Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - Concerns were expressed at Monday's Tippecanoe Valley School Board meeting over the athletic policy at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School.
The school has a no-cut policy for all sports except volleyball and basketball. Athletic director Jeff France said the program is showing vast improvements over last year.
Eighteen players who try out for basketball in seventh and eighth grades will make the teams, with 20 on the sixth-grade team. For those who don't survive the cut, an intramural program is in place on Saturdays. France said skills are being taught in these sessions, not just barnyard ball.
However, board president Diana Yarian said when the middle school was formed, it was with the premise that a no-cut policy would be in place for all sports.
"Our concern then was to not close the door on a lot of kids," said Yarian. "One major problem people had with consolidating Akron and Mentone schools was that it would cut down on the teams, allowing only half the number of kids to play."
France said most schools use the A and B team approach. He said 18 was chosen as the ideal number to allow three players at each of the six baskets during practice. France worked with TVHS varsity coaches, developing the program to coordinate with the one at the high school.
Discussing curriculum at the high school, principal Charles Mills said the Indiana Department of Education is mandating that all schools adopt the new industrial technology curriculum by 2000, phasing out industrial arts courses.
Most of the courses at the high school were organized under the older industrial arts curriculum, including metals I and II, graphics arts, small engines, auto engines and electronics. These courses are narrower in focus, hands-on and involve developing a higher skill level.
Mills said under the new curriculum, Valley students would no longer graduate with the ability to weld or repair small engines or automobiles - skills held in high regard by many area businesses.
The board agreed to pursue vocational licensing to keep these courses in addition to the industrial technology. Mills will present more information on costs at a future meeting.
Superintendent Karen Boling commended Akron principal Brett Boggs for his work in obtaining a grant from Dekko Foundation for $20,000 and $1,875 from Indiana Schools Academic Program to support a restructuring effort to implement Project Child.
In other business, the board:
• Received a report from Boling that the state tax commissioners were unable to certify tax rates because of a descrepancy between Kosciusko and Fulton counties on assessed valuations.
• Accepted a bid of $35,878 for expansion of the Dynacom System at TVHS. Infotech will expand the system into 10 more rooms during Christmas break. Media director Ed Lamar said the cost for installing the system in the same number of rooms last year was $42,000.
• Approved hiring Mike Bennett as Winter Guard instructor.
The next regular board meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20.
