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EdCom Expo is scheduled for March 27, and several second-graders from Washington Elementary were at Monday's school board meeting to demonstrate what EdCom Expo is all about.
The students gave a polished performance on explorers Lewis and Clark and demonstrated a keel boat, like those used by Lewis and Clark, by pulling board member Larry Chamberlain and business manager Rande Thorpe in a cardboard boat across the room.
Dick and Nancy Rooker, who organize EdCom, told the board that EdCom demonstrates in-depth learning by all grades, with student presentations of projects and research.
In other business, the board:
• Approved the 2004-05 school calendar. Students' first day will be Aug. 19, with Christmas break from Dec. 20 to Jan. 3, spring break from April 4 to 11 and the last day of school June 3.
• Approved the purchase of five 66-passenger buses, including one with a handicap lift, for a total of $551,396. Kerlin Bus Sales had the winning bid, over Midwest Transit Equipment ($560,281) and Wise Bus Sales ($592,972).
• Heard from McGuire that enrollment in all schools is at a total of 6,476 students, up 58 from the same time last year.
• Heard from patron Martha Ames, who objected to a fund-raising project by the Warsaw Community High School Athletic Department.
Ames said the athletes sell subscriptions to ESPN magazine to raise money for their teams. However, she showed some of the magazines to the board and said she finds some of the content, including near-nudity and foul language, offensive, especially in a school-sponsored activity.
Chamberlain, after viewing the magazines, said, "I find some of the pictures and some of that copy offensive and especially offensive to young adults. If I had a high-schooler in my home I would object to his reading this. ... To use this magazine as a fund-raiser among student athletes, I find that to be highly offensive."
Superintendent Dr. Dave McGuire said he would convey the board's concerns to athletic director Dave Fulkerson.
• Heard from McGuire that the administration has received the ISTEP scores for fourth- and fifth-graders, but "we haven't been able to make sense of them." He said the scores are pass-fail only and he is trying to get more information.
