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Bylaws, Policies & Administrative Guidelines |
Snippets 2006-07 (Pg. 2)
Snippets Index: The Snippets information is organized by a July through the following June format, generally corresponding to the school year. 12/19/06 Board Meeting And Other Info (12/20/06) - Board member Sommers was absent from the meeting. Several corrections to the 12/5/06 minutes were unanimously approved including Board member Zartman had requested that the topic "study halls" be on the 12/19/06 Agenda for discussion. Unanimously approved were Claims totaling $236,491.25 including $804.99 for a projector for the Agriculture Department, $3,200.00 for annual membership in the Indiana School Boards Association, $338.00 for two laser jet printers (one for Mrs. Helt, Jr. High English and one for Mr. Houston, High School English), and $585.00 for student drug testing. Mrs. Judy Uhrich's request to extend her leave for the remainder of the school year and extending Miss Nicole Williams' temporary contract for the remainder of the school year to replace Mr. Uhrich were both unanimously approved. Mrs. Debra Smith's request for expense reimbursement ($468.25) to attend a Financial Management class at IU Kokomo was approved 3 to 1 (Ayers). The presentations regarding ISTEP+ scores and Board Goals by the principals was table until the January 9, 2007 meeting due to both principals not being able to attend this meeting. (see this and last school years' ISTEP+ scores ; see Board Goals)
1/9/07 Board Meeting And Other
Info (1/11/07) - An Executive Session (What
are the permitted reasons?) to
discuss a job performance evaluation of individual employees preceded the
Regular Meeting. Unanimously approved were Claims totaling $673,548.39 including $922.50 for after school training of Jr.-Sr. High math teachers in utilization of the Accelerated Math program (those trained and each being paid $112.50: Mr. Buczkowski, Mr. Eberly, Mr. Myers, and Mr. Uhrich; also paid the same amount was Mr. Olsson, Assistant Principal to familiarize him with the program; providing the training were teachers Ms. Button and Mr. Mollenkopf, each being paid $180.00); $169,166.54 for the Energy Savings Contract which is a semi-annual payment made from the Capital Projects Fund for ten years (this pertains to work done during the summer of 2005 including completing air conditioning plans, upgrading lighting, replacing Jr.-Sr. High lockers, etc.); and $297.00 for a printer/fax/copier for the Guidance Office. The following were unanimously approved as presented and reflected on the Agenda (see Agenda): Conference Requests and Financial. Added to the Agenda and unanimously approved was attendance for the FFA Chapter Officers at the Leaders Development Workshop to be held in Trafalgar, IN. Board member Cress was elected as President of the Board of Finance and Board member Sommers as Secretary, both unanimously. Upon review the CY 2006 Report of Investments was unanimously approved. This showed total interest earned as $136,188.81 from checking/savings/CDs and this amount is credited to the General Fund. Principals Douglass and Rickett reported on progress in meeting Board Goals and on recent ISTEP+ results. (An additional account of the ISTEP+ Report was published by the Logansport Pharos-Tribune.) 1/23/07 Board Meeting Results And Other Info (1/25/07) - Unanimously approved were claims totaling $235,899.90 including $15,720.46 distributed to the textbook rental account. (This is a partial reimbursement - 58.774% - of the amount submitted by Caston to the State for textbook assistance provided to qualified applicants. The remaining balance, if unpaid by the applicant, is absorbed by the textbook rental account.) A motion to accept Mr. Rickett's resignation effective June 30, 2007 was approved 3 to 2 (Ayers, Sommers) and Lisa Zimpleman's resignation as Spanish teacher effective at the end of this school year was unanimously approved. Unanimously approved was the transfer of $76,000 from the 2006 General Fund Budget to the Rainy Day Fund (This is used to meet teacher retirement obligations. As of December 31, 2006 the Rainy Day Fund had a balance of $391,182.61.) Several revised Policies were considered for first
reading (a second reading is also required for approval and will possibly occur
at the February 6th Board meeting). These included, in part, the
