MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

METROPOLITAN SCHOOL DISTRICT OF MARTINSVILLE

The Board of School Trustees of the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville met on Wednesday, September 20, 2006, in the Administration Office. Members present were Randy Wells, Michael O’Neal, Charles Sampson, and Mary Lou Thomas. Also in attendance were Dr. Ron Furniss, Superintendent; Randy Taylor, Assistant Superintendent of Business; Dr. Jerry Sanders, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction; Kendra Clauser, IUPUI; Steve Vail, WCBK; Hannah Lodge, Reporter-Times; and Jennifer Teare.

Vice President Wells called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. He asked the audience to join the members of the Board of School Trustees in the Pledge of Allegiance.

100001:06 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

100002:06 APPROVAL OF REGULAR BOARD MINUTES

There were no additions or corrections to the minutes of the August 17, 2006 meeting and the September 7, 2006 meeting, so they were approved as mailed.

RESOLVED, that the Board of School Trustees approves the August 17, 2006 and September 7, 2006 minutes.

Moved, Thomas Seconded, Sampson

Ayes - 4 Nays – 0

100003.06 VISITOR REQUEST TO COMMENT ON BOARD ITEMS

None at this meeting.

100004.06 COMMUNICATIONS

1. Request to approve overnight and/or out-of-state field trips

A. Boys’ cross-country team of Martinsville High School to stay overnight on Friday, September 22, 2006, in Culver, IN to participate Saturday morning in a cross-country tournament hosted by Culver Military Academy. The team will leave after school on Friday and return Saturday after the meet.

RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees approves the request of the Martinsville High School Boys’ Cross Country Team to participate in the Culver Military Academy Cross Country Tournament as recommended.

Moved, O’Neal Seconded, Sampson

Ayes - 4 Nays – 0

2. Request to approve professional travel

A. Martinsville High School English/Language Arts teachers Carri Randall, Nancy Metheny, and Carl Wagner to attend and serve as presenters at the National Council of Teachers of English Annual Conference in Nashville, TN from November 16-21, 2006.

B. Jerry Sanders, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction to attend the ‘Teaching American History Project Directors Conference’ in Cleveland, OH from October 4-6, 2006. Dr. Sanders’ attendance is part of the Teaching American History Grant’s requirements.

C. Retroactively: Beth Baldwin, language arts teacher at West Middle School, to attend a three-day seminar at the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.

RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees approves the request of professional travel for Carri Randall, Nancy Metheny, Carl Wagner, Jerry Sanders, and Beth Baldwin as recommended.

Moved, Thomas Seconded, O’Neal

Ayes - 4 Nays – 0

3. Request to purchase by WREP of Martinsville High School a Dell Laptop Computer for $595.00. The computer will be paid for through Funds raised through the selling of advertisements.

RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees approves the purchase request of WREP for a Dell laptop as recommended.

Moved, Sampson Seconded, Thomas

Ayes - 4 Nays – 0

100005.06 TREASURER’S REPORT

1. Consideration of Payroll Claims

A. Claims for the payroll periods ending August 18, 2006 in the amount of $572,148.87; September 1, 2006 in the amount of $628,045.64; September 5, 2006 in the amount of $527.36; and September 15, 2006 in the amount of $639,544.62.

RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees approves the payroll claims as submitted.

Moved, Thomas Seconded, O’Neal

Ayes - 4 Nays – 0

B. Claims for contract drivers were submitted for pay period ending September 1, 2006 in the amount of $45,891.86 and September 15, 2006 in the amount of $42,988.43.

RESOLVED, that the Board of School Trustees approves the contract driver claims as submitted.

Moved, O’Neal Seconded, Thomas

Ayes - 4 Nays – 0

2. Consideration of Budgetary Claims

A. There were 656 budgetary claims submitted for approval.

Contracted Services $207,303.29 20.73%

Insurance

-Health, Dental, Life, Disability $304,395.87 30.45%

-Liability, Vehicles, Workmen's Comp $1,101.70 0.11%

Pension Bonds – VEBA contributions $19,860.43 1.99%

Bond Payment/Lease Rental $0 0%

Utilities $64,847.32 6.49%

Fund Transfers $0 0% All Other (supplies/equipment, etc.) $402,287.98 40.24%

Total $999,796.59

RESOLVED, that the Board of School Trustees approves the budgetary claims as submitted.

Moved, O’Neal Seconded, Sampson

Ayes - 4 Nays – 0

100006.06 AUDIENCE

None at this meeting.

100007.06 SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

A. Policy Action

None at this meeting.

