BOURBON - Triton School Board accepted the retirement of Superintendent Ted Chittum and fourth-grade teacher Richard A. Rodrick Monday.
Resident Steve Feldman wanted to "publicly thank Ted for his nine years of dedicated service in the Triton school corporation," adding that he "has always put the children first, and will be greatly missed."The board approved several other personnel changes, including: the non-renewal of James Radican as physical education/social studies teacher; re-hiring of Josh Van Houten for the 2008-09 school year as elementary school social worker/administrative assistant; resignations of Jim Bates as substitute bus driver; Adam Heckaman as junior varsity girls basketball and junior high cross-country coach; and Myron Bontrager as the junior-senior Spanish teacher.
The following recommendations for hire were also approved: Principal Mike Chobanov to act as interim superintendent for June; Susie Mullin, Cara Sieber, Jill Finley, Christine Cook, PJ Watkins and Linda Bowdler as Summer Reading First teachers; Becky Hooley, Pat Shearer, Denise Schafer as instructional assistants for the Reading First summer program; Sam Davis, Curt Kreft, and Glenn Weidner as summer driver education instructors; Adam Heckaman as the girls varsity basketball coach; and Terrin Meister as varsity volleyball coach.
The 2008-2009 student handbook was adopted with a few minor changes to the current handbook.
The Elementary School Language Arts Adoption Committee recommended the continued use of the Harcourt Language Series for K-5, and Houghton Mifflin Series for grade 6. Both series have been in use since 2002.
The 2008-2009 school calendar was accepted with the biggest change being 2009 commencement scheduled for May 31. In years past, commencement was held on Sundays. This way there will be no scheduling conflict for the boys and girls participating in the Indiana state track meet, which has created an interference in the past.
The board approved the science club field trip to the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago May 29. The cost is $5.50 per student.
The Global Final Destination Imagination Team is to compete in the Knoxville, Tenn., competition May 20-25. Cost for this event is $200 per student.
Mike Chobanov informed the board that Robert Ross has completed the Indiana Principal's Academy after two years.
