A little more than a year ago the Delphi Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees and Superintendent Ralph Walker’s plans for a building project, with a base price of $13 million, were defeated in a public referendum. Corporation leaders have since realized many of their renovation goals can be achieved by funding several smaller, yet related projects with smaller bonds and grants. That became the plan which brought a successful solution to many building and security problems that plagued the corporation for years.

Walker was granted permission at the Monday night school board meeting to schedule a public hearing during the March monthly business meeting to begin to seek funding for a second wave of renovations, which will include an addition to the high school science wing. Architectural firm Lorenz Williams Clinton will present a graphic depiction of the concept for the changes.

Renovation projects

A comprehensive campus security system for $172,459 was approved and installation will begin immediately. All outside doors and designated areas will be controlled by key cards and holders will have limited access. Access and code acquisition will be controlled by each building principal. Monitors will record activity each hour of the day and activity in all parking lots will also be recorded.

According to a handout provided by the corporation, the security project will be funded with a surplus of $190,341.44 from the 2009 general obligation bond, for $537,084. Other projects funded with the $315,261.19 utilized from the original bond were new lockers, wireless Internet access, middle school carpeting, security, projectors, wireless cable, cafeteria ceiling, the high school green house, an air handler and legal counsel.

Financial report

Walker reported the 2009 general fund ending balance was $484,879.01, capital projects was $99,629.44, Rainy Day $697,809, retirement/severance bond fund $89,595.51, transportation operating $505,988.78 and transportation/new bus purchase fund ended with a $334,166.72 balance. Walker noted that three new buses were expected to arrive Wednesday, Feb. 10. The debt service fund ended the year with a negative $230,123.61. Walker explained the account was under-funded by the state. He said the debts were paid out of other accounts, but were reflected in the fund account from which they were intended to be deducted.

FETC Conference report

Dan Grayson, Indian Trails Vocational District director, provided information about the nature of the recent technology conference in Florida, attended by corporation teachers and administrators, as well as the superintendent. He said the goal of the conference was teamwork and bringing additional technology to the classroom. Grayson advised that Indian Trails intends to pay for registration, transportation, lodging, per diem and substitute teachers for conference participants. Walker said the corporation will invoice Indian Trails for those expenses.

Grayson also said Indian Trails plans to develop a team-teaching model for the state and perhaps the nation. He reported that the Delphi Team, sent to Florida, was invited to apply to present at the 2010 conference.

It was announced that Chico Hatke’s Law Enforcement Program in the high school was bestowed the State Standard of Excellence Award.

Graduation rate

High school principal Barry Stone said the Delphi graduation rate was 76 percent in the 2006-07 school year but has now reached 90.6 percent. He said reasons for the increase are strategies developed and refined since 2006. Strategies to increase building safety, to address issues with in and out of school suspension, reading comprehension, student resource time monitoring, freshman orientation activities, low math scores and reading comprehension were implemented which helped to improve the overall rate.

Stone said the corporation has been unsuccessful in efforts to communicate adequately with the public, or “stakeholders” about school activities. He said communication strategies are being developed to address the situation. Stone said, in total, all efforts to improve the graduation rate have been successful on some level.

Board member Nick Cronk urged Stone to develop and present a graduation rates comparison chart with other schools in the same conference, locally, with schools containing similar population and with schools in neighboring communities. He said results could pinpoint other school models and activities which have achieved successes in different ways in raising their graduation rate.

Other business

Camden Clerk-Treasurer Pat Casserly was appointed to serve on the Camden-Jackson Township Library Board for a four-year term.

An executive session was held immediately following the meeting to address “initiation of litigation or litigation, which is either pending or has been threatened specifically in writing…” and “to discuss job performance evaluation of individual employees.”

The next board meeting will be March 8 at 7 p.m. Agenda items include a cancellation, delay and early dismissal report, Phase II – laptop expansion, approval of the Indian Trails Cooperative agreement and the 1028 public hearing for the science wing building renovation project.

Personnel

The following hires were approved:

Elementary - Ned Pettit, nine-month custodian.

Middle School - Dan LePage, 6th grade girls basketball coach; and Larry Mote, assistant wrestling coach.

High School - Patrick Lowery, head baseball coach; Paul Kubon, Onix Aviles, Jeff Shuler and Dave Gilbert, assistant baseball coaches; Ben Ticen, volunteer assistant baseball coach; Wes Allen, volunteer baseball coach; Erica Cory, assistant softball coach; John Gasser, head track coach; Arrika Yoder, Tony Wheelock, Nick Young, Doug Walker and Don Currie, assistant track coaches; Joel Wagner, Seferino Cervantes, Ethan Henderson and A.J. Erskin, volunteer track coaches; Matt Wilcox, volunteer assistant track coach; Rob Roth, head golf coach; Joyce Lawton, head tennis coach; Scott Gear, assistant tennis coach; and Phil Austin, volunteer tennis coach.

Resignations/terminations approved were: Stephanie Mayhill, terminated as middle school cafeteria worker; and Jim Alexander, resignation as Camden head custodian.