Wednesday policy passes

A policy aimed at freeing up Wednesday evenings for family and church activities has been formally presented to the Jay School Board and is expected to be approved at the board’s Jan. 24 meeting.
“We think we’ve got a good policy,” said assistant superintendent Wood Barwick, who worked with board attorney Phil Frantz and the Indiana School Boards Association on the issue.
The policy, entitled “Freedom from School Activities,” states that in general Wednesday nights will be free from school-sponsored or related activities.
“All school sponsored extracurricular (including, but not limited to athletics) … on Wednesdays shall be concluded by 7 p.m.,” the proposed policy states.
There are three exceptions:
•Jay County High School Spirit Night in connection with homecoming.
•Indiana High School Athletic Association tournaments.
•Exceptions approved by the superintendent that are requested at least five days in advance for consideration.
Board members will also act on Jan. 24 to approve the 2011-2012 school calendar. A draft of the calendar has been circulated, but superintendent Tim Long asked that the matter be tabled until the next meeting.
It was the first board meeting for new school board members Ron Laux and Beth Krieg.
A special session on board training was set from 4 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 27.
Board members elected Greg Wellman president for the coming year. Mike Masters was elected vice president and Larry Paxson secretary.
Business manager Brad DeRome was named treasurer, and Violet Current deputy treasurer. They were also authorized to have access to the school corporation’s safety deposit box.
DeRome told the board the school corporation finished the year with a positive balance of $1,499, marking the seventh of the past eight years that the school system has boosted its cash balance in the general fund.
He also noted that interest earnings were “probably the lowest” they’ve ever been. Though average balances have been about the same, interest earnings fell to $36,480 in 2010.
In other business, the board:
•Accepted annual conflict of interest statements from board members.
•Retained Coldren and Frantz as legal counsel for the coming year.
•Named board member Mike Shannon as legislative liaison with the ISBA.
•Heard Long say he’ll be bringing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning concerns at West Jay Middle School back to the board later in January for consideration and discussion.
•Appointed Tommy “Chip” Phillips to the Dunkirk Public Library Board.
•Approved the retirements of English teacher Dennis Dwiggins and elementary school teachers Patricia Michael, Jo Mahnensmith, Donna Haffner, Nila Blankenbaker, and Diana Keesling effective at the end of the current school year.
•Accepted the resignation of food service employee Sandra Huelskamp.
•Hired part-time cook Mandy Ellsworth, special education assistants Sherry Minnick, Richard Secour and Zach Anacher and approved additional hiring days for Abby Champ.
•Approved leaves of absence for bus drivers Marjorie Baldwin and Barb Stults and teachers Angela Couch, Patti Michael, Donna Haffner, Leslie Moeller, and Dora Houck.
•Approved extracurricular assignments for Lisa Weitzel as assistant varsity softball coach, Troy Jacks as volunteer sixth grade boys’ basketball coach, Mitch Snyder as volunteer band assistant, Dana Milner as volunteer band Assistant, Grant Cox as volunteer band assistant, Matthew Daly as volunteer band assistant, Ross Patz as volunteer junior varsity softball coach, and David Cramer as volunteer girls’ tennis coach.
•Approved a bus request by the Catholic Youth Organization.[[In-content Ad]]