Carroll students planning alternative spring break
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

Carroll School Board gave the go-ahead for a group of Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School students and chaperons to take part in an alternative spring break.

Tyler Sausaman, teacher, and students Drew Ayres and Kierstyn Harper told about plans for the trip at the Feb. 4 board meeting.

The group will be going to New Orleans, La., for hurricane relief work. They are partnering with the Carroll County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity, and will be working on Habitat for Humanity houses in the stricken area. Cost for the trip is expected to be $200-$300.

Sausaman said the idea of an alternative spring break trip is to give students an alternative to more traditional destinations, such as Florida. Instead of alltoo common spring break activities, the students will accomplish something positive.

Sausaman said he is hoping for a group of about 15. Recruitment is still under way.

For more information, contact Sausaman or guidance director Kris Seward.

The board accepted the bid of Cardinal Bus Sales & Service for two new school buses. Total cost for the base units will be $128,926. The board also accepted the option of a wheelchair lift, adding another $3,811 to each unit, and a second stop arm at the back of the bus, adding $75 apiece.

Members of the newly established technology steering committee, approved by the board, are Charles Huckstep, Fred Schnarr, Angie Veach, Carolyn O'Connell, Natalie McQuade, Judy McCracken, Scot Collins, Kara Burrous, Amy Cottrell, Stephenie Pencek, Deanna Herr, and Sam Zook. Since the board meeting, a student, Malena Zook, has been added to the steering committee.

Technology sub committees were named for each school. At the elementary, those serving will be O'Connell, McQuade, McCracken, Burrous, Cottrell, and Karen Stankard.

The sub committee at the junior senior high school will include Huckstep, Schnarr, Veach, Collins, Elizabeth Rose, and Wyndham Traxler-Carter.

Four parents have been added to the elementary textbook adoption committee: Jennifer Dyke, Deanna Herr, Melissa Parker, and Shelly Turnpaugh.

Peggy Oakley will temporarily take the place of fourth grade teacher Carrie Pickard while she is on maternity leave.

Cindy Tussinger was hired as guidance aide.

The board approved use of the high school cafeteria for a benefit dinner for the Cossairt family. It will be served Feb. 16 before the Carroll-Frontier boys' basketball game.

The following conference and field trip requests were approved:

Don Shively - HASTI Conference Feb. 7 and 8 in Indianapolis.

Tyler Sausaman - taking the engineering design class to Purdue School of Technology Feb. 19.

Steve and Melissa Keown - Ag Education In-service Feb. 26 in Trafalgar.

Carolyn O'Connell - NWEA Regional Workshop March 6 in Indianapolis.

Myra Compton and Cathy Ayres - "Differentiated Instruction: Strategies to Support RTI" Conference April 21 in Indianapolis.

The next regular meeting will be Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building. Earlier that day, the board will tour the pool and kitchen area at the high school and then have a work session from 2 to 7 p.m.