BOARD MINUTES
RISING SUN-OHIO COUNTY COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
December 12, 2007
The regular session of the Board of School Trustees was held as advertised on December 12, 2007 at 7:15 P.M. in the Ohio County Elementary-Middle School Library. Members present were Tim Adams, Jamie Bell, Felix Massey III, Corey Potts, Larry Thayer, and Superintendent Stephen Patz. Also present were Keith Majewski, Gloria Holland, Patty Huff, Bob White, Jim Clcments, Kevin Roland, Zach Maher, Harry Lovins, Megan Curry, Keli Mick, Melanie Gerhard, Tim Gerhardt, and Will Smith.
The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Members of the Board reviewed minutes from the November 13, 2007 and the December 1, 2007 board meetings. The minutes were approved by signature.
Members of the Board reviewed claims. After a brief discussion, the claims were approved by signature.
Ms. Holland gave a brief presentation on the Minds-in-Motion program being used at OCEMS. She stated that each student in kindergarten through fifth grade goes through the Minds-in-Motion exercises daily. The staff has been impressed with the progress being observed in some of the students. There is also a lab that is available for those students who have been recommended by their teachers, and who can benefit from extra exercises. There were several students present to demonstrate the program. Shelia Wilson, Jason McDaniel, Barb Smith, Laurie Stegemiller, and Tina Rumsey were also present to give explanations of the various activities.
Mr. Patz presented the Board with a resignation from Jason McDaniel from the summer weight instructor position. Mr. Patz stated that Mr. McDaniel is going to be taking summer classes and will not be available this summer. Mr. Patz recommended approving the resignation. Upon motion by Tim Adams and seconded by Corey Potts to accept the recommendation, members voted as follows: Aye – Tim Adams, Corey Potts, Larry Thayer, Felix Massey III, and Jamie Bell.
The Superintendent presented the Board with a resignation from Brenda York from the vocational school bus route effective January 1, 2008. Mr. Patz commented that Mrs. York has been driving the vocational school route for many years and has done a nice job. Mrs. York will continue driving her regular bus route. Mr. Patz recommended accepting the resignation. Upon motion by Felix Massey III to accept the recommendation and seconded by Larry Thayer, members voted as follows: Aye – Felix Massey III, Larry Thayer, Tim Adams, Jamie Bell, and Corey Potts.
Ms. Holland gave a brief ISTEP report. She stated that while the preliminary results are not complete, the biggest improvement was in the middle school when comparing the results to the 2006 school year.
Mr. Majewski presented a brief ISTEP report. He stated that the hiring of Mrs. O’Shaughnessy and Mrs. Lozier has been a success, and the City Council has approved extending the Teachers’ Aide Grant until the end of the 2008-2009 school year.
Mr. Majewski gave a brief description of the Principals of Engineering class. He stated that this is the second class in the series for Project Lead the Way. Mr. Patz recommended that the Board approve the Principals of Engineering class for the 2008-2009 school year. Upon motion by Larry Thayer and seconded by Felix Massey III to accept the recommendation, members voted as follows: Aye – Larry Thayer, Felix Massey III, Jamie Bell, Tim Adams, and Corey Potts.
Mr. Patz presented the bid for the excess property that has been advertised for sale. There was only one sealed bid which was submitted by Charlene Fancher. It was a $50.00 bid for one of the stoves. The Superintendent recommended accepting the bid. Mr. Patz also recommended that the Board declare the remaining items salvage and asked permission to dispose of them properly. Upon motion by Felix Massey III and seconded by Tim Adams to accept the recommedations, members voted as follows: Aye – Felix Massey III, Tim Adams, Larry Thayer, Corey Potts, and Jamie Bell.
The Superintendent presented the bus bid recommendation of the two stock models from Midwest Transit (bids on file) which were taken by the Wilson Education Center.
