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An anonymous donation of $500 to Lancaster Elementary School highlighted a brief meeting of the Northern Wells School Board Tuesday night.
The donation was made by a family who wanted the money to be used by teachers to assist students in need, said Supt. Dr. Scott Mills.
As an example he said that a student might need supplies and have nowhere else to turn. Or a student might suffer the loss of all of his or her possessions in a fire. Some of the money could be used to buy the student some clothing—just enough to get by until the family is back on its feet.
Mills observed that the teachers already have a fund for those occasions and it is that fund where the $500 will be placed.
“It’s there to help out kids who need help,” said Mills.
In other business, Mills informed the board that the search to find a suitable architect for the Norwell remodeling project has been narrowed to one choice—which was not disclosed at Tuesday’s meeting.
“We plan to negotiate with them and return to the board with a recommendation at the Sept. 23 meeting,” said Mills.
The board members also approved of overnight field trips for the high school band and FFA Chapter. The band wants to go to the Bands of America Grand Nationals at Indianapolis Nov. 14-16 while the FFA plans to attend the National Convention, also in Indianapolis, Oct. 22-24.
The board also approved of an out-of-state field trip for Ossian Elementary School’s fourth grade to Sauder Village and Farm in Archbold, Ohio on Oct. 16.
The board also approved of hiring:
—Phyllis Phipps to a full-time position as fifth grade teacher at Lancaster.
—Kelli Ruble and Vickie Roby as student council advisors at Lancaster.
—Nancy Smith for high school food service.
—Sarah Leeth—an ICE student—as preschool aid at Lancaster.
—Debbie Darnell as high school Business Professionals of America sponsor retroactive to the 2007-08 school year.
—Mike Niermeyer as a high school boys’ golf assistant coach, also retroactive to the 2007-08 school year.
—Andrew Shively as a middle school volunteer football coach.
—Tiffany Jackson and Melissa Northrop as co-student council sponsors at the high school.
—Susan Kahn as spring drama director at the high school.
—Cylie King as dance team director at the high school.
—Stasha Carney, an ICE student, as lunch/recess aid at Lancaster.
The board also learned of the following resignations:
—Tim Reyes as high school student council sponsor.
—Kristine Everett as middle school cheerleading coach.
—Taija Tuttle as Lancaster Elementary latchkey/recess supervisor.
—Deb Connett for Systematic Supplemental Instruction at Lancaster Elementary.
Mills also provided the board members with some written information regarding the performance of Norwell students on the ACT. He wanted to give the board members some time to read the information with a report planned for a future board meeting.
Mills also took a survey of which board members plan to attend the fall conference of the Indiana School Board Association/Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents in Indianapolis Sept. 29 and 30.
Tuesday’s meeting was followed by a public tour of the high school and the swimming pool led by buildings and grounds supervisor John Kochert to review the work that was done by the maintenance staff to spruce up the high school for this school year. One of the major items was the replacement of the badly deteriorated accordion walls in several of the rooms with new, permanent walls. Light fixtures were also replaced in many of the rooms. All of the changes can be incorporated into any future remodeling plans, according to Mills.
The meeting was also preceded and followed by an executive session to discuss collective bargaining, school safety and security, to interview prospective employees and to discuss the job performance of individual employees.
The board’s next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 9, at 5:30 p.m.
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