Valley Parents Express Concern Over Chemistry, Math
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Kathy Cone-kcone@timesuniononline.com
MENTONE – Tippecanoe Valley School Board heard from a handful of people Tuesday night who had concerns about the high school’s limited chemistry and math classes. Patron Chris Morehouse started the conversation by telling the board that the school had only one chemistry class, making students who need that class for college take it in summer school. She continued saying that her son was in a study hall, because of the lack of another chemistry class, which had 50 to 60 students in it. “Should this be a red flag?” she asked them. Morehouse continued, “My son should not be forced to take a study hall every year. He has to take summer school just to get the credits he needs.” She said that the one chemistry class offered conflicted with Project Lead the Way that he also needed for a technical honors diploma. Board member Rod Eaton told Morehouse that he was very glad to see her at the board meetings, but wanted to know why she never contacted him outside of the meetings. “I’m happy you’re here, but you’ve never voiced your opinion to me,” he said. Morehouse said she follows the chain of command when she has a problem, and does not think it’s her responsibility to seek him out. Without mentioning the class or the teacher, other parents referred to a dual-credit course that was very difficult for students and caused their grade point averages to suffer. Patron Todd Hoffman said his family had issues with that class, and has talked to administrators about it. The general consensus was that the high school should offer a regular trigonometry/pre-calculus course in addition to the dual credit course. The board said they would look into it. This discussion led into a presentation by instructional coaches Kristen Horrell, Inga Omondi and Patti Newman on Indiana’s new standards and how the Tippecanoe Valley system was preparing for them. Horrell explained that since Indiana rejected Common Core, it came up with its own set of standards that will now require the schools to use two sets of measurements: one will test students individual progress, and the other will evaluate the schools. She said that students would continue being tested with the Indiana Statewide Testing for Individual Progress exam. In other business, the board: • Heard that 1,963 students corporation-wide were counted Sept. 12. Akron Elementary had 388; Mentone Elementary, 455; middle school, 461; and high school, 659. • Approved changing a teacher day on the calendar from Jan. 5 to Oct. 27 so that they can work on the new standards. Students will return to school Jan. 5. • Adopted the 2015 budget and a resolution to reduce appropriations. • Approved the hiring of Paula Foltz, bus driver; Amanda Smith, instructional assistant, Akron Elementary; Alexis Wise, instruction assistant, TVHS; Tricia johnson, instructional assistant, Mentone Elementary; Jayme Hargrove, nurse, Mentone. • Approved these assignments: Buddy Busby, head swim coach, TVHS; Valerie Drudge, assistant swim coach, TVHS; Andres Rudicel, fifth-grade girls volleyball, Akron; Kayla Rassi, athletic director, Akron; Pam Smith and Karissa Cody, Spell Bowl, Mentone; Chelsea Hoffman, eighth-grade volleyball B-team, TVMS; Janie Shriver, seventh-grade volleyball B-team, TVMS. • Accepted resignations from Christina Short, cook, TVHS; Shannon McSherry, instructional assistant, Mentone; Becky Gearhart, bus driver, TVSC; Carolyn Kirchenstien, nurse, Mentone; Sally Ocock, assistant girls tennis coach, TVHS; Kyleigh Gast, fifth-grade volleyball coach, Akron; Gene Hughes, athletic director, Akron; Tom Alexander, assistant swim coach, TVHS; and Robert Hinkle, sixth-grade girls basketball coach, TVMS. • Approved a high school student council overnight trip to Indianapolis; an FFA overnight trip to the FFA national convention in Louisville, Ky.; a proposal for fall driver education session; a contract with Beaver Dam Preschool; individual classified personnel salaries; and contracts with Area Five for Head Start classroom at Akron elementary. • Were informed that activities for homecoming week at the high school include Camo-Duck Dynasty Day; Barnyard Bonanza Thursday with a bonfire after the volleyball game; and Class T-Shirt Day Friday.
