VIGO COUNTY SCHOOL CORPORATION

BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES MEETING

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING – 686 WABASH AVENUE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2008

7:00 P.M.

 

 

M I N U T E S

 

 

A meeting of the Board of School Trustees of the Vigo County School Corporation was held at the Vigo County School Corporation Administration Building, 686 Wabash Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana on Monday, September 8, 2008 at 7:00 P.M.

 

The following Board Members were present:  Mr. Gene Shike, Mrs. Jackie Lower,

Mr. Guille Cox, Dr. Joseph Minnis, Mr. Paul Lockhart, Ms. Alpa Patel, and

Mr. Mel Burks.

 

Dr. Joseph Minnis led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Spotlight

 

The Noon Optimist Club of Terre Haute presented a check for $10,000.00 to the Vigo County School Corporation for an after-school tutoring program in mathematics.

 

First Call for Citizen Comments

 

No comments were received.

 

Consent Agenda

 

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

 

The following Consent Agenda items were approved:

 

            1.         Minutes – Public Hearing on 2009 Budget – August 25, 2008

 

            2.         Minutes – Regular Meeting – August 25, 2008

 

            3.         Stipend Authorizations

 

            4.         Professional Leave Requests

 

Mrs. Lower questioned the conference to be held in Seattle, Washington and asked if there might be a similar conference held closer.  She requested those attending the conference present a report of the seminar.  Mrs. Lower also mentioned the amount of time Diane Cargile would be out of the county.

 

Ms. Patel inquired as to how many schools are using the Respect-A Bullying Prevention Program.  Mr. Azar responded that Fayette and West Vigo Elementary are the only two using that particular program.

 

In regard to the Covered Bridge SRA Corrective Reading Decoding workshop, Mrs. Lower asked if all of the teachers would be out all day, and suggested that perhaps in the future large workshops could be held in the summer.

 

Discussion – Refinance Monday

 

Mr. Tanoos stated the committee to discuss the installation of artificial turf met and decided they would not be able to secure donations matching the $980,000.00 allocated by the Board of School Trustees for this project.  He noted that the $980,000.00 needs to be spent by May 31, 2009.

 

The administration suggests that the money be used for the following projects:

 

            1.         Building a practice field at West Vigo High School

 

            2.         Phase 2 of the West Vigo Middle School renovation project

 

Considerable discussion took place among Board Members and the administration with decision being to bring back this item for approval at the September 22nd Board Meeting.

 

Discussion/Action – Board of School Trustees Contribution to the Vigo County Education Foundation

 

Mr. Tanoos requested approval of the Resolution stating that the Vigo County School Corporation will contribute One Dollar ($1.00) for every One Dollar ($1.00) of

“qualified contributions” contributed to the Vigo County Education Foundation, up to a maximum of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) from its General Fund for qualified donations received by the Foundation.  He noted the period would be from

July 1, 2008 through June 30,2009.

 

Dr. Minnis moved for approval.  Ms. Patel seconded the motion.

 

Following discussion, the motion passed unanimously.

 

(See Proceedings)

 

New Business

 

2009 Budget Adoption

 

Mrs. Wilson presented an overview of the proposed 2009 Budget, which includes the following:

 

            1.         Appropriation Reduction Resolution – Capital Projects Fund

           

            2.         Appropriation Reduction Resolution – Transportation Fund

 

            3.         Resolution to Adopt the 2009 Capital Projects Fund Plan

 

            4.         Resolution to Adopt the Year 2009 Bus Replacement Plan

 

            5.         Resolution of Appropriations – Budget Form No. 4

 

            6.         Budget Submission Letter & Certificate and Resolution of Tax Rates

                        Budget Form No. 5

 

            7.         Petition to Appeal – Shortfall Appeal

 

            8.         Petition to Appeal – Transportation Operating Appeal

 

Following discussion, Mr. Cox moved for approval of the 2009 Budget and items

1 through 8 as listed above.  Mr. Shike seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

(See Proceedings)

 

Personnel Report

 

Mr. Tanoos presented the Personnel Report for approval with the exception of the following, which he asked be withdrawn from the report per Board request.

 

Item III, Number 12

 

Mr. Burks moved for approval of the Personnel Report with the above mentioned change.  Mr. Lockhart seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

English and Foreign Language Curriculum Guides

 

Mr. Tanoos requested approval of the English and Foreign Language Curriculum Guides as were presented to the Board of School Trustees in the August 29, 2008 Board Update.

 

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

 

Grants

 

Mr. Tanoos requested approval of the following Grants:

 

            1.         Non-English Speaking Program Grant in the amount of $21,794.78.

 

            2.         Title I Grant, Part A, in the amount of $5,264,504.65

                        Title I Grant, Part D, Subpart 2 in the amount of $172,792.29

 

Mr. Lockhart moved for approval.  Ms. Patel seconded the motion.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

(See Proceedings)

Comments/Correspondence/Information

 

Second Call for Citizen Comments

 

Mrs. Jenny Thomas, Executive Director of the Education Foundation thanked the Board on behalf of the Foundation for their confidence, and assured the Board that matching funds will be raised.

 

Committee Reports

 

No reports were received.

 

Information and Proposals from Board Members and Superintendent Tanoos

 

Dr. Minnis asked if an explanation of the increase in night classes be sent to those enrolled.

 

Ms. Patel asked if would be possible to re-consider charging employees or at least consider a discount for Adult Education Classes, and asked Mr. Newport to make a recommendation.

 

Mr. Tanoos responded he would come back with a recommendation for employees.

 

Dr. Minnis inquired about the Transfer Policy and asked if any changes had been made.  Mr. Azar responded to questions, and Dr. Minnis said it is his belief that we need an updated policy in effect before January 1st.

 

Mr. Tanoos responded he would bring something to the Board regarding this matter.

 

Dr. Minnis noted that it would be nice if we had Board representation on committees of the State School Board Association next year.

 

Mrs. Lower noted that there is an Executive session meeting on Monday, September 15th, at 8:30 a.m., and a Full Day Kindergarten meeting on Monday, September 22nd at 5:00 p.m.

 

Mr. Tanoos presented a brief overview of events that have taken place over the past two weeks, and noted that the Indiana Youth Institute in Indianapolis has been using the Vigo county School Corporation as an example on mentoring.

 

Adjournment:  8:25 P.M.

 

Approved:

 

______________________________President   _____________________________

 

______________________________Vice Pres.  _____________________________

 

______________________________Secretary   _____________________________

 

______________________________Dep. Secy.