MINUTES OF A MEETING

                                                                    HELD

                                                         JANUARY 14, 2004

                                                                             

 

 

The Board of Trustees of the Oak Hill United School Corporation met in the Administration Office of the Oak Hill United School Corporation on Wednesday, January 14, 2004.    Board members present were:  Dana Biggs, Scott Dubois,  Mark A. Johnson, Brian Middlesworth, Toby Middlesworth, Dennis Messersmith and Kevin Pearson.  Also present were Superintendent James W. Smith, Business Manager Jill Morphew, Harold King, Terry Renbarger, Charles Shroyer, Jean Shonkwiler, and Recording Secretary Libby Medley.  Representing the news media was Donna Burchick of the Oak Hill Times, Tiffany Winters of the Peru Tribune, and Mike Duncan of WBAT.  Also present was Maria Huntley, Jim Huntley, Susan Smith, Cyndi Shoultz, Angie Nally, Jon Clark, Bev Sheline, Jenny Horner, Teresa Shafer, Tom Rademaker, Beth Clock, Lynn Calloway, Tim Calloway, Ann Larrison, Don Larrison, Ruth Davies, Rheta Eversman, Tom Huber, Bev Brauchler, Linda Zappone, Leisa Drook, Gwen Fuhrman, Teresa Hovermale, Janice Martin, and Raymond Martin.

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER

Mr. Messersmith, Board President, called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

2.         PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

            Mr. Messersmith opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

3.         MINUTES APPROVED

The minutes of the regular meeting and executive session of December 10, 2003 were approved as presented.

4.         PERSONNEL

            Mr. Smith made the following personnel recommendations for Board consideration:

NAME

BUILDING

POSITION

ACTION

Cheryl Schlemmer

Converse Elementary

Instructional Assistant

Resignation

Russ Lutes

Oak Hill Junior High

Track Coach

Resignation

 

Steve Fagan

 

Swayzee Elementary

 

Grade 6 Science Teacher

Appointment

(Temporary Contract)

 

Toby Middlesworth moved to approve all personnel recommendations as presented.  Dana Biggs seconded the motion and it carried 7 ayes and 0 nays.

5.         CONTINUING BUSINESS

            A.        Permission to Advertise Public Hearing to Revise 2004 Bus Replacement Plan Approved

                        Mrs. Morphew requested Board consideration to approve permission to advertise a public hearing to revise the 2004 Bus Replacement Plan.   In the original Bus Replacement Plan, three vehicles were to be traded in and replaced with 3 new units.  Because of our need to have a second spare bus, only two vehicles will be traded in and with this change a public hearing on the revised Bus Replacement Plan is necessary.  Brian Middlesworth moved to approve permission to advertise a public hearing to revise the 2004 Bus Replacement Plan.  Kevin Pearson seconded the motion and it carried 7 ayes and 0 nays.

6.         NEW BUSINESS

            A.        Resolution Regarding Federal Child Nutrition Programs Approved

Mr. Smith recommended that the Board approve a resolution suggested by the Indiana Dietary Mangers Association, urging Congress to eliminate the category of “reduced” lunch and include those students normally in that category as “free” lunch students.  This would eliminate placing families in difficult financial difficulties who cannot afford the reduced lunch price as well as create more income for the lunch program with government subsidies.   Dana Biggs moved to approve the resolution regarding Federal Child Nutrition Programs as presented.  Brian Middlesworth seconded the motion and it carried 7 ayes and 0 nays.

7.         CELEBRATIONS

          Building/Administrator

Event

Oak Hill High School

Jean Shonkwiler, Principal

·        The Speech Team did very well in their last meet.

·        Shane Edwards was recognized as the District Baseball Coach of the Year.

·        Entomology Team captured another state championship.

·        Freshmen Orientation had 150 participants.  A special thanks to Lynn Calloway and Todd Law for their planning and assistance.

Sweetser Elementary School

Charles Shroyer, Principal

·        2 students competed in the State Entomology Contest and did very well.

·        Some students elected to bring gifts for those less fortunate rather than have a room gift exchange. 70 items were donated to Family Services.

·        Staff members donated $225 in cash and items for the Women’s Shelter.

Swayzee Elementary School

Terry Renbarger, Principal

·        A letter was shared which Katy VanAken’s class received from WIPB as winners in the Character Counts food drive. Students will be honored in a broadcast at the Care n’ Share Pantry on January 20th.

Converse Elementary School

Harold King, Principal

·        Parents serving on the Math Textbook Adoption committee were recognized.

·        Sue Mills, Sharon Harmon, Sally Middlesworth, and Janice Martin are crossing grade levels to assist students with reading and writing activities.  An “Author’s Tea” will be the grand finale.

·        Maria Huntley traveled to Spain and will share new ideas to be used in her art classes.

 

8.         CLAIMS

               

Mark Johnson moved to pay claims #1107 through #1255 as presented. Scott Dubois seconded the motion and it carried 7 ayes and 0 nays.

 

9.         ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS

 

Mrs. Morphew updated the School Board on the annual closing of the financial books. She listed interfund transfers which were necessitated by underfunding in some areas and surplus funds in other areas.   Mr. Smith noted this is a common occurrence among school corporations at year-end. He advised budgets are prepared 18 months in advance and, situations change in the meantime. 

 

10.       ADJOURNMENT

 

            The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

 

11.       EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Following the regular meeting, the Board of Trustees met in Executive Session to discuss the performance of an individual employee as per I.C. 5-14-1.5-6.1 (8).