14 passenger mini-bus - $42,105.00
72 passenger bus with camera system - $73,636.00
3 extra cameras for the 72 passenger bus - $2,856.00
1 extra hard drive for camera system - $415.00
Total $119,012.00
Mr. Patz recommended accepting the bid from Midwest Transit. Upon motion by Tim Adams and seconded by Larry Thayer to accept the recommendation, members voted as follows: Aye – Tim Adams, Larry Thayer, Corey Potts, Jamie Bell, and Felix Massey III.
The Superintendent requested permission to move appropriations within major accounts in the Transportation Operating Fund, Capital Projects Funds and General Fund, as in the past, at this time of the year. Upon motion by Larry Thayer and seconded by Corey Potts to grant permission, members voted as follows: Aye – Larry Thayer, Corey Potts, Tim Adams,, Jamie Bell, and Felix Massey III.
Mr. Patz presented a list of checks that are over two years old (on file.) He requested that the Board grant permission for Kelli Keith, Treasurer to cancel these checks as directed by the State Board of Accounts. Upon motion by Tim Adams and seconded by Larry Thayer to approve the request, members voted as follows: Aye – Tim Adams, Larry Thayer, Felix Massey III, Jamie Bell, and Corey Potts.
There was a discussion regarding possible future projects that may be completed using construction funds. Some of the larger projects that may not happen if construction funds are not used include cabinets in the classrooms in the old wings of OCEMS, upgrades to the high school roof, and new fencing around OCEMS and the little league ball diamond. There are also numerous smaller projects that may be completed as funds allow. Mr. Patz asked for permission to move forward with obtaining specifications and bids on the OCEMS cabinet project, the RSHS roof project, and the OCEMS fencing project. Upon motion by Tim Adams and seconded by Corey Potts to grant permission, members voted as follows: Aye – Tim Adams, Corey Potts, Felix Massey III, Jamie Bell, and Larry Thayer.
There was a brief discussion regarding the appointment of a new board member to replace Larry Thayer as of January 1, 2008. Interviews with the two candidates were conducted on December 1, 2008. Jamie Bell abstained from the discussion and turned the meeting over to Larry Thayer, vice-president of the board. After the discussion, the Board recommended Tim Elbright to replace Mr. Thayer. Upon motion by Tim Adams and seconded by Corey Potts to appoint Mr. Elbright, members voted as follows: Aye – Tim Adams, Corey Potts, Felix Masssey III, and Larry Thayer. Abstain – Jamie Bell.
The Board instructed Mr. Patz to send letters to both candidates to inform them of the Board’s decision.
Mr. Patz presented the itinerary for the high school band’s trip to New York City and Philadelphia which will take place in April 17-21, 2008. Mr. Patz commented that this is a very nice trip and is very educational for the students. Mr. Patz recommended to the Board that approval be given for the band to take this trip. Upon motion by Corey Potts and seconded by Tim Adams to approve the recommendation, members voted as follows: Aye – Corey Potts, Tim Adams, Jamie Bell, Felix Massey III, and Larry Thayer.
The Superintendent asked the Board’s permission to hire Educational Services Company to review the Corporation’s 401(A)/403(B) plan to be sure that the Corporation is in compliance with the plan. He stated that recent IRS guidelines make it more difficult to keep up with the regulations. He stated that South Dearborn Schools are also hiring Educational Services Company to review their plan, and that it would be more economical for the two schools to use the same company. Upon motion by Felix Massey III and seconded by Corey Potts to give permission for Mr. Patz to hire Educational Services Company, members voted as follows: Aye – Felix Massey III, Corey Potts, Larry Thayer, Tim Adams, and Jamie Bell.
There was a brief discussion regarding a grant that was obtained to further the arts in the elementary-middle school. Some of the projects funded by the grant include: the flower pot project, and operas and plays to be presented at the school.
Jamie Bell, Board president, thanked Larry Thayer for his many years of service to the Board of School Trustees. His presence will be missed.
The Board of School Trustees of the Rising Sun-Ohio County Community School Corporation did not discuss any subject matter in executive session other than the topics specified in the public notice.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 P.M.