VIGO COUNTY SCHOOL CORPORATION

BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES MEETING

FEBRUARY 24, 2003

 

A regular meeting of the Board of School Trustees of the Vigo County School Corporation, Vigo County, Indiana, was held at the Administration Building, 686

Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana, on the 24th day of February at 7:00 P.M.

 

The following Board Members were present:  Dr. Joseph Minnis, Mr. Kenneth Schuster, Mr. Michael Tom, Mr. Mel Burks, Mr. Gene Shike, Mr. Alferd Hamblen, and Mr. Guille Cox.

 

Pledge of Allegiance

 

Mr. Mel Burks led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Spotlight

 

Mr. Doug Dillion and Mr. Ken Amos, technology teachers at Honey Creek Middle School, in conjunction with the Home Builders Association of Greater Terre Haute, developed the Tech Town program for middle school students in Vigo County.  Mr. Dillion, along with Honey Creek students Megan Sanders and Daniel Tanoos, and Mr. Paul Trench, representing the Home Builders Association, presented a brief overview of the program that is designed to expose students to every facet of the home building process.

 

First Call for Citizens Comments

 

(None)

 

Consent Agenda

 

Mr. Burks moved for approval of the Consent Agenda.  Mr. Shike seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

The following Consent Agenda items were approved:

 

            1.            Minutes – Regular Meeting – February 10, 2003

            2.            Financial Status Report – Month Ending January 2003

            3.            Encumbrance Report – Period Ending January 31, 2003

            4.            Accounts Payable Docket – February 24, 2003

            5.            Professional Leave Requests

 

New Business

 

Personnel Report

 

Mr. Tanoos requested approval of the Personnel Report.

 

Mr. Burks moved for approval.  Mr. Tom seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Resolution for Transfers to the General Fund

 

Mr. Thornton requested that the Board of School Trustees adopt a resolution to transfer funds from the School Bus Replacement Fund and the Capital Projects Fund to the General Fund.  He noted that House Enrolled Act 1196, passed by the 2002 General Assembly, made reductions in state support to the General Fund for school corporations and allowed for transfers to be made from other corporation funds to cover the reduction.

 

Mr. Hamblen moved for approval.  Mr. Schuster seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

(See Proceedings)

 

Appropriation Reduction Resolution

 

Mr. Thornton requested that the resolution of appropriation reduction be adopted by the Board of School Trustees to facilitate the transfer of appropriation from the Capital Projects Fund and the Bus Replacement Fund to the General Fund.  He noted that this reduction of appropriations for these two funds is necessary to prevent the use of the amounts in these funds after the movement of the money to the General Fund.

 

Mr. Burks moved for approval.  Mr. Hamblen seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

(See Proceedings)

 

Resolution Approving Refunding of Bonds

 

Mr. Bauer presented the resolution approving the refunding of the bonds for the Honey Creek Middle School and the North/South Vigo High School that were issued in 1993 for approval.

 

Mr. Shike moved for approval.  Mr. Schuster seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

(See Proceedings)

 

Resolution Approving Continuing Disclosure Undertaking

 

Mr. Thornton recommended that the Board of School Trustees adopt the resolution approving continuing disclosure undertaking that was prepared by Ice Miller.

 

Mr. Cox moved for approval.  Mr. Burks seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

(See Proceedings)

 

Elementary School Construction Project Bid Awards

 

Mr. Thornton noted that bids for the elementary school construction projects were tabulated and reviewed by Hannum, Wagle and Cline, and recommended that that contracts be awarded for a total construction cost of $27,170,894.

 

Mr. Shike moved for approval.  Mr. Hamblen seconded that motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

(See Proceedings)

 

Resolution Assigning Construction Bids to Building Corporation

 

Mr. Thornton requested permission to approve the resolution prepared by Ice Miller to assign the construction contracts for the construction of the three new elementary schools to the Vigo County Elementary School Building Corporation.  He also recommended that the administration be granted permission to publish notice of a public hearing to discuss the appropriation of the funds received from the sale of real estate on March 10, 2003.

