A decline in student enrollment is more than was anticipated, said Carroll Superintendent John Sayers at last week’s trustees meeting.

Official count days are held three times per school year, he explained, and the most recent one was on Sept. 18.

While there were increases in some grades such as fifth (+14) and eighth (+11), there were significant decreases in grades two (-16), four (-12), six (-16), and ten (-13). When all grades were totaled and compared to the same period last year, there was a drop of 32.5 students, from 1,088.5 to 1,056. Kindergarteners, because they attend half days, are counted as half a student.

With decreases in state revenues and more anticipated, “more and more revenue will follow the child,” he said. “This is bad news for the corporation and a real concern.”

Sayers also reported on a recent School Board Association conference that he attended where Purdue University economist Larry DeBoer and Governor Mitch Daniels both spoke and had similar messages. Sayers said that it was his experience that DeBoer “is usually right on the money.”

DeBoer said that schools can expect adjustments with fewer dollars through 2014. Daniel’s message was that Indiana’s economy is not turning around.

Parent-teacher conferences

Parent-teacher conferences will be held on one day only, Monday, Oct. 26, from 12:30 to 8 p.m.

Sayers said that because the Carroll Teachers Association believes in the value of parentteacher conferences, the association has agreed to a oneyear memorandum of understanding where the association substitutes Presidents Day for the parent-teacher conference day. The memorandum amends the condition of the current master contract.

Due to a new ruling by the state, conferences cannot be held on instructional days.

“This is a good compromise and it is good for the students,” said Sayers.

Committees

The corporation is in its third year of an eight-year plan, said Sayers. “It’s time to get the committee up and running again to keep the plan at eight to ten years out.”

Those who have agreed to serve with Sayers on the longrange planning committee are Ladd Kitchell, Michelle Cox, Charles Huckstep, Shaun Rose, Autumn Filbrun, Ed Geheb, Jonathan Baker, Carolyn O’Connell and Roy Hufford.

Board members Rick Eller and Eric Johnson also volunteered.

Board president Sam Zook said it is time to reactivate the corporation technology committee. He asked that anyone interested in serving on the committee, including students, contact the corporation office.

Subcommittees will be appointed for each building from the technology committee, he said, with the main committee reporting directly to the board.

Sayers said that there is a renewed sense of cooperation between Carroll and neighboring corporation Delphi with the formation of the county-wide dropout prevention committee. He said that several of the committee members were among the 900 from around the state who attended a recent Drop Out Prevention Summit held in Indianapolis.

Other business

Tyler Sausaman’s request was approved to advertise and recruit at the school for a Habitat for Humanity/Hurricane Katrina Recovery effort alternative trip over spring break. The trip is nonschool sponsored. Cost per person to participate is between $250-$300.

Two years ago Sausaman led a group of students and adults to Covington, La., to help with a project there.

“I was very impressed with what the kids did last time,” said CJSHS principal Charles Huckstep. “It is a good service project. I’m proud of our kids and Mr. Sausaman and Mrs. (Kris) Seward.”

Personnel approved were: Naomi McPherson, varsity assistant/ JV girls basketball coach; Amanda Schneckloth, varsity assistant swim coach; and Erika Eller and Douglas Williams, high school tutors.

Williams’ position is newly created and the board set pay for the position at the already established rate.

Carroll Music Organization has agreed to pick up costs for the Winter Guard. The board will have final approval on the supervisor.

Elementary Principal Carolyn O’Connell reported that the elementary curriculum link is up and running and available from the CES website.

Conference and field trip requests approved included:

• Soils Team to Fulton County Fairgrounds Oct. 9 to compete in soils judging contest.

• Melissa Keown and Shaun Rose to take Natural Resource Management class to Indianapolis Zoo Oct. 15.

• Kristen Seward to attend the Indiana Association of College Admissions Conference Oct. 26-27 in Indianapolis.

• Amy Hickson to attend the Indiana School Counselor Association Conference Nov. 12- 13 in Indianapolis.

• Rebecca Comoglio to attend the Indiana School Nurse conference Nov. 16-17 in Indianapolis.

• Sarah Orem to attend The General Ledger Conference Nov. 19 in West Lafayette.

• Don Pettit to attend the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic Dec. 17-19 in Chicago.

The board approved facility usage requests by Alpha Delta Kappa for Oct. 14 and by the Knights of Pythias for Nov. 28.

During the budget hearing Sayers reminded the board that the state has taken over special education and preschool, as well as the general fund, and has capped the capital projects fund.

Sayers said that he is available to answer questions about the budget which has been advertised and will be adopted at the Oct. 20 board meeting.

Huckstep reported that seniors left the day before for an overnight trip to Washington D.C. Ed Geheb has planned and led the trip for 28 years.

An executive session immediately followed the meeting for school board member training with an outside consultant. Following that meeting a work session was held to discuss budget, capital projects and future construction projects.

The next meeting will be Oct. 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the administration building.