CCSC addresses concerns about concessions stand
By Jennifer Archibald

Carroll School Board members expressed dissatisfaction with the new concessions building at their regular meeting Sept. 19.

The fact that it's not finished is point number one.

"It's a real disappointment," said board president Sam Zook. "It was projected to be done before the first football game."

Zook said the architect has a three-page list of points that the general contractor still needs to address.

Zook said he has observed several safety issues himself. He mentioned several concerns including: "Sidewalk on the north and east sides is hazardous with such a drop-off; several sharp edges on the metal trim near the restroom area; the guttering is of unacceptable quality and leaks in many places; a number of fixtures in the restroom leak, and at least one sink is not secured to the wall."

Board members Dave Lambert, Mike Eikenberry, and Eric Johnson said they had noticed some of the same problems.

"We won't use the building until the safety issues are fixed," Zook said.

Superintendent John Sayers read a list of fundraising requests. He said a proposed fundraising policy is on the corporation's Web site, but it has not yet been adopted, so the requests are subject to the old policy. He recommended that one of the requests, for candy sales, be tabled, and later be discussed by the board before voting on it.

Sayers said several of the requests are "grandfathered in" and don't need to be approved. Some of those he mentioned were the Junior Class magazine sales, FFA fruit sales, Argosy ad sales, and Music Boosters fundraisers. Among other requests were FFA work auction, FCCLA candle sales, and art class sale of mugs, plaques, and T-shirts.

Lambert commented that under the old policy and the new policy, fundraising requests should have been made before the start of school.

The vote to approve the requests passed, 3-2, with Eikenberry, Johnson and Barb Payne voting in favor, and Lambert and Zook voting against. Zook later told the Comet that his vote was a protest vote. He said there is confusion about fundraising and fundraising policies, especially on the part of the high school administration.

In other votes, the board unanimously approved the 2007 budget, Capital Projects Plan, and Bus Replacement Plan, as well as the Sponsorship Policy.

Sayers reported that the Carroll School enrollment this year is 1,123.5 (with kindergartners counting as one half). The figure is based on official count day, Sept. 15. He said the elementary school enrollment is the same as last year, and the junior-senior high school is down 16. He added that the total includes Carroll students who attend Logansport, Twin Lakes, and Delphi schools.

Two bus aides were hired for buses transporting handicapped students to Twin Lakes. They are Matt Stump and Janelle Pullen.

Dennis Eckerley will continue to teach Spanish at Carroll for the remainder of the first semester. He taught Spanish and business in Ohio and retired after 31 years of teaching. For the last seven years, he has been substitute teaching at Peru and Maconaquah. He originally was hired to teach at Carroll for a short time - just until a Spanish teacher arrived from Spain. But Principal Charles Huckstep said the teacher from Spain is no longer coming.

Other personnel approved were Marcus Goodrich as volunteer assistant wrestling coach, and Carla Richardson, Grant Richardson and Mark Meyer as volunteer assistant swim coaches.

Sayers reported that a counselor/ child advocate from Wabash Valley would be coming to the Carroll schools, at no cost to the corporation.

Elementary principal Carolyn O'Connell announced that the Caring Connection program would be starting up again this year, and that an elementary team will be competing in the Spell Bowl in November.

Huckstep reported that 58 or 59 students will be going on the Senior Trip Oct. 2-3, and that around 20 seniors are not going.

The next board meeting will be Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Administration Building.