Carroll to offer free full-day kindergarten
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

Carroll School Corporation will offer full-day classes to all kindergarten students next school year.

Superintendent John Sayers made the announcement at the May 15 school board meeting. He said it will be offered tuition free to parents of students within the school district.

"Half-day kindergarten will still be optional," he added.

He said surveys will be sent to parents of the incoming kindergarten students to see what they want.

The board approved a three percent increase in the administrators' salary schedule, and a realignment of the pay schedule so that all administrators are paid according to the school year, July 1 to June 30. The individual salary increases for the superintendent, building principals and assistant principals will be effective July 1, 2007.

Also approved was a two percent increase in the salaries of non-certified personnel, effective July 1.

Handbook proposals

Elementary assistant principal Natalie McQuade and junior senior high school principal Fred Schnarr highlighted proposed changes in their respective student handbooks for the coming year. The proposed changes for both schools will be posted on the corporation website.

One of the proposals for the elementary handbook is setting guidelines on how much time students should be spending on homework each night. Pertaining to student absences, Mc- Quade said the school will require parents to call the school rather than notify through notes or email.

McQuade explained the new code policy that will be added to the handbook. The students have started doing code drills - red, yellow, and green. She said red means "stop" and a full lock down. Yellow means caution - exterior doors locked, but teachers and students can move within the building. Green means get out of the building. She mentioned a gas leak as an example for the green code. McQuade said the code policy is posted on the school website.

Schnarr said parents of juniorsenior high students must call the school to confirm their child's absence due to doctor's appointments, funerals, or the DMV.

If a student plans to bring someone to a dance who does not attend Carroll, he or she must get prior approval from an administrator and must fill out a form, telling about that person.

Other changes apply to athletic eligibility and substance abuse. Schnarr said everyone in grades 7-9 is eligible to play fall sports, but for grades 10- 12, eligibility depends on a student's grades during the previous spring semester.

The policy on use of electronic communication devices was clarified. Schnarr said students' cell phones are to be turned off when they enter the building, and must remain off until after dismissal at the end of the day. If a student is caught with a cell phone that is on, it is taken away from him and a parent has to come and pick it up.

The board will review the handbooks at a work session and final approval is expected in June.

Guidance report

Elementary guidance counselor Amy Hickson gave the board an overview of her school responsibilities and involvements. She said her guidance program follows the American School Counseling Association's national standards. The program encompasses the following areas: Academic (study skills), social/ emotional, career awareness, and bullying. She makes presentations in the classrooms, as well as one-on-one counseling. As part of career awareness, she had a career fair, with eight speakers coming to the school to talk about their careers.

She mentioned being involved with Red Ribbon Week, Friendship Group and other student groups, a child abuse prevention program, and Caring Connection. She said Caring Connection included 21 mentors from the community helping 36 kids to improve homework and grades.

Bullying is something that is being recognized and addressed by the elementary guidance counselor and school administrators.

"We do have some repeat offenders and repeat situations," McQuade said. "We want students to know they can come to us if there is a problem."

Resignations, hires

The superintendent read two resignations - Richard June, technology coordinator, and Kelli Stevens, food service employee.

Ryan Duff was hired as a math teacher. Sayers said Duff is a Carroll graduate and will be coming to Carroll from Twin Lakes High School.

In a 4-1 vote, the board hired the following football assistants: Dan Butcher, Tom Hall and Andy Zinn, varsity assistants, and Steve Keown, ninth grade. Dave Lambert had the dissenting vote. Katie Seward was hired as interim girls' varsity basketball coach, and Cassie McLaughlin as junior high cheerleading coach.

Teachers and bus drivers for summer school and Jump Start also were hired.

It was announced that the elementary girls' basketball camp will be June 4-8.

Pool project

The board awarded the contract for the swimming pool project to Beau Mitchell Corp. who had a base bid of $327,357. The board selected one of the alternates, which means a $21,000 deduction in cost. The corporation will keep the existing chemical feed instead of installing an ultraviolet filter system.

John Kinzie was hired to pour three concrete slabs for the two dugouts and press box for the new softball diamond at a cost of $9,500.

Sayers announced that the corporation will get a $200,000 early tax draw to distribute among the school funds.

The next regular board meeting will be June 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the Administration Building.