Carroll pursues writing improvement
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School principal Charles Huckstep presented his building's School Improvement Plan at the Carroll School Board meeting March 4.

Huckstep said a three-year plan is required by the state.

For the years 2008, 2009, and 2010, the plan emphasizes improving student writing skills in all subject areas. Assessment is made using the 6+1 Traits, which include ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation. Teachers will continue to have staff development related to researchbased writing improvement techniques.

Huckstep also asked (and was granted) permission to pursue a grant for Carroll to offer the course, Principles of the Biomedical Sciences, which is part of Project Lead The Way (PLTW) curriculum. On down the road, the curriculum also includes Human Body Systems, Medical Intervention, and Science Research.

Project Lead The Way also developed engineering-related curriculum, which Carroll is now using. The purpose of PLTW is to give students the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed at the postsecondary education level and in the curriculum-related careers.

Development of the Biomedical Sciences curriculum was spurred, in part, by the shortage of qualified science and health professionals in the United States.

The board approved coaches for the fall sports season, based on the recommendation of athletic director Shaun Rose. The coaches are listed below. Positions not listed indicate vacancies.

Football: Varsity head coach, Steve Keown; varsity assistants, Tom Hall and Bill Dillon; varsity assistant and B, Shawn Wickersham; freshman football, John Filbrun.

Cross country: Varsity head coach, Mike Miller; varsity assistant, Amy Cottrell; varsity assistant (volunteer), Larry Henning; junior high coach, Matt Benner.

Soccer: Varsity head coach, David Falkenberg.

Tennis: Varsity head coach, Jerry Reinke.

Girls Golf: Varsity head coach, Erin Garrison.

Volleyball: Varsity head coach, Sarah Kirkman; seventh grade coach, Tom Hedde; eighth grade coach, Charisse Smith.

Michelle Strawcutter has volunteered as junior high assistant swim coach this season, but the board converted it to a paid position, with retroactive compensation.

The board approved a request from elementary principal Carolyn O'Connell to purchase 100 desks at a cost of $8,135. Superintendent John Sayers said the desks will be purchased with Capital Project funds.

The following conference and field trip requests were approved:

Susan Abbott will attend the HHC math contest planning session at Rossville.

Cindy Reinke will take FCCLA members to the State Leadership Conference in Indianapolis.

Danna Bonfiglio, Stacy Brazel, and Debbie Duff will take ninth grade students to see the play "West Side Story" at Beef-n-Boards March 12 in Indianapolis.

Andrea O'Brien will attend "The Long Walk Home with Miracles Along the Way" conference at Wabash Valley Education Center April 1 in West Lafayette.

Elizabeth Rose will attend "Enhancing Spanish Language Instruction" conference April 15 in Indianapolis.

Maintenance supervisor Tom Allbaugh reported that he had pushed snow 21 times this year.

The time and place of the next board meeting has been changed. It will begin at 1 p.m. March 18 in the high school media center. Board business will be followed by the annual meeting with the students at 1:30 p.m.0