Superintendent's plan approved
Milan School Corporation continues budget cuts
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Milan Community School Corporation Board of Trustees approved the appropriations reduction plan presented by Superintendent Donald Swisher at the Monday, May 16, meeting at the Administrative Building.

Prior to the 7:00 p.m. meeting, a special session took place for the purpose of reducing the full-time teaching contract of music teacher Mindy Barrett to a half-time contract effective the end of the 2004-2005 school year.

As in the past reduction of staff, Superintendent Swisher said this was a budgetary cut and had nothing to do with Barrett's teaching ability, which he called excellent. Barrett had been advised that she could request a hearing within 15 days of receiving the written notice, but she chose to waive that right.

Present for both the special and the regular sessions were Board President David Voss, Vice President Charles Rohlfing, Secretary Stephanie Baker, and Member Edward Amberger. The fifth member - Anita Pitts - was not present for Monday's meeting.

Noting that he had received the 2005 budget order on April 28, Superintendent Swisher said that cuts had been made in the special education fund, the general fund, and the transportation fund.

With a motion by Baker, the following 21 items were approved for Superintendent Swisher's reduction plan: (1) Freeze administrative salaries; (2) Reduce the extended contract of the agriculture teacher back to a regular teacher contract; (3) Reduce the extended contract of the guidance director back to a regular teaching contract; (4) Reduce KEY team members by three; (5) Eliminate FHA stipend;

Also, (6) Reduce elementary yearbook staff from two to one; (7) Eliminate stipend for elementary/middle school choir; (8) Eliminate stipend for freshman cheerleader sponsor; (9) Change custodial hours to reduce overtime; (10) Have a moratorium on all national conferences; (11) Eliminate boys' open gym stipend; (12) Eliminate girls' open gym stipend;

Also, (13) Eliminate stipend for summer weight training; (14) Eliminate stipend for weight training; (15) Eliminate stipend for assistant weight training; (16) Eliminate stipend for volleyball camp; (17) Eliminate stipend for tennis camp; (18) Eliminate four telephone lines, corporation wide; (19) Obtain reimbursement from ROD for their telephone line and any long distance calls made;

Also, (20) Obtain reimbursement from the high school cafeteria for their telephone line and any long distance calls made; (21) Eliminate the stipend for boys' swimming.

In moving to approve the resolution, Board Member Rohlfing said, "The corporation has spent a great deal of time reviewing all options, and these changes were the best solution, even though they were painful."

Other business items approved by the board included:

* A resolution to participate in the Bond Bank;

* A lease agreement for middle school teachers Amy Ralston and Elizabeth Vierling each to use a classroom at the middle school during the summer for tutoring classes, not financial gain;

* A lease rental agreement for MIST, the Ripley County Red Cross and the USA Swimming organization to use the pool facilities during the summer months;

* The middle school textbook adoptions for science and health;

* Field trips for the National Junior Honor Society, the Middle School SADD Chapter, students in Mrs. Zornes third grade class. This group, according to Music Teacher Mindy Barrett, won a rap song contest sponsored by WARM 98 and free tickets to Kings Island, a pizza party, and a copy of the "School of Rock" video.

* GQE waivers for three senior students who had passed the math portion, but not the language arts. All students had surpassed the attendance rate and had the approval of their language arts teachers, the high school counselor, and Principal Michael Parks.

* High school student handbooks and revisions brought by Assistant Principal Jon Custer;
* Elementary school and the middle school's School Improvement Plans and the Professional Development Plans.

Under personnel items, the following summer school positions received approval: Dana Burton and Judy Powlen for the elementary Jumpstart program from August 1-12; Amy Ralston and Linda Swisher for the middle school Jumpstart program from August 1-12; and Stefani Bedel for summer band instructor.

At the beginning of the meeting, High School Band Director Stefani Bedel reported on the recent band trip to Gettysburg, and members of the Middle School Academic Team were introduced, along with sponsors Linda Oelker and Sheri Cunningham.

High School Guidance Director David Steckel used a power-point presentation to inform board members about the Indiana Gold Star Counseling program; Paula Karsteter thanked the board for their past support of the Milan summer swim team; and parent Linda Baker expressed concern about teacher cutbacks.

To conclude the meeting the superintendent and each board member expressed appreciation for the large crowd in attendance, congratulated the academic teams and sponsors, and also congratulated Nick Oesterling for being chosen as an outstanding Career Center student.

Vice President Rohlfing said he was proud of the accomplishments displayed at the meeting and noted that Milan school corporation was not the only area school that had had to let teachers go due to financial constraints.

President Voss reminded those in attendance that commencement exercises would take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, and board members need to arrive by 9:30 a.m.