following proposed wording: Discussed the possibility of using First Advantage to conduct Criminal Background Screenings for Caston. This could include a "National" Sex Offender Database Search, "National" Criminal Record Database Search, and Indiana Participating Courts Search that currently searches the criminal conviction records of between 30 and 40 Indiana counties. The topic was taken under advisement. Discussed the possible construction of a Waste Water Treatment Building that would include a lab testing area/office, work area, storage, and bathroom/mechanical room. Proposed floor plan was reviewed. Currently there is $75,000 in the Capital Projects Fund set aside for this project. Cost estimates will be obtained, however, at this time no decision has been made to construct the building. Discussed possible changes to the Kindergarten Room to accommodate full day kindergarten, possibly beginning in the fall of 2008. Proposed floor plans were reviewed, additional input given, and the Board requested that the plans be revised. Additional reports
on this meeting: 2/8/07 Board Meeting Results And Other Info (2/10/07) - The January 31, 2007 Treasurer's Report (see excerpts) was unanimously approved as presented. Unanimously approved were claims totaling $433,431.25 that included $277.50 to publish Caston's Annual Performance Report (APR) in The Observer (Kewanna) and $343.82 to publish the same report in the Logansport Pharos-Tribune (Caston is required to publish the report in a newspaper of both counties since townships in both are served by Caston. This APR may also be accessed here.); $3,680 to Logansport Community School Corporation (LCSC) for students taking vocational classes at the Century Career Center (the amount is determined by the number of participating students and the classes taken and the payment is made five times - every other month; 3/7/07 CORRECTION: typically a $1,840 monthly payment is made for ten months ); $39,754.90 to LCSC for students participating in special education programs (this amount is paid monthly for ten months); $10,900.00 for an intercom "command station" in each school office that allows communication between the office and classrooms (the total cost of this will eventually be about $13,000); $472.00 for bus driver drug testing, and; $300.00 for random student drug testing. All other items on the Agenda were approved. 2/20/07 Board Meeting Results And Other Info (2/20/07) - Unfortunately technical difficulties, that have now been resolved, prevented this website from publishing advance information about the agenda for this meeting. Apologies are extended for this inconvenience. Unanimously approved were claims totaling $280,963.85 that included $22,172.89 to Duke Energy for electrical consumption, i.e. heating, lighting, etc; $10, 685.20 to Metropolitan School District of Wabash County for two Caston students placed by the Court at White's Residential and Family Services (it is estimated that the total cost for this for the school year will be about $30,000); and $300.00 for random student drug testing. Revised plans for expanding and reconfiguring the Kindergarten area to accommodate full day kindergarten were reviewed and discussed. Currently, these plans include expanding the area to the west towards Highway 25 and configuring the space to have four classrooms, each consisting of 1,100 square feet. There was Board consensus to proceed with further development of the plans so as to further establish estimated cost. It is contemplated that this project would be done using Capital Project Funds. The revised plan may be seen in the Administration Building and the Elementary School. All agenda action items were approved unanimously. (Additional information about textbook rental reimbursement from the State is published here.) 3/6/07 Board Meeting Results And Other Info (3/7/07) - The February 28, 2007 Treasurer's Report (see excerpts) was unanimously approved as presented. Unanimously approved were claims totaling $331,654.43 that included $12,002.59 that was received from the state/federal government for reimbursement for free and reduced price lunches and in turn was redistributed to the Cafeteria Account (typically reimbursement occurs monthly during the school year); $225.00 to "Ulerick and Bruntlett" Ditching for removal of snow drifts using a backhoe with loader; $1,840.00 for vocational school tuition (see above correction); $905.00 for a digital keyboard piano for the Music Department; and $680.00 for random student drug testing. Unanimously approved were: liability insurance for another year with the Patriot Insurance Corp. of Kokomo at $55,622.00 and use of the football bleachers and restrooms on April 8, 2007 by Metea Baptist Church for an Easter Sunrise Service to which the public is invited. There was discussion about:
3/20/07 Board Meeting Results And Other Info (3/22/07) - Unanimously approved were claims totaling $245,890.50 that included $25,628.68 to Duke Energy for electrical consumption, i.e. heating, lighting, etc; $725.24 for revised floor plans for the expanded Kindergarten area; $5,238.06 for repacement of an electrical distribution box that went bad; $899.75 for a laptop computer to be used by Mary Nell Smith, Teacher/Librarian; $996.22 to repair a slicer for the Kitchen; and $665.00 for random student drug testing. Unanimously approved was the 2007-2008 School Calendar with the first day for students being Wednesday, August 15, 2007 and the last day being Friday, May 23, 2008 (subject to the need to make up missed days). Lida Moeller and her senior son, Ben, addressed the Board regarding the "2 days absence or less and finals do not have to be taken" rule as it relates to having sufficient time to visit universities where a senior has been admitted. Ben has been admitted to Yale University in New Haven, CT and also several others. At times this must be done on a university's designated "Admitted Student Days," some of which are during the week so that prospective students may visit while classes are in session. They do not think it is fair to be penalized by having to take finals due to absences for this reason. After discussing this the Board took no action on the matter. 4/10/07 Board Meeting Results And Other Info (4/12/07) - The March 31, 2007 Treasurer's Report (see excerpts) was unanimously approved as presented. Unanimously approved were claims totaling $495,885.72 that included $1,699.00 to replace a laminator in the Elementary; $695.00 for sheet music for the Music Department; $1,543.70 for physical education supplies for the Jr.-Sr. High; $1,590.00 for registration of two school board members for the Annual Conference of the National School Boards Association being held in San Francisco; $16,595.97 for diesel fuel for the school and activity buses; and $300.00 for random student drug testing. Mr. Dan Foster was unanimously approved as the Jr.-Sr. High School Principal, effective July 1, 2007, at a first year (225 days) salary of $76,000. He and his wife, "Rachel," were in attendance at this Board meeting. Eighteen applications were received and a committee of teachers, staff and two students assisted with the interviewing. (The Pharos-Tribune) An estimate of probable costs, $706,329.80, for the Kindergarten remodeling and addition was received and discussed with architect Mark Mattox. No action was taken at this time. (What are the long-term benefits of Full Day Kindergarten? - click here) ("Full Day Kindergarten? Let’s Slow Down!" - Commentary by Russ Phillips, 4/12/07) Discussion took place regarding the need to replace the maintenance tractor at an approximate cost of $30,000. 4/24/07 Board Meeting Results And Other Info (4/26/07) - Unanimously approved were claims totaling $263,370.87 that included $7,766.40 for copier paper; $17,407.73 to Duke Energy for electrical consumption, i.e. heating, lighting, etc; $2,425.94 for additional architectural plans for the expanded Kindergarten area; $3,336.20 for 252 K-12 reading books for the Library; $1,907.16 for lodging, transportation, and meals for two Board members to attend the Annual Conference of the National School Boards Association being held in San Francisco; $3,200 for Kay Davidson to spend two days with teachers from Kindergarten through 8th grade conducting professional development on writing strategies; $21,500.00 for 20 video projectors to be used in classrooms; and $380.00 for random student drug testing. Unanimously approved were resignations of Dan Myers as secondary math teacher effective at the end of the 2006-07 school year and Kay Brash as Jr. High golf coach effective immediately. 5/8/07 Board Meeting Results And Other Info (5/9/07) - The April 30, 2007 Treasurer's Report (see excerpts) was unanimously approved as presented. Unanimously approved were claims totaling $326,629.45 that included $1,071.90 for Jr.