B. Personnel Action

1. Request to employ certified staff

a. Melanie Sheets as an English/Language Arts teacher at Martinsville High School. Ms. Sheets is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, where she majored in Spanish and minored in English. She has previous teaching experience in Evansville and Mooresville schools. She is recommended by Martinsville High School principal, Don Alkire.

b. Tiffany Johnson as a fifth grade teacher at South Elementary School. Ms. Johnson is a graduate of Ball State University and this will be her first teaching position, though she fulfilled a long-term substitute assignment at Paragon Elementary School. She is recommended by South Elementary School principal, Mr. Mike Bodine.

c. Leslie White as a kindergarten teacher, half-time at Smith Elementary School and half-time at Central Elementary School. Ms. White earned her BS from Franklin College and MA from Indiana Wesleyan University in early childhood literacy. She comes to us with four years of experience gained in the Clark-Pleasant Schools. She is recommended by Smith Elementary School principal, Ms. Jan Gearhart, and Central Elementary School principal, Mr. Peter Jochim.

d. Tiffany Hoyt-Smith as a fifth grade teacher at Paragon Elementary School. Ms. Hoyt-Smith is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, and earned her elementary teaching certificate from Calumet College of St. Joseph. This will be her first teaching position. She is recommended by Paragon Elementary School principal, Ms. Dru Voiles.

e. Amanda Gonzalez as a Title I teacher at Brooklyn Elementary School. Ms. Gonzalez is a graduate of IUPUI and this will be her first teaching assignment. She is recommended by Brooklyn Elementary School principal, Ms. Debbie Wagner.

f. Chanda Marie Terwiske as a half-time Title I teacher at Paragon Elementary School. Ms. Terwiske is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, and has taught at St. Charles School in Bloomington. She is recommended by Paragon Elementary School principal, Ms. Dru Voiles.

g. Matt Vlasman as an English/Language Arts teacher at Martinsville High School. Mr. Vlasman is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, and this will be his first teaching assignment. He is recommended by Martinsville High School principal, Mr. Don Aklire.

RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees approves the employment of Melanie Sheets, Tiffany Johnson, Leslie White, Tiffany Hoyt-Smith, Amanda Gonzalez, Chanda Marie Terwiske, and Matt Vlasman as recommended.

Moved, Thomas Seconded, Sampson

Ayes - 4 Nays – 0

2. Request to approve the recommendation of Director of Transportation

Dennis Mills is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, and has been a Deputy Sheriff with the Morgan Country Sheriff’s Department for years. We feel his experiences in law enforcement, roads and driving laws will transfer readily to the job of Director of Transportation.

RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees approves the employment Dennis Mills as Director of Transportation as recommended.

Moved, O’Neal Seconded, Thomas

Ayes - 4 Nays – 0

C. Reports

1. Curriculum Moment

Dr. Sanders introduced Kendra Clauser, who is the Project Coordinator of the Teaching American History Grant that the MSD of Martinsville received in June. She explained that the Teaching American History Grant (TAH-M) is a three year grant through the U.S. Department of Education and they stress collaboration between the school systems, universities and historical organizations. The goal is “to support programs that raise student achievement by improving teachers’ knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American history.’ The schools and organizations partnered in this project are the MSD of Martinsville, Indian Creek Schools, IUPUI, Indiana Historical Society, Polis Center, Eiteljorg Museum, Historic Landmarks, Conner Prairie Living History Museum, Frederick Douglass Papers Project, and President Benjamin Harrison Home. The teachers will attend seminars, field trips, curriculum development/resource workshops and research travel. Dr. Furniss asked what the finished product will be in three years when the program is completed. Dr. Sanders explained that there will be a DVD of the different historical sites around the country that they have visited. They will also receive many resources and books. Teachers can choose to participate in the grant and Dr. Sanders passed out information on the different levels of participation. He stated that there has been a lot of interest in the program.

2. ADM Comparisons

The preliminary average daily membership for 2006-2007 is 5,642 students. This number is down 11 students from last year. It is common for membership to fluctuate a little from year to year and does not affect funding unless membership is down three years in a row.

3. M.S.D. Tributes

a. Congratulations to Martinsville High School’s Girls’ Golf Team for winning the Mid-State Conference’s golf tournament and for winning I.H.S.A.A. Sectional Championship.

b. Thank you to the seventh grade boys’ football team of East Middle School for picking up trash after the eighth grade game last week and the team from Batchelor Middle School for joining in to help. This is all part of EMS’S Character Counts Program to be a giver rather than a taker, and to being a contributor to making their school, community, nation and world a better place to live.

c. Congratulations to Angie Stocklin, school psychologist, who has been named to the newly mandated ‘Response to Intervention’ state committee to work with the Department of Education on the interpretation and implementation of special education laws.

d. Congratulations to all students for preparing to take the ISTEP+.

100008.06 OTHER BUSINESS

1. Request to approve the 2007 calendar year budget

The budget included the General Fund, Debt Service Fund, Capital Projects Fund, Transportation – Operating Fund, Transportation – Bus Replacement Fund, and Pre-School Special Education Fund as presented at the September 7, 2006 Budget Hearing.

RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees approves the 2007 calendar year budget as submitted.

Moved, Thomas Seconded, Sampson

Ayes - 4 Nays – 0

100009.06 BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AND ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDA

Charles Sampson stated that he witnessed the students picking up trash after the East Middle School/Bachelor Middle School football game and that he was very proud of the teams and students.

1000010.06 ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to be considered, the Board of School Trustees does hereby adjourn the September 20, 2006 meeting at 8:05 p.m. The Board of School Trustees immediately reconvened in an Executive Session.

The next regular meeting of the Board of School Trustees of the M.S.D. of Martinsville will be held Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 12:00 p.m.