SOUTH VERMILLION COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
SPECIAL SCHOOL BOARD MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 29, 2015
7:00 P.M., SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE
The Board of School Trustees of South Vermillion Community School
Corporation held a special session school board meeting on Monday, June 29,
2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Superintendent’s Office. Members present were Mr.
Gilfoy, Mr. Cuel, Mrs. Ave, Mrs. Corado, Mr. Haltom and Mr. West. Mr. Chapman
and Mrs. Farrington were also present.
AGENDA
I.
Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance
II.
First Call for Citizens Comments – Agenda Items Only
III.
Consent Agenda
Mr. West asked Mr. Chapman if as the consent agenda items were
presented, if they could be discussed as a group under each
section. Mr. Chapman agreed.
A.
Personnel
a. Retirements/Resignations/Leaves/Other
i. Administrative
1. Dara Chezem, Van Duyn Elementary
Principal & SVCS Curriculum Director,
Resignation, effective end of day June 30,
2015
ii. Certified Staff
1. Lauren Edwards, South Vermillion High
School, English Teacher, Resignation,
effective end of 2014-15 school year
2. Nicole Terry, South Vermillion High
School, Agriculture Teacher, Resignation,
effective end of 2014-15 school year
Mr. Cuel asked how the job search was going & Mr.
Chapman stated the positions had been posted. He
continued that we currently had 5 teaching
positions that had been posted.
iii. Classified Staff
1. Nick Meyerrose, Supervisor of
Transportation and Facilities Support,
Resignation, effective the end of the day
July 2, 2015
Mr. Haltom wished all that were leaving best of luck
and thanked them for the outstanding job.
b. Recommendations
i. Administrative
1. Ronda Foster, Ernie Pyle and Van Duyn
Elementary Principal, Change of or
Additional Assignment, effective 2015-16
school year
2. Angela Harris, South Vermillion Middle
School Principal/SVCS Curriculum
Coordinator, Change of or Additional
Assignment, effective 2015-16 school year
3. Jennifer Fossi, Director of Instructional
Technology/Assessment Coordinator,
Change of or Additional Assignment,
effective 2015-16 school year
Mr. Cuel asked how this would work with Ronda
going between two buildings. Mr. Chapman stated
part of the compensation would be for mileage.
Mrs. Corado asked how the principal designee
would work and added responsibility to the
secretary. Mr. Chapman stated he would be
contacting the school board association and how
other districts do it and we would follow the same
format. The principal designee would be someone
with an administrative license. It would have to be
negotiated with the association since they are still
teachers in the classroom. On an emergency basis,
the secretary would be able to contact Mrs. Foster
through school phone, cell phone and corporation
radio. Mrs. Corado asked how the security was for
the schools. Mr. Chapman stated we are working on
the secure entries at the Middle School and Central.
He stated Van Duyn and Ernie Pyle have line site
access and the doors are secure at all times and you
can not enter the building unless you are buzzed in
by the principal or secretary. Mr. Gilfoy asked if the
principal designee is in their classroom, how will
they be contacted if needed and who will cover their
class. Mr. Chapman stated the secretary could reach
them by phone or intercom and an instructional
aide would cover their class. Mr. Cuel asked how
the evaluations would be handled. Mr. Chapman
stated the principal designee would have an
administrative license and it is something that
would be discussed with the association. They
would have to be trained and could do the
secondary observation, but Mrs. Foster would have
the final say on the evaluation. Mrs. Ave asked are
you thinking ½ day at one building and the other ½
at the other building. Mr. Chapman stated we are
working on that and a lot will have to do with the
principal designees schedule, but would like for
Mrs. Foster to be split between the two buildings as
evenly as possible. Mr. West asked when the
principal designees would be brought before the
board and Mr. Chapman stated hopefully at the July
20th meeting. Mrs. Corado stated we are fortunate
to have administrators willing to take on additional
responsibilities. The State has put us in the position
that we have to make decisions we don’t really want
to make. Mr. Chapman stated a lot of school
corporations are going in this direction,
unfortunately. He stated we have a great group that
does what is needed to get the job done and we are
very fortunate. Mrs. Ave stated she is struggling
with the sharing of an administrator. She continued
that she does not doubt the capability of Mrs. Foster,
but has concerns of the unpredictable things that
happen. Mr. Chapman stated he understood & said
he has a corporation radio as well and would go to a
building if needed. It’s a team effort. Mrs. Ave
asked if the principal designee would be in the
office when Mrs. Foster was not in the building. Mr.
