Carroll parents ask questions, sound off
By Jennifer Archibald

Parents of Carroll students were invited to a public forum Monday night to hear about what's happening in the schools and to ask questions.

The meeting was held at the Burlington Church of Christ. Officials taking part in the forum were Superintendent John Sayers, Jr.-Sr. High School Principal and Assistant Principal Charles Huckstep and Fred Schnarr, and Elementary Principal and Assistant Principal Carolyn O'Connell and Natalie McQuade.

Sayers listed goals of the school corporation, including developing a 10- year facilities plan after the first of the year, with the high school site a priority; continue the reading initiative at the elementary; and develop a sixyear curriculum review.

Two questions from the audience related to the junior-senior high school facility, were what ever happened to the science lab renovation, and what about air conditioning in that building.

Sayers said he expects the science lab to be included in the 10-year plan.

"We've met with the architect and have the curriculum, but we've not developed a plan yet," he said.

Sayers said the air conditioning will continue to be discussed. He said a factor that has to be weighed along with the air conditioning is increased cost of electricity. He said so far it hasn't been a real problem at the elementary.

Sayers also mentioned the soccer and softball fields that are being developed. He said they are ready to seed, and they hope to have the foundations for related buildings this fall.

He said they're hoping to have the new football concession stand open in time for the football sectional.

A new technology committee has been formed, and Sayers said they will be meeting later this week. Schnarr is chairing the committee.

Sayers said corporation enrollment is down 16 from last year and stands at 1,123.5 (with kindergarten students counting as half).

Concerning the school tax rate, Sayers said, "If we get less state money than we have in the past, you'll pay more taxes

O'Connell told about the addition of a reading specialist to the elementary staff. Kathy Shuler, former first grade teacher, was hired for the position. She said Shuler works primarily with K-3 students, teachers, and aides, to improve both instruction and learning.

O'Connell said the school is striving to improve in all areas, but especially in reading.

"Reading is the basis of everything you do in life," she said.

She challenged parents to set aside five or 10 minutes a day where everyone in their household sits down to read.

McQuade mentioned the General Education Intervention program, which offers early intervention to students with academic or emotional problems.

"The first intervention is to see what can be taken care of in the classroom," she said.

Accentuate the positive

McQuade said something new at the elementary is a program to inspire, recognize and reward positive student behavior. It's called BRAG (Behavior, Respect, Attitude, Grades). Any teacher or staff member can nominate students who display these positive attributes. Students who earn the most "bragging rights" get a traveling trophy in their classroom.

Schnarr said teams are forming for the Battle of the Books, and parents are invited to be on the parent team.

For students who have academic, emotional, or behavioral problems, Schnarr said there is a Student Assistance Team to try to find out what might be most helpful.

He reminded parents to make sure students have enough money in their lunch accounts.

"Some students are running up a debt," he said, which is causing problems.

Huckstep told about the Family Resource Network. Parents who are involved with this, volunteer at the school. He said even one hour a week helps the school out.

Huckstep said the school is beginning to offer technologybased pre-engineering courses that offer both high school and college credit. Sixth to eighth graders are being exposed to career awareness and career exploration, and freshmen should take a career class, he said.

Huckstep said advanced classes are offered in chemistry, biology, and physics, and next year, possibly advanced history and environmental science will be offered. He said AP (Advanced Placement) classes are first-year college level.

He announced that there is a Homework Hotline on the Rose-Hulman web site.

Sound system complaint

Two patrons complained about the sound system in the gym and in the football stadium, particularly mentioning not being able to hear at graduation and at the basketball

game that honored the 1946 Flora Badgers team. Sayers said they are well aware of the problems, and some parts have already arrived for the gym sound system.

Safety issues

Several people brought up safety in the schools. One person commented that the office people in both buildings cannot see the front door.

Sayers said every time the safety issue comes up, possible options are discussed.

"Do we lock down everything and only admit by buzzer?" he asked.

Sayers said there is a safety plan in place, and it will be fine-tuned at a meeting on Oct. 18.

O'Connell said her school has practiced lockdown of the building and classrooms in the past, but not last year.

Some parents asked about the process that is followed if a student is perceived to be unusually disruptive or threatening in a classroom.

Sayers said the corporation does refer 40 or 50 students a year for testing, and currently one elementary student and a couple high school students are in a residential facility.

O'Connell said the school does not jump to testing immediately, before earlier measures are taken at the school.

A question was brought up about drop-outs who later come back to the school to finish their credits and graduate instead of obtaining a GED.

"Is there an age limit to do this?" a parent asked.

Sayers answered that some students are turned away if they are determined to be at high risk to graduate, but he said they cannot by law be turned away because of age.

"There is no age limit," he said.

Financial matters

Other questions were related to the corporation's financial situation. One person asked if the corporation was in the red or the black.

Sayers responded that the answer fluctuates depending on when they get money from the state and when they get their local tax draw.

"In the general fund today we're in the red, but by Dec. 31, we'll be in the black," he said.

As a financial plus, Sayers said the corporation doesn't have any long-term debt.

Questions were asked about why the corporation can't pay teachers and administrators more, why an additional teacher can't be added if a class is especially large, and why money can be spent on such things as soccer and softball fields, but not on educational needs.

Sayers said salaries are paid out of the general fund, and the amount that the corporation can raise for that fund is capped, according to a state funding formula. He said each fund of the budget has its own capped amount, and the monies cannot be transferred from fund to fund.

A parent asked if the school Fundraising Policy has been adopted yet.

School board president Sam Zook, who was in the audience, said the policy should have been adopted at the beginning of the school year, but it wasn't.

The same parent said it was frustrating for parents who work hard on committees and then their input doesn't get executed.

The majority of those present were parents of elementary students, but junior-senior high parents also were represented.