The Delphi Community School Board ruled in August that all corporation volunteers are required to undergo limited criminal history checks before having contact with students. They followed a prescribed list of conditions mandated by the State of Indiana.

The final condition, which would preclude someone from being allowed to be employed or contracted by the corporation, describes a person who has been convicted of an offense which was “substantially equivalent to any of the offenses” listed. Some of the offenses include, but are not limited to, battery, kidnapping, murder, voluntary manslaughter, arson, incest, child selling, offenses involving weapons, car jacking and offenses relating to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

Superintendent Ralph Walker said the last point was much less specific. He described that point as a “grey area” of which he then was forced to interpret the meaning. He judged that those who had been convicted of theft or check deception would also be banned from corporation employment, volunteering or student visitation.

Walker said at Monday night’s meeting several complaints were received from individuals who did not conform to the criteria of the background check as it applied to his zero-tolerance policy. He requested the corporation leaders determine the exact policy for him to follow. He said that some parents said his zero-tolerance policy was unfair.

“I just want to be fair to all of the parents,” Walker said.

Nick Cronk said he did not think check deception was a reason to provide separation between children and those convicted of the crime. Jim Garrison made a motion to include only felony theft in the “grey area.” However after the motion was amended twice, board members voted to not include parents or grandparents visiting students for lunch or during grandparents’ day.

After the vote, parent and patron Sharon Milburn requested the new policy be revisited at the next board meeting. She said every individual who had contact with students in a school building should be scrutinized for criminal convictions. Milburn said there could be grandparents who had convictions for child molestation. She said in that case, no child should have unlimited contact with that person, which would include sitting next to them at a lunch table.

“It (the policy) needs a second look,” Milburn said.

Melinda Rossetter disagreed and said that a convicted child molester sitting next to a child at a lunch table was no different than one standing behind a child in line at Walmart.

Board president Robert Resler said Milburn’s concern was “duly noted.”

Sign advertising

A policy to allow banner advertising to hang in the high school gym for the basketball season was approved in a four-to-two vote. The banners will advertise businesses that sponsor basketball game-balls for Delphi’s leagues. Athletic Director Dan Dawson will make the determination as to which businesses are appropriate for advertising in the gym. It was noted the current policy prohibits permanent signage for advertising purposes.

Garrison and Jerry Sparks voted against the motion.

“I don’t want to lose control of the policy,” Sparks remarked.

Renovation project

A current bid for $10,084.80 for the purchase and installation of 70 physical education lockers and one from last spring for $40,000 to establish wireless Internet service in the middle school were approved. Walker said bonds were sold for the combined project with a 1.5 percent rate of interest over two years. Technology director Scott Gear said the wireless service was expected to be completed by the end of the fall semester.

ISTEP+

Camden Early Education Center Director Carol Coons reported progress in working to raise the scores for the state-mandated test in the elementary and middle schools. She said the two components which influence test scores are teacher instruction and parent involvement. Coons said the school had less control of parents and therefore staff members were making strides to engage them for greater gains in students’ learning and higher test scores.

Coons said there was “a lot of work to do” in the middle school to improve the scores. She said scores from spring 2009 testing showed “some improvement” with a faculty focus on mathematic skills building.

“We’re continuing to put things in place in both buildings,” she concluded.

Coons said the Indiana State Department of Education is reviewing and modifying test content for improvement.

Other business

In a four-to-two split the board voted to retain the current cellular telephone reimbursement policy which contains usage levels with standardized reimbursement amounts for each level. Sparks and Bill Trueblood voted against the motion made by Nick Cronk. Sparks reported he discovered service plans which cost less than what is currently used by school administrators. He said he opposed the corporation policy of reimbursement for hardware as well.

The FFA will farm the plot located on the south side of the campus next year. The land is currently cash-rented. FAA will lose tillable acreage to the east due to the Hoosier Heartland Highway.

Corporation attorney Barry Emerson was directed to move forward with litigation against the Indiana State Teachers Association Trust to reclaim surplus funds lost due to unfunded liabilities and the eventual bankruptcy of the ISTA Trust organization.

Walker was granted permission to advertise for an additional appropriation of $105,000 for the general fund out of cash reserves.

Walker explained the corporation has nearly spent the $2 million borrowed as a tax anticipation warrant to pay corporation operating bills. Due to the lack of any income from property taxes so far this year, he advised that all costs incurred for loans became part of the debt service and were therefore paid by taxpayers.

The next meeting was tentatively scheduled for Nov. 9. Resler said if weather permits farmers to be in the fields at that time, the meeting will be rescheduled to accommodate harvest.

Personnel:

High school retirement - Kay Trent, guidance secretary, effective Nov. 6.

Employment of non-certified staff - Deanna Powell, ESL aide middle and high schools; Vicki Frazer, corporation assistant food service director; and Colleen Norman, middle school cafeteria manager.

Winter Coaching Roster

Boys Basketball – Assistants, Dave Gilbert and C. J. Barngrover; Volunteers, Justin Jargstorgf, Robert Zopp, Mike Berger, Dave Hawn and Charlie Harris; Varsity, Brian Tonsoni; JV, Michael Lewis; 8th grade, Denny Connerl 7th, Dan LePage; 6th, Jason Patterson; and 5th and Intramural supervisor, Andy Venters.

Girls Basketball – Varsity, Dan Dawson; JV - Karen Hanni; Assistants, Gary Edmondson and Erica Cory; 8th grade, Brian Garrison; 7th, Kelsey Daubenmier; 5th, John Gasser and Mark Lane (50 percent); and Volunteer assistant, Jennifer Barngrover.

Swimming – Assistants, Brian Burton, Cassy Gasser, Kent Sales, Jean Randle, Norma Carpenter and Patti Hudelson; Volunteer, Jamie Houser; Varsity, Al Brannan; JH, Brian Burton.

Wrestling – Volunteers, Ted Lynde, Jeff Delaney and Vance Lashley; Assistants, Joe Fassnacht and Tom Lynch; Varsity, Mike Atwood.