Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
PIERCETON - Tim Sammons, Pierceton's town marshal, and Mark Hodges, an Indiana State Police trooper, were tricked into attending the Whitko School Corp. meeting Monday.
Sammons believed he would be speaking about bullies in school. Hodges was prepared to talk about methamphetamine.
Instead, both men were named a 2006 Friends of Education by Board President Hal Trump.
The lawmen expressed their appreciation for the honor, each saying it was a privilege to serve in the schools.
The board also:
• Approved a resolution to appropriate $4.4 million toward construction of additions at the Whitko High School, South Whitley.
• Approved the Lee Co., Terre Haute, the fixed equipment bid for $231,188.
• Welcomed school board member-elect Deb Collier, who will replace E. Marie Trump July 1. Trump, who has served three terms, did not run for re-election.
Pete Mitchell was re-elected to his seat.
• Heard bonds for the upcoming high school renovation sold with an interest rate of 4.43 percent and will add 0.1586 cents to the tax levy. Costs are lower than anticipated, according to Director of Finance Phil Menzie. The corporation will close on the bonds May 30.
• Approved personnel items: Katy Stewart resigned as Whitko High School resource teacher at the end of the school year; Jan Ressler terminated as a lunch clerk at Pierceton Elementary School, effective May 8; and Tara Brandon resigned as student council sponsor effective at the end of the school year.
Also, Dana Sellers was hired as a Pierceton Elementary School Title 1 assistant; Jim Bumbaugh for an extended bus route; Sandy Grube hired as a Whitko Middle School cook; and Chris Garber approved as a volunteer mini-bus driver for a PES field trip June 2.
• Heard a final reading of the wellness policy would be held during the June board meeting.
• Adopted textbooks for the 2006-2007 school year.
• Approved the mandatory testing schedule for next year.
• Approved grants of $500 from the South Whitley Community Foundation, $700 from HANDS of Whitley County Foundation for Walter Malicki's summer art program, $12,000 from the DEKKO Foundation and $12,000 from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for media center technology.
Whitko School Board members are Hal Trump, E. Marie Trump, Dave Tranter, Mike Braddock and Pete Mitchell.
