Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
BOURBON - Triton School Board members toured the elementary and junior-senior high school during their bi-monthly meeting Monday.
The tour began at the elementary school as Richard Anders, the head of maintenance at Triton Elementary, discussed a condensing unit problem in the school's cafeteria. The problem stems from a design flaw in the system and will cost $6,700 to fix.
Anders said Herman and Getz Services, an engineering firm out of Elkhart, is fixing the problem.
Despite the problem, the system is still operable and students continue to use the cafeteria.
After a tour of several classrooms in the elementary school, the board moved to the high school where they toured the renovated auditorium.
A brand new sound system and lighting system highlighted the changes at the auditorium. The school is still awaiting a new curtain for the stage, which Triton Superintendent Ted Chittum said should arrive within the next month.
The project to overhaul the auditorium began after school let out last June. That, along with a new track at the football field and the repaving of the tennis courts, were the only other projects that occurred at the high school.
The board also discussed the issue of fundraisers for the 2005-2006 school year. Larry Lemler asked why Destination Imagination had nine requests for fundraisers and voiced concern that those fundraisers might cut into other clubs' fundraisers.
Triton Elementary Principal Thomas Bowers explained the reason for nine requests was that all requests for fundraisers must be made in advance and that last year Destination Imagination didn't have as many fundraisers as they requested due to staffing issues but wanted to make sure they had enough requests to deal with that problem.
Chittum said that not all fundraisers involve going to door to door or direct sales. He brought up things such as programs at local restaurants where the restaurant gives back a percentage of sales from a certain night.
Board member Debbie Shively said she was more concerned with the same fundraisers for different groups being scheduled on top of each other.
The board decided to approve the fundraisers for this year and will discuss the issue next year.
In other business, the school board:
• Chittum recommended and the board approved a leave of absence for Jayne Deaton from Aug. 2 to Oct. 2, the hiring of Brent Rutherford as junior high assistant football coach and Holly Davis as freshmen cheerleading sponsor.
• Approved the positions of lay coaches and sponsors.
• Accepted the resignation of Jim Shively as fifth-grade boys basketball coach.
• Chittum presented Bowers and Triton Jr.-Sr. High School Principal Ted Chobanov with certificates of accreditation from the state.
• Reviewed school-closing procedures. Triton had a two-hour delay on its first day of school.
• Signed a contract with Med Bill Corp., which deals with special needs student in the corporation.
• Bowers and Chobanov both gave reports stating that their respective schools are off to a good start with no problems.
The board normally meets the second and fourth Monday of every month. Due to budget meetings, the dates of September meetings are scheduled for Sept. 6 and 19.
Members of the Triton school board are president Steve Blackford, Kris Glingle, Larry Lemler, Dick Trowbridge and Debbie Shively.