Chapman stated they would be pulled from their
classroom on an as needed basis. The secretary
would be in charge until the principal or principal
designee was available. Mr. Cuel stated you couldn’t
take a principal designee out of the classroom when
Mrs. Foster was not there. There would be not
continuity in the classroom. Principals are already
out of their buildings for meetings and secretaries
know how to reach them Mr. Chapman explained.
Mrs. Corado stated she thought Mrs. Foster was
going to be in charge of curriculum and Mr.
Chapman stated it would be a team approach. Mr.
West asked how far along are you with the logistics.
Mr. Chapman stated he wanted to get this through,
so he and Mrs. Foster could sit down and get
principal designees assigned for each building. Mrs.
Ave asked if the information would be shared with
the teacher association and Mr. Chapman stated it
would be discussed. Mr. Gilfoy asked if this could be
brought to the board in October or sooner if
necessary. Mr. Chapman stated we have to work
with what we have. We don’t want to put ourselves
in a position of running the school corporation into
deficit spending. We monitor enrollment and the
general fund on a daily basis. We have to be diligent
because the money follows the students. This has
not been easy. We have been looking at this for a
long time. There were not a lot of options. He
stated he has full confidence in his administrative
team. Mr. Haltom asked if Mrs. Harris would be
working directly with Mrs. Foster & Mr. Jenkins on
the elementary curriculum. Mr. Chapman stated
Mrs. Harris would be the point person, but there
would be committee meetings.
ii. Certified Staff
1. Brian Gilman, SVHS Social Studies Teacher
to SVMS Social Studies Teacher,
Involuntary Transfer, effective 2015-16
school year
2. William Porter, SVMS Social Studies
Teacher to SVHS Social Studies Teacher,
Involuntary Transfer, effective 2015-16
school year
3. Jacqueline Roberts, SVMS English Teacher
to SVHS English Teacher, Voluntary
Transfer, effective 2015-16 school year
Mrs. Corado asked if the basketball coach would be
transferred to the high school and Mr. Chapman
stated when an opening became available, he would
be transferred.
iii. Classified Staff
1. Amy Hire, SVHS Secretary to Van Duyn
Elementary Secretary/Treasurer, Change
of Assignment, effective 2015-16 school
year
2. Sara Edwards, SVMS Secretary/SVHS
Athletic Secretary to SVHS Secretary
w/General and Athletic responsibilities,
Change of Assignment, effective 2015-16
school year
3. Kim Crawford, SVMS 2nd Shift Custodian to
Ernie Pyle Elementary 1st Shift Custodian,
Change of Assignment, effective August 3,
2015
4. Mary Blue, SVMS 2nd Shift 9-month
Custodian to SVMS 2nd Shift 12-month
Custodian, Change of Assignment,
effective August 3, 2015
Mrs. Corado asked if Sara Edwards was the athletic
secretary at the Middle School and Mr. Chapman stated
because of the evaluation process and the Assistant
Principal duties assisting with evaluations, part of the
athletic duties are now at the high school. Mr. Cuel
asked with change in our athletic conference next year
and adding a sport, could Mr. Gilman help with athletic
duties at the Middle School. He also stated we did not
have busses for some events last year. Mr. Chapman
stated it was a learning curve for the new Athletic
Director. This is something Mr. Chapman would have
to discuss with Mrs. Harris.
c. Extra Curricular
i. Certified Staff
1. Maris Clark, SVHS Summer School Algebra
1 Teacher, June 9, 2015 to June 26, 2015
ii. Classified Staff
Mr. Gilfoy made a motion to accept personnel recommendations as
presented and Mrs. Corado seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-1.
Mrs. Ave voted nay.
IV.
Discussion Agenda
A.
South Vermillion High School 2015-16 Student
Handbook – 1st Reading
Mr. Cuel stated he had questions about the dress code and
was pleased to see it had been revised. Mrs. Corado stated
her concern with the dress code is being consistent. Mr.
Haltom stated the need to look at the cell phone situation.
Mr. Idlewine stated the cell phone is the discretion of the
teacher. He stated there were only a couple of issues last
year with cell phones. It really has not been an issue. Mrs.
Corado asked if they could use phones in between classes
and Mr. Idlewine state they could. Mr. Cuel asked why they
needed to have their phones. Mr. Idlewine stated the
times have changed and if the students do not follow the
rules the phones are taken away. Mr. Cuel stated his
concern of students texting test questions and answers.
