Carroll board accepts donation to art program
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

Art teacher Wyndham Traxler-Carter brought showand tell items to the Carroll School Board meeting April 8.

She wanted the board to see some of the art supplies she was able to purchase with the $2,051 given to the Art Department by Flora Psi Iota Xi. She said this amount is in addition to the money the sorority gives to support the Artist-in- Residence program.

Among the art supplies purchased were six sets of 36- color high-grade markers, 15 dies of various sizes for cutting uniform shapes, and sublimation dye ink to transfer images to hard finishes such as wood, glass, and ceramic.

"It's really neat to expand on what the school can give us," Traxler-Carter said. "A lot of our budget has to be spent on consumable products."

She said the students will be able to do all kinds of projects with the new supplies.

"Psi Otes' mission is to support art, music, and literature," Traxler-Carter said. "As a teacher and as a parent, I am profoundly grateful for that. And I just wanted you to see the 'toys' we got."

The board acknowledged the gift from Psi Iota Xi. It also acknowledged receiving a grant to offer a course in Biomedical Sciences (biotechnology) next school year as part of Project Lead the Way. The vote to proceed with the biomedical course was 4-1, with board president Sam Zook opposing. Zook said later that he thinks Project Lead the Way is a great program, but he believes offering the biomedical science course at this time ('08-'09) would not be in the best interest of the students.

Superintendent John Sayers announced that two teacher positions are recommended for Reduction in Force (RIF). The board voted unanimously to RIF one position at the elementary school and one at the junior-senior high school.

Sayers said there are currently four first grade sections and three kindergarten sections, so the first grade teachers for next year will be reduced by one.

Also eliminated will be one position in the family and consumer science staff. Sayers said this is due to low enrollment in the classes.

Sayers also announced a change in the student handbooks pertaining to use of medications. He said the handbooks now say that student medication can only be kept at school for five days. He said the new wording removes the five-day limit.

The board must vote on all purchases over $5,000. In keeping with that policy, the board approved the elementary school's purchase of eight LCD projectors, with lamps and cables, at a cost of $6,216.75.

The board declared various computer switches as surplus equipment because they are no longer useful to the system and have been replaced.

Rob Appleton, dba Rob's Lawn Care, was given the contract for summer lawn maintenance.

A fund-raising request was approved for the FFA Dairy Team to sell concessions on opening day of Little League. The vote was four in favor, one abstention, with Zook abstaining.

A facility use request was approved for the Carroll County YMCA to use the high school track for a field day on May 3.

Sayers announced that the summer piping project at the high school has been advertised, and bids will be opened at 2 p.m. April 22 at the Administration Building.

Sayers commented that there are currently so many unknowns in financing schools, and there will probably still be unknowns when it is time to plan the corporation's budget. He expects the spring tax draw to be late.

Elementary principal Carolyn O'Connell reported that five high school role models came to the elementary school as part of the DARE program. She said the elementary students asked good questions about drug resistance, and the high school students gave good answers.

"I was very impressed with the maturity level and thoughtfulness of the high school students' responses," she said.

The next school board meeting has been changed from its regular date to April 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building.