School earnings on decline

Interest earnings for Jay Schools aren’t what they used to be.
Business manager Brad DeRome told school board members, convened as the board of finance, that school corporation accounts earned just $18,705 in 2012.
That’s down from about $25,000 in 2011 and a far cry from the 2007 interest earnings mark of more than $381,000.
“Those were the good old days,” DeRome said, noting that dramatically lower interest rates on bank deposits were the reason for the drop. “We used to earn $19,000 a month.”
Board members unanimously adopted a 2013-2014 school calendar following discussions between the administration and members of the Jay Classroom Teachers Association.
The 2013-14 school calendar sets the first day for students on Aug. 12. Fall break will be Oct. 24 and 25; Christmas vacation will be Dec. 23 through Jan. 3; spring break will be March 24 through 28; the last day for students will be May 22 and graduation will be June 1.
Assistant superintendent Wood Barwick and technology director Dennis Green presented a corporation-wide technology plan to the board for 2013-2016.
The plan, which establishes goals, strategies, and metrics for each school, will be reviewed by the board and brought back for action later this month.
In other business, the board:
•Accepted the resignations of East Jay Middle School social studies teacher Mark King, effective Dec. 18, 2012.
Aaron Daniels, an instructional assistant at Jay County High School, is taking King’s position.
Members of the board also approved the transfer of elementary physical education teacher Ryan VanSkyock to Bloomfield Elementary School from East Elememtary.
•Authorized leaves of absence by custodian Mildred Louise Harter, health teacher Landon Martin, and physical education teacher Cassie Fugiett.
•Approved extracurricular assignments for David Cramer as volunteer girls’ tennis coach at Jay County High School; Amy Dillon as sixth grade girls’ basketball coach at East Jay; Danielle Platfoot as sixth grade girls’ basketball coach at East Jay; Ryan Smitley as assistant wrestling coach at East Jay; Nick Ehrhart as assistant swim coach at East Jay and West Jay middle schools; Matt James as assistant wrestling coach at West Jay, Ciarra Bechtol as a music volunteer at JCHS; and Craig Dillon as volunteer basketball coach at East Jay.
•Approved a  March field trip by robotics team members to Purdue University.
•Accepted an accounting report on the Jay Schools international initiative and authorized a trip by a group of teachers, administrators, and students to Taiwan and China from March 18 through April 4.
•Appointed Coldren and Frantz and the firm of Church, Church, Hittle, and Antrim as legal counsel for the school corporation.
•Appointed DeRome as school corporation treasurer and Violet Current as deputy treasurer and made them the authorized users of the corporation’s safe deposit box.
•Appointed DeRome and Lisa Evans as small claims court representatives.
•Elected Greg Wellman as board president, Mike Masters as vice president, and Larry Paxson as secretary.
•Agreed to committee assignments that will see Masters and Ron Laux on the insurance committee, Wellman and Mike Shannon on the negotiations committee, Beth Krieg and Kristi Betts on the calendar committee, Shannon on the legislative committee, and Betts, Krieg, and Laux on the RISE committee for the coming year.
•Set a board retreat for Thursday, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m.


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