Bowyer, a technology associate, and the hiring of Jim Ramsey as part-time custodian at the middle school.
• Approved the appointments of Roy Anderson and Marjorie Sanders to the Bell Memorial Public Library board of trustees.
• Approved the Head Start contract at Akron and an Indiana School Academic Improvement Program Grant for $1,800.
• Accepted was the resignation of 22-year bus driver Don Kuhn.