-Sr. High materials including 100 student manuals on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); $381.11 for transportation and parking for a Board member to attend the Annual Conference of the National School Boards Association being held in San Francisco and $997.32 for transportation, lodging and meals for the Superintendent to attend the same Conference. (Thus far, the total cost for the Superintendent and two Board members to attend this Conference was $4,875.59.) Consideration was given to purchasing a new maintenance tractor for the Corporation. The current one has been with the Corporation since the school opened in 1967. This expenditure is paid from the General Fund. Zartman moved and Phillips seconded that the item be tabled until October 2007 for two reasons. Property tax payments to Caston are being delayed and there is uncertainty as to when they will be received. Secondly, the possible creation of additional personnel positions have been discussed and these positions would also be paid from the General Fund. The motion to table was defeated 2 to 3 (Ayres, Cress, Sommers). A motion was then made to purchase a Massey tractor (with four-wheel drive, turbo-charger that provides additional horsepower, loader & forks, broom and remote hydraulics) from Country Sales and Service for $21,100.00 with trade-in allowance. The motion was approved 4 to 1 (Zartman). Superintendent Huffman, in response to a question, stated that teacher input had not yet been requested as to the need for students to have a study hall in their schedule. Huffman had said in early December 2006 that this teacher input should be a part of any consideration to include a study hall as an option for students. Also, in December 2006, Huffman was considering having a survey administered to the High School students pertaining to Engagement of the Learner. Again, in response to a question, he indicated that the survey had not been administered but that he remains interested in this possibility. In response to another question Huffman stated that 141 High School students (out of about 273) were initially denied one or more credits during the first semester of this school year due to having more than five (5) absences that were not verified excused absences. Upon appeal 129 of the 141 students had their credit(s) reinstated. 5/22/07 Board Meeting Results And Other Info (5/23/07) - Unanimously approved were claims totaling $225,968.39 that included $74.08 for lodging for the Superintendent to attend the Annual Conference of the National School Boards Association being held in San Francisco. (Thus far, the total cost for the Superintendent and two Board members to attend this Conference was $4,949.67.) Also approved were $367.05 for architect fees regarding the possible expansion of the kindergarten area; $695.00 for the annual license renewal regarding the computerized cafeteria meal tracking system; and $600.00 for random student drug testing. Unanimously approved were the employment for next school year of Leigh Runkle as secondary English teacher and Steven Curtis as secondary Math teacher (In answer to a question Superintendent Huffman stated that he did not interview either person, however, both were interviewed by Dan Foster, Jr.-Sr. High School Principal Designate.). Also unanimously approved were the Memorandum of Understanding on Article X - Professional Compensation for contract dates January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2007 and the Teacher Contract Agreement for January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 (This provides a 2% raise on the salary schedule and 1/2% increase to the 403b account.). All other items on the Agenda were also unanimously approved. Superintendent Huffman also distributed a "Job Description" for the possible position of "Computer Technician," and this will be on the Agenda for the June 5th meeting as will a discussion regarding the Capital Projects Fund including the possibility of designating certain funds for several years to provide for the eventual expansion of the Kindergarten area to accommodate full day Kindergarten. 6/5/07 Board Meeting Results And Other Info (6/7/07) - The May 31, 2007 Treasurer's Report (see excerpts) was unanimously approved as presented. Unanimously approved were claims totaling $485,038.60 that included $127,657.50 for lease rental - buildings (this is a twice a year payment pertaining to remodeling/additions that were done in 1992 - enclosure of the large courtyard between the two schools that now houses the Guidance Area, Jr.-Sr. High Art Room, etc. and the addition of classrooms across the north end of the Jr.-Sr. High School - and 2002 - remodeling/expansion of the Elementary Gym, etc.). This indebtedness will be paid off in 2012. Additional claims approved included $1,925 to NEOLA for putting Bylaws, Policies, etc. online (this cost $3,850 - another $1,925 will be paid in 2008); and $17,855.84 for diesel fuel for school buses (this was a "tanker" load which we purchase about 3 to 4 times per year). Superintendent Huffman recommended contract extensions for Mrs. Douglass, Elementary Principal; Mr. Olsson, Jr.