SR school board member replaced

Wanda English Burnett - Editor


At the South Ripley Community School Corporation Board of Trustees regular meeting for July, Keith Mathews was appointed to fill the board position vacated by Jim Samples. Attorney Merritt Alcorn administered the oath of office to Mathews and he was welcomed back to the board. He had served in that capacity in a prior term.

Superintendent Ted Ahaus recognized elementary teacher Janice Wilson for her team’s success with the Relay for Life event. Under her leadership, the South Ripley Relay for Life Team won the first ever Team Spirit Award and raised over $11,000 for cancer research. She was presented a certificate of recognition and a pen set. She noted that it was a team effort with nearly 40 members from South Ripley participating.

Under the patrons concerns portion of the meeting, Jerry Gilpin was present to answer further questions regarding the possibility of building a sports complex on property belonging to the school. The board was advised by Attorney Alcorn to meet with the Versailles Town Board and their attorney regarding the issue.

Versailles resident Dee Dee Benkie was in attendance and applauded the efforts of South Ripley to consolidate with Jac-Cen-Del. She also stated that she would like to see a sports complex built.
Under personnel:

• Amanda Hite was approved as a teacher at the elementary effective with the 2007-2008 school year.

• Michelle Riggle was hired as chemistry teacher for the Jr. Sr.. High School effective this year.

• The resignation of Antoinette Diem as corporation bus driver was accepted.

• The creation and posting of three aid positions for full day kindergarten was approved. These 2007-2008 positions will be temporary with no benefits.

• Maternity leave was approved for Janna Stonebraker from September 23, 2007 until November 18, 2007.

• Extracurricular assignments for the 2007-2008 school were approved as presented.

• Jeff Downs was approved for the position of technology director effective June 30, 2007.

All personnel issues were approved with unanimous voting.

The annual resolution to allow the superintendent to attend the budget hearings and make the appropriate changes to the 2008 budget in all funds at any time during the budget process was approved unanimously. Given unanimous approval was the recommendation of the 2007-2008 student bookstore rentals, workbooks and fees.

Milk and meal pricing was approved with student and adult lunch prices increasing by twenty-five cents. Breakfast will increase fifteen cents. Additional milk will increase by five cents. It was noted that the increases were due to the increases in food prices, fuel, delivery charges, and employee benefits.

The approval to purchase a 72-passenger bus and a 14-passenger mini bus was unanimous. Both of the purchases were budgeted in the 2007 bus replacement plan. The 72-passenger bus will be ordered from Kerlin Bus Sales and will cost $69,632. The 14-passenger bus will be ordered from Midwest Transit and will cost $42,585.

In other business:
The August board meeting will be changed from August 20 to August 13.

Approval for Kovert Hawkins to proceed with the building design was given. Approval was also unanimous to obtain a surveyor for a topographic site survey and a geotechnical engineer for soil borings.

Under information, a proposed 2008 budget timeline was presented.

A copy of the 2006 Report Card was given to members. This information will be printed in The Versailles Republican on August 2.

Under the presentation from Business Manager Lana Miller it was noted that the assessed valuation of the school district increased by 20%. The 2007 property tax levy increased 2%.

All school board member were present: Robert Garcia, Gil Landwehr, Randy McIntosh, Jim Miller, Ralph Miller and Tim Taylor.