The North Central School board met on Monday, September 24, with a short agenda. The first item of business was to approve a motion to include the FFA’s (Future Farmers of America) trip to the annual convention on the consent agenda.
The FFA will be sending 15 students and two chaperones to the convention in Indianapolis. Member Chelsea Montag will be receiving the American FFA Degree at the convention. This is the highest honor that an FFA member can receive. The motion to approve the agenda was passed.
The Board approved the minutes from August’s meeting, approved the financial statements and investments from last month, and discussed the employment of the following:
• Adam Parrott – Honor Society Advisor
• Rene Roesener – Cafeteria – 2 hour/day
They are still evaluating the crossing guard position. Boyer pointed out that that with the expansion at Menard’s Warehouse, up to a four-fold increase in traffic was expected, and that an additional guard may be needed. Regarding the safety of Pioneer’s children, he would “rather be safe than sorry.”
Elementary Principal Paul Jones gave his report, and said that there were 242 students enrolled from grades Pre-K through 6th. He said that there were 35 students in grades 1st-6th who were signed up for Release Time Bible Ministries (RBM), a program where students can leave early to attend Bible study at a local church on Friday afternoons.
DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills) testing had begun for grades 1-6. He said that this was the first year that grades K-6th had been tested. The test was designed to help teachers identify students who need help with their reading skills.
The 21st Century Program, an after school grant program which provides academic enrichment to participating children, will begin on October 1. This year, however, transportation will not be provided.
The FAST Program (Families and Schools Together) will be headed by guidance counselor Diane Veres. There are several families interested in participating in FAST which is an intervention/prevention based after-school program.
High school Principal Tim Rettig prefaced his report by telling the board that all teachers now had electronic tablets. He said that there were 270 students enrolled in grades 7 – 12. He gave a sports update and said that the golf team had won the BBC (Buckeye Border Conference) championship on Friday, September 21, 2012. The varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams had begun their season, and were showing improvements.
Rettig said that he is pleased with the staff, and that “it’s been a great year so far.”
Superintendent Ken Boyer asked the board to approve permanent appropriations for Fiscal Year 2013 as presented, which addressed how the board pays the school’s bills. Boyer also asked that a five-year forecast through the year 2017 be approved. The forecast showed that at the end of those five years, the board should be in the black with a cash balance of just under $300,000. Both motions were approved.
Boyer also discussed open enrollment in the North Central School district. He said that 110 students were presently opting out of the district to other schools, but that 24 students had come into the district through the open-enrollment policy with a net loss of 86 students. He said that this figure was better than in years past.
The board went into executive session to discuss personnel matters, and then concluded business for the evening.