By: James Pruitt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
With one-third of seniors and a quarter of seventh-graders still not vaccinated for meningitis, the halls at Edgerton High and Middle schools could be sparsely populated.
The district is setting a deadline for compliance or setting up an appointment to be vaccinated or students will be sent home starting Sept. 20. The deadline is coming after direction from the state which issued the mandate before the school year began.
All students in seventh and 12th grades have to be vaccinated to remain in school.
School board officials say the district has sent out numerous notices and letters warning parents.
The district’s enrollment report is not ready yet, but there is speculation the school’s numbers are down slightly.
The access road behind baseball field looks nice, Superintendent Andy Morr said.
The district needs to start a bus rotation for a new 72-passenger bus. The district held off last year due to mild winter, which actually helped the fleet, Morr said.
The district will likely pay in the mid-$80,000 range for a new bus. The district will likely get bids around Christmas and be ready for next year, he said.
The district owes $44,000 on a bus and it has been suggested making double payments to get it off the books.
The board also discussed the need for a new scoreboard at the football field.
The current scoreboard is old and is not compatible with modern updates. The clock did not work at a recent game and an old plug had to be reinserted to get the device working.
A new board will cost between $10,000 and $50,000. The new board could have advertising to support the cost much like the new unit in Edon.
A new controller could run the 25-second clock.
The district would need to order a new board in the spring to get ready for next fall. Donations will be sought to pay for it.
High School and Middle School Report
Robotics is becoming a popular class at the school, according to Principal Roger Cade.
Cade brought in two examples of the work the students have done this year, an elephant and a machine.
The students have made it so the elephant robot can climb stairs.
“The kids put it together and programmed it,” Cade said. “The kids are excited about doing this. “We’ve got to pry them away from it to get to their next class.”
Students can design their robots through the Chromebooks they receive from the district.
The Marching Band performed at the Williams County Fair and Cade thought they were the most entertaining band.
Important upcoming dates:
Oct. 7 Homecoming
Oct. 11 Group photo day.
Elementary School report
The Elementary School will start its annual Yankee Candle fundraiser, Principal Kermit Riehle said.
The fundraiser began with an assembly Sept. 21. The student who sells the most candles will be named “Principal of the Day.” For every $200 in sales, the student will be entered in a drawing for a Reading tablet.
The PTO has set up spirit tables at home football games for fans to purchase Bulldog apparel. Purchases support the elementary school.
Third graders will be participating in a square dance and parents and grandparents are invited to attend. The event begins at 2:15 p.m. Oct. 19. Lona Krill and John Minor are organizing the dance.
Fire Safety Week is Oct. 4-10 and the kindergarten will get a tour of the fire hall.
Red Ribbon Week is Oct. 23-31. Activities will bring awareness of drug abuse and addiction in the county.
Grandparents Day is Oct. 7 and plans are in place to make it better than before.
James Pruitt may be reached at
publisher@thevillagereporter.com