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PIERCETON - Having at one point to stop talking because of tears, South Whitley Elementary PTO president Valerie Warner gave an emotional plea to the Whitko School Board Monday.
Her plea was for the board to consider relocating the alternative learning classroom for high school students out of the elementary school. She said she understands it is an academic program, not necessarily a disciplinary program, but typical high school behavior is not appropriate for an elementary school.
The PTO discussed the matter at its 3:15 p.m. meeting Monday with Superintendent Dr. William Worl and board members, but, Warner said, she also wanted to get the issue into the school board's meeting minutes. The major concern, she said, is not of the program as a whole, but the location is wrong.
"I don't think normal high school behavior is (acceptable) for an elementary," she said. When she sends her child to school, she said, she wants to trust nothing will happen, big or small, because of the students there.
Another reason the program needs relocated, she said, is because South Whitley needs the classroom space.
Board president Hal Trump told Warner they haven't forgotten about the concerns and they will take them under advisement.
Besides board communications from schools' PTOs or PTAs, the board also often hears from student groups at the beginning of their meetings.
Monday was no different as FFA adviser Roger Carr recognized the judging teams and students who received awards at the 2002 National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky.
The Whitko dairy judging team, coached by David Metzger, placed fifth. Team members include Matt Metzger, Chase and Kody Hand and Adam Haegert. Matt Metzger placed eighth overall and received a $500 scholarship.
The Whitko livestock judging team, coached by Carr, placed sixth in the nation. Team members are Eric Camden, Jeremiah Geiger and Lisa Wilkinson. Camden placed third overall and received a $750 scholarship.
All of the students received gold emblem rankings. Mindy Kessie earned a silver emblem ranking for creed speaking.
Carr said, as a coach, he had three goals for the competition. First, he said, the night before the contest, the group thought they could win and "I think we accomplished that." Secondly, on the way home, the goal was to not think about what they should have done but just be happy with how they did, and they achieved that. Third, he said, he hoped down the road, the group would realize how much time and effort they put in the competion was worth it.
"These young people put a lot of time and effort into it," Carr said. He said it is hard to find students who want to make the commitment that is required of FFA.
"It's just super news," said board president Hal Trump after the presentation.
Also recognized was the WHS cheer team for placing fifth at the State Cheerteam Competition at New Castle Nov. 9. The team qualified for state competition at the North Regional at Bishop Dwenger High School Nov. 2.
In other business, the Whitko School Board:
• Heard from Worl the Indiana Bond Bank approved on Nov. 12 a resolution to issue the 2002 School Severance Financing Bonds for 20 school corporations, including Whitko, totaling $71 million. The bonds are planned to be marketed on Dec. 16. Whitko's amount is $1.82 million.
Worl said the money will be "used exclusively for the retirement and severance responsibility of the school corporation."
The board approved the Indiana Bond Bank resolution as presented, authorizing temporary loans to meet the current running expenses in the corporation's various funds.
• Heard from Dr. Diana Showalter, director of curriculum, that the Indiana Department of Education has notified the school corporation that Pierceton and South Whitley elementary schools were selected to participate in the 2002 National Assessment of Educational Progress. This assessment is mandated and will be administered to fourth-grade students in February.
• Approved the advertisement for bids for a roof project at Pierceton Elementary School.
• Congratulated Showalter on earning and receiving her doctorate.
• Approved the employment of Lance Hershberger as the Whitko High School head varsity baseball coach; Janna Grose as the girls freshman basketball coach at WHS; and Kristy Miller as the girls assistant varsity basketball coach at WHS; all effective Nov. 4.
• Approved the waiver of tuition for a WHS student.
• Approved the receipt of grant monies of $1,800 from the Dekko Foundation for a Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra concert and $635.99 for a "Wake Up to Music" program at SWES.
• Approved a resolution to establish a direct deposit agreement with Teachers' Credit Union.