 

Mr. Burks moved for approval.  Mr. Cox seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

(See Proceedings)

 

Football Bleachers, Lights, and Fields

 

Mr. Lisby requested approval for the football bleachers, lights, and fields at Terre Haute North Vigo, Terre Haute South Vigo, and West Vigo High Schools to be upgraded per information provided at the February 10, 2003 Board Meeting, and responded to questions from Board Members.

 

Mr. Shike moved approval for all areas, which would include bleachers, crowning of fields, lighting, and concession, restroom and storage if funding is available.  Mr. Tom seconded the motion.

 

Mr. Cox moved to amend Mr. Shike’s motion by voting on each item separately if funding is available.  Dr. Minnis seconded the motion.  Dr. Minnis, Mr. Tom, Mr. Burks, Mr. Hamblen and Mr. Cox voted “yes.”  Mr. Shike and Mr. Schuster voted “no.”

 

Mr. Cox’s amendment was approved to vote on each of the following items separately if funding is available:

 

Bleachers – All Board Members voted “yes.”

 

Crowning of Fields – All Board Members voted “yes.”

 

Lighting – All Board Members voted “yes.”

 

Concessions/Restrooms/Storage – Mr. Schuster, Mr. Tom, Mr. Burks, Mr. Shike and Mr. Hamblen voted “yes.”  Dr. Minnis and Mr. Cox voted “no.”

 

Appointment to Vigo County Public Library Board

 

Mr. Tanoos requested permission to reappoint Mrs. Mary DeBard to the Vigo County Public Library Board of Trustees.  He noted that Mrs. DeBard is eligible for reappointment and has indicated that she would be willing to serve another four-year term.

 

Mr. Schuster moved for approval.  Mr. Burks seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Grants

 

Mr. Tanoos requested approval to accept the following grants:

 

            a.            West Vigo High School Vikes and Tykes Program

            b.            Professional Development Schools Grant – Chauncey Rose Middle School

            c.            Professional Development Schools Grant – Sarah Scott Middle School

            d.            Professional Development Schools Grant – Terre Haute North Vigo

            e.            Professional Development Schools Grant – Terre Haute South Vigo

            f.            Professional Development Schools Grant – West Vigo High School

 

Mr. Burks moved to approve the grants.  Mr. Tom seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Comments/Correspondence/Information

 

Second Call for Citizens Comments

 

(None)

 

Information and Proposals From Board Members

 

Mr. Shike commented that he received information from the administration stating that everything has been worked out with Youth Football.  Mr. Shike stated that there was a previous motion passed by the Board to ask Youth Football not to name their teams after our middle schools, and in his opinion that request should be removed from the records.

 

Mr. Shike moved to rescind the Board’s decision to ask the Youth Football League not to name their teams after the middle schools.  Mr. Burks seconded the motion.  Dr. Minnis, Mr. Schuster, Mr. Tom, Mr. Burks, Mr. Shike, and Mr. Cox voted “yes.”  Mr. Hamblen “abstained.”

 

Mr. Tanoos reported to the Board that due to snow weight and collapsed roofs over parts of the country, Mr. Danner has sent a memo to our principals and custodians asking them to check school roofs.

 

Mr. Tanoos reported to the Board that to ensure student safety, our schools are required to do a monthly fire drill and the forms are then sent to Mr. Etling.  He noted that the schools do a tremendous job, and students and staff exit their buildings very quickly.

 

Mr. Tanoos highlighted the program Kids Hope USA and noted there are currently 255 at-risk elementary students matched with Kids Hope USA mentors.

 

Mr. Tanoos spoke regarding school delays due to inclement weather, and assured parents that the staff in every school is required to be at work at regular time even though there may be a delay in school starting time.  He commented that if parents need to go to work they can bring their child to school and there will be staff available to take care of them.

 

Adjournment:  8:30 P.M.

Approved:

 

______________________________President    ______________________________

 

______________________________Vice Pres.  ______________________________

 

______________________________Secretary   ______________________________

 

______________________________Dep. Secy.