Mr. Idlewine stated the students could write it on paper or
say it verbally to the students in between classes. Mr.
Haltom stated at the Middle School and Elementary
Schools the students cannot have cell phones on them, but
at the high school they can. He felt there needs to be
consistency. Mr. Idlewine stated we are giving high school
students responsibility. Mr. Gilfoy stated times have
changed. Mr. Idlewine stated at safety conference it is
suggested students be allowed to carry their cell phones.
Mr. Haltom asked what the policy was at the elementary
level if a student is caught with a cell phone. Mr. Jenkins
stated if the cell phone is taken away and it is given to the
student at the end of the day or parent may have to pick it
up. It is usually not an issue; maybe one or two instances a
year. Mrs. Ave stated on page 33 of the handbook change
our purpose is to discourage misbehavior to teaching
students pro social behaviors. Explain what we want and
not what we don’t want. Also, on the Alternative
Suspension Program has the PVETI building listed and it
needs to be changed to the WRCTE building. Mr. Idlewine
stated the handbook has been completely redone. Mrs.
Ave asked what are the top 3 discipline infractions at the
high school. Mr. Idlewine stated tardies, tardies and
attendance. There were 0 fights last year.
V.
Decision Agenda
A.
South Vermillion Classified Handbook – 2nd Reading,
Addendum to page 12
Mrs. Ave made a motion to approve the South Vermillion Classified
Handbook and Mr. Gilfoy seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
B.
South Vermillion Transportation School Bus Driver’s
Handbook, Addendum to page 3
Mr. Cuel made a motion to approve the South Vermillion
Transportation School Bus Driver’s Handbook and addendum to page 3
and Mr. Haltom seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
C
South Vermillion Elementary Handbook, 2nd Reading,
Addendum to pages 1, 3, 6, 11, 13, 15,16, 21, and 22
Mr. Haltom made a motion to approve the South Vermillion Elementary
Handbook, 2nd Reading and addendum to pages, 1, 3, 6, 11, 13, 15, 16,
21, and 22 and Mrs. Ave seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
D.
South Vermillion Middle School Handbook, 2nd Reading,
Addendum to page 14
Mrs. Corado made a motion to approve the South Vermillion Middle
School Handbook, 2nd Reading and addendum to page 14 and Mr. Gilfoy
seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
E.
Addendum to South Vermillion Elementary Textbook
Rental priced for the 2015-16 school year
Mr. Haltom made a motion to approve the addendum to South
Vermillion Elementary Textbook Rental priced for the 2015-16 school
year and Mr. Cuel seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
F.
Recommendation to approve student transfers for the
2015-16 school year
Mr. Cuel made a motion to approve student transfer requests and Mr.
Gilfoy seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0.
G.
SVHS Cheer Camp at Vincennes University, July 6th to July
9th
Mr. Cuel made a motion to approve the SVHS Cheer Camp at Vincennes
University, July 6th to July 9th and Mrs. Ave seconded the motion. Motion
carried 6-0.
H.
SVHS Football Skills Camp in Angola, IN, July 22nd to July
25th
Mr. Cuel made a motion to approve the SVHS Football Skills Camp in
Angola, IN, July 22nd to July 25th and Mr. Haltom seconded the motion.
Motion carried 6-0.
VI.
Second Call for Citizen Comments
VII.
Comments/Correspondence/Information
A.
Superintendent
B.
Mr. Chapman stated we had classified and certified
positions that we need to get filled, Centralized
Registration is only 4 weeks away and the central office
will be closed on July 3rd in observance of the 4th of July.
Board Members
Mrs. Ave stated she attended the Grassroots Initiative and
it was well attended. August board meeting she would like
to discuss the initiative.
Mrs. Corado wished Nick good luck and to Ronda and
Angie.
Mr. Gilfoy thanked everyone for coming and wished Nick
good luck.
Mr. Haltom wished everyone good luck to the ones leaving
and good luck to the ones staying. Nick came in to do a job
and he did a great job. Dara did an excellent job and it
showed good results. Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Mr. Cuel thanked Nick. He stated to Ronda and Angie to let
the board know if they are having problems or need help.
Mr. West thanked everyone and wished them the best. The
ones taking on additional responsibility, we want you to
be successful and not fail.
VIII.
Next Board Meeting – Monday, July 20, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
IX.
Adjournment
Mr. Cuel made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Mr. Haltom
seconded the motion. Motion carried 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 7:53
p.m.
X______________________________________________
Board President
July 20, 2015
X______________________________________________
Board Secretary
July 20, 2015