Delphi school corporation
Elementary schools renamed
By Kevin Schnepp Staff writer

What's in a name? For most, a name helps identify what something is and what it means. According to Delphi Community School Corporation Board of Trustees, the district's two elementary schools' current names no longer hold the significance they did before re-alignment.

In light of that, the board voted to change the name of Camden Elementary School to Camden Early Childhood Center. Then, after considerable discussion and a thwarted attempt by board member Nick Cronk to table the subject, Hillcrest Elementary School was replaced with Delphi Community Elementary School.

Approval of Camden's name change was unanimous. Cronk cast the sole vote against the Hillcrest name change. He said he didn't identify with the current name, which he felt did not represent the school at all, but felt the timing was not right to proceed. He expressed concern that the public and school might need time to see what the school atmosphere would look like in a few months.

Board member Jerry Sparks asked teacher Lori Schwarzkopf, who was moved from Camden to Delphi during re-alignment and was part of the re-alignment transition committee, what she thought of changing names. She said no one on the transition committee thought it was a bad idea and that it would be better to change the names sooner rather than later.

Schwarzkopf said a Camden name change could create a new atmosphere at the school. Regarding Hillcrest, she said it would be beneficial to make it match other Delphi schools.

Board member Melinda Rossetter agreed the time was right to rename the facilities.

"It (Camden school name) does not properly reflect what's going on in that building," she commented.

It was stipulated during the votes new signage for the buildings would not be purchased until the school's financial situation can clearly handle the costs.

New textbook fees

Textbooks fees will rise slightly in some cases, and considerably in others, next school year. Fees will be: Kindergarten, $77.83; first grade, $120.51; sec- ond, $126.26; third, $95.17; fourth, $92.87; fifth, $95.23; sixth through eighth, $95; and high school will be per course.

Walker explained sharper increases for first and second grades fees were said to cover materials costs associated with the Breakthrough to Literacy program.

"It might go down a little," Walker stated.

Non-payment of textbook fees during the past several years have caused the corporation to run a negative balance of approximately $200,000 in the textbook fund.

"That is real money," Walker commented. "Essentially we're borrowing money to cover that fund. We're going to have to get enough money in another fund to be able to make up for it."

Walker said credit cards would be accepted for textbook payments this fall. He hoped that would help the fee collection process be more fruitful.

Letter of petition presented

During public comments, Camden resident Tracie Swayze read a letter of petition signed by approximately 300 DCSC patrons. She said many questions were still unanswered and requested the board halt its re-alignment plans. She questioned statements made by board members that academic improvement would be corporation wide.

"Camden is the only school that met AYP (adequate yearly progress)," Swayze stated. "It (re-alignment) will adversely affect all elementary students in the corporation."

Swayze asked the board to take the petition's statements and requests under advisement.

Resler responded it had already been considered due to requests made at a May 24 public meeting between Camden residents and corporation representatives.

"You must ask the board to bring it up," Resler explained.

"I'm asking now," Swayze responded.

Camden Town Council President Pete Wagoner also addressed the board to re-iterate concerned patrons' requests. He said he did not think re-alignment was well-planned and unanticipated effects would be detrimental. He said many people moved to Camden specifically so their children could attend its elementary school.

"It's been a drawing point for the town," Wagoner told the board. "You need support, not a remonstrance."

In a follow-up interview, Walker said he was excited to see anticipated positive effects surface next year. He expressed remorse that Camden, which was the only school to make adequate yearly progress, was still considered a better school than other DCSC schools.

Walker said he didn't think some residents understood the difference between the schools' populations and how restructuring could help improve grades corporation-wide.

"It just tears me up," he lamented.

The board approved a change to the middle school athletic handbook concerning student athlete academic eligibility. Grades will be checked less often and a grace period will be offered to give students the opportunity to work themselves back to eligible player status. Athletes will be allowed to practice and travel with the team, but not play during academic probation.

Resignations/employment

Resignations were approved for: Joe Brown, third grade teacher, morning supervisor and Camden fifth and sixth-grade basketball coach; Shannon Rader, high school vocational aide; and Brandon Richie, high school science teacher and junior varsity basketball coach. High school Spanish teacher Sue Ann Cornell's retirement was approved.

Classified staff approved for employment were: Jared Cree and Bill Maynard, high school assistant varsity football coaches; Shannon Rader, middle school treasurer; Shonda Isaacs, middle school yearbook sponsor; Joshua Pine, summer power washer; Melissa Hefner, bus maintenance assistant; Jay Dennison, high school pom sponsor; Gary Edmundson, high school girls' assistant varsity basketball coach; Sara Brosman, high school musical director; Bruce Brown, high school volunteer varsity football coach; Scott Roth, high school volunteer assistant football coach; and Kameron Banes, high school volunteer varsity football coach and volunteer wrestling coach.

Certified staff employment approved were for Chip Dale, high school vocational business teacher, and Tana Lehr, third grade teacher at Delphi Community Elementary School.

Middle school summer remediation teachers will be Jennifer Landis for English and Stuart Mathis for math.

The next regular board meeting will be July 9 at 7 p.m. in the corporation office conference room.