MINUTES OF A MEETING

HELD

September 23, 2003

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, September 23, 2003.    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, Mike Keaffaber, Jean Shonkwiler, Joel Martin, and Recording Secretary Libby Medley.  Representing the news media was Donna Burchick of the Oak Hill Times and Mike Duncan of WBAT.  Also present was Teresa Shafer.

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 September 10, 2003 were approved as presented.

4.         PERSONNEL

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

Brian Middlesworth moved to approve all personnel recommendations as presented.  Mark Johnson seconded the motion and it carried 7 ayes and 0 nays.

5.         CONTINUING BUSINESS

            There was no continuing business.

6.         NEW BUSINESS

     A.  Contracts For School Psychologists Approved

Mr. Smith presented for Board consideration contracts for school psychologist’s services for Mr. Doug Daugherty and Mrs. Betsye Robinette who will share duties.  Toby Middlesworth moved to approve the school psychologists’ contracts as presented.  Mark Johnson seconded the motion and it carried 7 ayes and 0 nays.  (See enclosure)

     B.   Fundraiser For High School Honor Society 

          Approved

Mr. Smith presented a fundraiser from the Oak Hill High School Honor Society to assist the Converse Lions Club in providing a fish/chicken dinner on November 26^th with proceeds used to buy Honor Society membership pins and expenses for Tap Day.  Brian Middlesworth moved to approve the Honor Society’s fundraiser request as presented.  Scott Dubois seconded the motion and it carried 7 ayes and 0 nays.  (See enclosure)

7.         CELEBRATION

     A. Mr. Keaffaber shared the following 

        celebrations at Oak Hill Junior High School:

·        At the Grant 4 Volleyball Tournament, Oak Hill was runner-up.

·        The Boy’s Cross-Country Team is doing well.

·        ISTEP testing has concluded for his building and he is anxious to see the results.

      B. Mr. Renbarger shared the good news from

         Swayzee Elementary School that

         Mrs. Stacy Stetzel and her husband are proud

         parents of a baby girl.

      C.  Mr. Shroyer announced that Sweetser Elementary also added to their staff when Mrs. Chris Stefanatos and her husband became parents of a son.

      D.  Mr. King shared that Converse Elementary School is still working on completing ISTEP testing and hopes to finish very soon.  Also, Matt Frech, who is in Grade Four, will be the representative to the Grant County Foundation Board.

       E. Ms. Shonkwiler celebrated the Grant 4 Cross-Country won by Oak Hill.  Individual champions were Kristin Reiff and Dustin Rose.

       F. Mr. Smith acknowledged his colleague, Dr. Robert Huff who is Superintendent of Madison-Grant United School Corporation. Dr. Huff will retire September 30, 2003 due to health concerns.  In  Mr. Smith’s five years at Oak Hill, he has worked with Dr. Huff on numerous occasions including checking weather and road conditions at 5:15 a.m. to serving on various committees.  Mr. Smith shared his appreciation for Dr. Huff and the mentoring services that he provided.

8.         CLAIMS

            Mark  Johnson moved to approve claims #417

            through #478 as presented.  Toby

            Middlesworth seconded the motion and it 

            carried 7 ayes and 0 nays.

9.         ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS

            There were no announcements or reports.

10.       ADJOURNMENT

            The meeting adjourned at 7:15 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).

C.                 Mr. Shroyer thanked the School Board for their support in permitting the 4^th grade students to go to the Shrine Circus in Fort Wayne on February 1^st.  He also thanked Mr. Renbarger for setting up the writing in-service with Mark Russell.

D.                Ms. Shonkwiler acknowledged the student play “Running” which dealt with many forms of abuse and commended the students for a job well done.

E.                 Mr. Smith acknowledged the efforts of Mr. Dan Brauchler’s advanced computer applications class which made possible the replication of diplomas from Converse, Swayzee, Sweetser, and Amboy High Schools.

10.       CLAIMS

Mr. Johnson moved to approve claims #1226 through #1335, Lunch and Textbook Rental Claim Check #10643 through #10658, and Lunch Payroll Checks #4055 through #4082.  Scott seconded the motion and it carried 6 ayes and 0 nays.

11.       ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS

Mrs. Valree Kinch presented a character education program that she hopes will be implemented by all Oak Hill buildings in the fall.  Trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship are the “The Six Pillars of Character” which will be addressed, one per month.  It is hoped that there will also be community involvement and service projects.  This will be coordinated through building social workers.  Mr. Smith noted that Indiana Wesleyan is a conduit of the Lilly Foundation (CAPE) and they will assist with some of the funding.

12.       ADJOURNMENT

            The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

13.       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).