-Sr. High Assistant Principal/Technology; Miss Stevens, Dir. of Student Activities/Athletic Dir. and himself. Board member Phillips commented, "In general I do not support extending contracts beyond what the law requires. If it is to be done at all there should be exemplary job performance by the individual." The contract for Mrs. Douglass was extended through June 2009 by a 4 to 1 (Ayers) vote. Phillips further commented, "Superintendent Huffman is already under contract for the next two school years. In my opinion, his job performance does not warrant a further contract extension. However, it would be inappropriate for me to make further comment at this time." He continued, "Two years ago I voted against the creation of Mr. Olsson’s position because I did not feel an assistant principal was needed. One year ago when it was recommended to extend his contract I voted 'no'. With a new principal coming to the Jr.-Sr. High School I continue to be unconvinced that an assistant principal is needed. Mr. Olsson is already under contract for this coming school year and I feel it would be premature to extend his contract further at this time and to do so would unnecessarily limit Caston School Corporation regarding future decisions. My opinion is that we should get next school year underway and let a few months go by before acting on this. My vote on extending his contract is not based on his job performance, but, on the position itself." The contracts of Mr. Olsson and Miss Stevens were extended through June 2009 and that of Mr. Huffman through June 2010 by a 3 to 2 (Phillips, Zartman) vote. Unanimous approval was given to employ Ms. Letitia Landis to teach Spanish for next school year and to accept the resignation of Mr. Scott Kistler, Technology Associate, effective June 15, 2007. Job Descriptions were discussed for "Computer Technician" and "Study Hall and In-School Suspension Monitor" as well as how Capital Project Funds might be used through 2010. 6/19/07 Board Meeting Results And Other Info (6/21/07) - Unanimously approved were claims totaling $548,036.93 that included $22,500 (the maximum allowable by contract) retirement pay for teacher Fran Kottkamp; $1,556 for membership dues for the two Principals and Assistant Principal in their state and national principal associations; $2,480 for ceiling mounting kits for 20 video projectors; $395 for an annual license renewal for a Library software program; $962.50 to NEOLA for updating policies, etc (this amount is paid twice a year); $1,000 annual license renewal for the Elementary "Schoolmaster" program (student database, attendance, guidance department, suspensions, health records, etc.); $6,091.83 annual license renewal for Accelerated Reading and Math Programs used in both schools; and $300 for random student drug testing. Utilizing technology (i.e. purchasing equipment, software program licensing, training, etc.) and keeping it up to date is expensive. The following were unanimously declared as worthless property and will be sold or junked/recycled. Their purchase date and cost are given: computer #348, 1/1/94, $2,089.17; computer #253, 1/1/2000, $1,500.00; computer #15, 1/1/1999, $2,188.18; file server #368, 1/1/1999, $4,376.37; and copier/fax #495, 10/15/2002, $559.98. A "Study Hall and In-School Suspension Monitor" position was unanimously re-instated for the 2007-08 school year. Applications are being taken and the position has a beginning salary of $12.66/hr. Unanimous approval was given to take quotes on the proposed waste water treatment plant project. The 2007-08 salary of $53,560 for Assistant Principal Doug Olsson was approved 4 to 1 (Phillips). This represents a 2 1/2% increase. Additionally, Caston's annual annuity contribution is increased from $400 to $525 (the amount of the contribution is based upon the number of consecutive years of service to Caston). The 2007-08 salary of $76,000 for Principal Cindy Douglass was unanimously approved. This represents a 7.4% increase and is the same salary as for the Jr.-Sr. High School Principal. Additionally, Caston's annual annuity contribution is increased from $550 to $720. The 2007-08 salary of $92,573 for Superintendent Robert Huffman was approved 3 to 2 (Phillips, Zartman). This represents a 2 1/2% increase. Additionally, Caston's annual annuity contribution is maintained at $2,250 (this amount is determined differently than that previously described). After considerable discussion and some changes to what was recommended the Jr.-Sr. High School Student/Parent Handbook was approved 3 to 2 (Phillips, Zartman). The changes that were originally recommended will be found here.
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