Wanda English Burnett, Editor

Many hands make light work proved true when a collective group came together to solve a parking problem at the South Ripley Jr./Sr. High School due to the ongoing construction.

At the regular meeting of the South Ripley Board of Trustees held August 11 (one week earlier than usual due to school starting August 13), Superintendent Ted Ahaus noted that several people worked on a new parking lot for students since the one they had is not usable due to the construction project. He noted that Brad Street, director at the Southeastern Career Center, was extremely helpful, providing the needed poles and an asphalt roller. South Ripley Board member Gil Landwehr was thanked for donating equipment and his time. Also Tim Demaree Trucking and Sam Copeland hauled in stone to the new parking area for students located between the baseball field and Benham Road just south of the high school building. There are 75 spaces in the new lot and 15 in one across the road at the elementary school.

The total expense of the parking lot came in at $7921, less than the anticipated $10,000 for stone alone. Ahaus said the success of the project was made possible by this group of people who donated time, gave supplies at cost and cared about their school.

It was noted that the money for the parking lot came out of money on hand in the high school repair fund and not from the renovation/addition project fund.

Ahaus further noted that new stop signs have been installed at the entrances/exits to the schools (elementary and high school) and the police have been and will be enforcing them. He thanked the Town of Versailles, the Versailles Police Department, and the Southeastern Career Center for their help.

Personnel items voted on at the August meeting were:

• Accepted resignation of Rodney Hite, social studies teacher at the jr./sr. high school.

• Lindsey Seabolt was hired to replace Hite with board members Gil Landwehr voting against the recommendation. There were 12 applicants for the position with five being interviewed.

The following items received unanimous approval:

• Nicole Johnson was approved as an additional kindergarten teacher. It was noted there are 80 students registered as of August 11, with more anticipated.

• Robin Welch was approved as a Special Education Aide at the elementary school.

• Becky Low was approved for the Resource Aide position.

• Lori Moore was approved the Title I Reading Assistant position.

• Geneva Carr was moved to a full time custodial position.

• The resignation of Terri Bodenberg as the 5th grade basketball coach was accepted with Wendy Meyer approved to fill the vacancy.

• Academic team advisor will be Mary Scherzinger.

• Lynn Cumberworth was approved to replace Joyce Drubba as the department head for Special Education.

• Kristin Stone was approved as the AR (Accelerated Reading) coordinator at the elementary school.

• The resignation of Belinda Harris, cafeteria employee at the high school was granted along with the approval to post the position.

• Two bus drivers were approved: Frank Hillberg (Route #2) and Tracy Burns (Route #18).

• The retirement request of Donald Eads effective October 3, 2008, was accepted and approval given to accept applications for the third shift custodial position.

• A leave of five days for a mission trip to Africa was granted for Andra Burnett.

• Meganmarie Dennis was approved as a 6th grade representative.

In other business:

• The technology usage policy as submitted by the technology committee was approved.

• The second reading of the tobacco policy was heard and approved. South Ripley schools will be tobacco free campuses.

• A request to fund the girls golf team was granted. This is the second year the school has had a team.

Lana Miller, business manager, noted that over $2M was paid on the construction project. Superintendent Ahaus said the school is “very pleased” with the way Hal Kovert, architect, has kept them informed.

Elementary principal Mark Collier noted that the progress on the new kindergarten wing is great. He said three rooms are ready as promised with the playground only a couple weeks away from completion.

High school principal Bob Meyer said compared to a week ago, the facility looks great. “We’re good to go,” he reported.

It was noted that the school year will be a challenge for all involved and as Meyer said, “the real test will be when the building is filled with people.”

School attorney Merritt Alcorn noted that a soldier from Madison, Jon Menke, 21, was killed in Iraq on August 4. He said he was in the same unit as Robert Garcia, school board member, who is also in Iraq. The board noted they are getting a package together to send to Garcia and expressed their condolences in the loss of the local soldier. The funeral for Menke will be today, August 14 with the funeral procession going down Clifty Drive (which will be closed to traffic) to the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Madison. Menke was a graduate of Madison High School.

All school board members were present with the exception of Garcia.

The next school board meeting will be September 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the administration office.