School corps. disagree on APC representation
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Every four years, the school corporations in Carroll County jointly choose a representative to the area plan commission. For the past 22 years, the two predominant corporations, Delphi Community and Carroll Consolidated, have chosen Bob McCain of Camden. Twin Lakes and Rossville Consolidated school corporations have not actively participated in the past. However, that will now change.

Delphi Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees voted to re-appoint McCain to the position he has held since 1986 at the Thursday night meeting. They were apprised that the McCain choice did not coincide with Carroll's choice.

According to Carroll Consolidated School Corp. Superintendent John Sayers, that corporation chose Flora resident and banker Jay Bush to represent the schools on the plan commission. Sayers explained the school board decided to solicit input from the community before making the appointment this year. He said board members asked if there was anyone who would like to represent the schools. Jay Bush volunteered.

Sayers said he spoke with Delphi superintendent Ralph Walker Friday. He said they decided to meet, along with the superintendents from the other two school corporations that provide education to Carroll County students, and they will develop an appropriate course of action.

"We may have to consult state statute about this," Sayers said. "We've never had to face this before."

Delinquent textbook rental

Walker was given permission to advertise for a $105,000 additional appropriation that would ultimately be used to help pay a $200,000 delinquent textbook rental-fee bill. Walker said a "massive amount" of fees were not paid by parents which accounted for the shortfall. He said the state reimbursed the corporation $17,000 in 2008 for the fees. Walker explained when textbooks are revised or replaced, the books cost the corporation more money than when they remain the same from year to year.

The additional appropriation will be advertised to be taken from the bus replacement fund and deposited into the Rainy Day account. From Rainy Day, funds will be transferred to textbook rental fees.

Board proceeds with $13 million building project

The middle and high schools joint building project, which originally had a price tag of $18 million but was reduced to $13 million, was approved in a split vote. Bill Trueblood opposed the motion to approve the project. The motion by Jerry Sparks included 20-year funding with a result of no tax rate increase. Tax specialist Lonnie Thurber said the cost for the $13 million project for a 20-year bond would be $21,760,000.

Other business

Bids to cash-rent 15.007 acres of land, located south of the campus, are due Dec. 8 after a two-week advertisement in the Comet. According to records in the county auditor's office, the land was purchased for $232,608.50 Nov. 3, from Delphi United Methodist Church.

Walker explained access to the land would be arranged with the bidder chosen to farm the land across the existing campus. He said the church would provide access to the land after construction was finished for their project.

The school corporation will join the Successful Practices Network program for $7,200. Camden Early Childhood Education Center Director Carol Coons explained the network consisted of approximately 500 high-achieving schools across the nation, who help members with professional development issues.

The network will provide resource material and personnel for classroom visits to model successful practices behavior.

A trip to Washington D.C. for Successful Practices Network orientation for five teachers and administrators from the middle and high schools was approved for approximately $5,000. The original request for 10 personnel to attend for $12,000 was rejected by the board due to cost and a concern about the number of teachers which would be absent from the classrooms at the same time. Walker said the orientation is an annual conference. He said others could attend at a later time.

Board members voted to move forward with the elementary school construction project. Funding will be derived from extending for two years, rather than retiring, a current bond.

A three-and-a-half percent salary increase for support staff was approved effective Jan. 1.

Walker reported the corporation student count decreased by six from last year at the same time.

Employment of non-certified staff:

High school • Arrika Ruemler, student council advisor; • Angela Bieghler, poms coach; • Michael Lewis, JV boys basketball coach; • Dave Gilbert, assistant boys basketball coach; • Mike Berger, volunteer boys basketball coach; • Karen Hanni, JV girls baskeball coach; • Gary Edmondson, assistant girls basketball coach; • Brian Burton, assistant swim coach; • Cassy Gasser, assistant swim coach; • Joe Fassnacht and Tom Lynch, assistant wrestling coaches; • Krista Tomson, cheerleading coach; • Janet Hodge, cheerleading coach; • Kevin Sims, assistant girls basketball coach; and • Whitney Cripe, volunteer pom coach. Middle school • Dan LePage, 8th grade boys basketball coach; • Jason Patterson, 6th grade boys basketball coach; • Katrina Coghill, volunteer 8th grade girls basketball coach; • Charlie Harris, volunteer 6th grade girls basketball coach; • Brian Burton, swim coach; • Mark Back, wrestling coach; • Ted Lynde, Jeff Delaney and Vance Lashley, volunteer wrestling coaches; • Jennifer Barngrover, 7th grade girls basketball coach. Elementary school • Ty Sutton and Mark Roth, 5th grade girls basketball coaches; Corporation • Melissa Jones, bus driver; • Cindy Anderson, substitute bus driver.

Resignations: • Mark Sharp, bus driver; and • Laurie Kinzie, half-time student council advisor.

The next board meeting will be Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.