Personnel changes approved by Milan School Board
Additions made to athletic handbook
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

In a 40-minute session members of the Milan Community School Corporation Board of Trustees approved resignations and employment of personnel, changes in the high school athletic handbook, and an upcoming PTO fundraiser.

President David Voss at the beginning of the meeting expressed the board's wishes for a speedy recovery to Vice President Charles Rohlfing, who was absent from the Monday, August 15, meeting.

Other board members present included Secretary Stephanie Baker and members Edward Amberger and Anita Pitts. In addition to Superintendent Don Swisher, members of the administrative team and several teachers and patrons were in attendance.

With recommendation by Superintendent Swisher, the board unanimously approved the hiring of Tony Pennington and Chris Day as varsity assistant football coaches and Ricky Williamson and Daniel Craig as middle school football coaches.

Lois Collier, Mindy Taylor, and Amy Smith received approval as elementary cafeteria assistants, and Tara Obermeyer will be the half-time elementary music teacher.

Resignations came from the following: Mindy Barrett as elementary music teacher; Rick Stork as middle school football coach; Tony Pennington as middle school football coach; Kim Hogue as girls' swimming coach; and Appie Thompson as high school SADD sponsor.

Board members also approved Michael Brandes and Matthew Langferman as volunteer coaches for the varsity football team pending completion of paperwork.

Concerning revisions to the high school athletic handbook as proposed by Assistant Principal/AD Jon Custer, the board agreed after discussion to accept two of the three points.

The first: "A student may not have an unexcused absence or tardy the day after participating in an athletic event" was deleted before the board voted as per agreement between President Voss and Asst. Principal Custer.

The second revision pertained to citizenship grades, which will be recorded for all Milan High School students this year. Principal Michael Parks explained that he was implementing a citizenship grade for the 2005-2006 school year based on a 12-point system per nine weeks.

The grade would not be figured into a student's GPA, according to Parks, who said the maximum for any one offense would be three points. When a student is down to only one point, he/she will serve an after-school detention.

Pertaining to the athletic handbook, the approved rule reads: "Any student who receives an "F" in Citizenship will be ineligible to participate in any extracurricular events until the end of the following nine weeks."

The third revision calls for an admission of $2.00 for all cross country meets, and the fourth prices all-sports passes at $125 for family, $50 for adult, $40 for student, and $20 for senior citizen.

After discussion it was agreed the high school pass would also admit the bearer to middle school athletic events for the coming year.

In other business, the board approved:

* A lease/rental agreement with the Milan Town Board for the use of a soccer field for the high school co-varsity team for the 2005 season in the amount of $500;

* The sale of Bus #81, a 1991 Chevrolet, to Pastor Tom Holt of the Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Dillsboro - the only bidder - for $112.00;

* A fundraising request from the elementary PTO to sell items from Club's Choice from September 30 through October 10 to raise funds for teacher materials and student rewards.

During the President's Prerogative, Superintendent Swisher reported that teachers had attended a CPR/AED training session.

All board members offered get well wishes to Charles Rohlfing and condolences to Choral teacher Dara Stutler, whose mother had passed away on Monday. Each spoke of the upcoming school year and wished faculty, staff, and students a successful year.