Beth Rumsey, Staff Writer

According to Jac-Cen-Del Elementary School Principal Leanna Phillippe, the state has officially declared that JCD Elementary has met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). “We will be considered to be in improvement until we have met AYP for two years,” she told the school board at the regular meeting held April 15. Phillippe stated that a few changes will be implemented in the coming year to ensure the students are prepared for state testing.

The elementary staff has been working on curriculum mapping in math to determine what should be taught and when. Phillippe also told the board that all grade levels are discussing areas where students are doing well, and what areas need to be reinforced. “This should be very beneficial as we look at textbooks next year,” she noted.

Important dates for the elementary include the Art Show/Book Fair on May 7; Fourth Grade Pioneer Program on May 13; an All Sports Day on May 22. According to Phillippe, the theme for the sporting event is Year of the Champions. Several activities are planned, and t-shirts will be purchased by the PTO. “I think it will be a really fun day,” she said.

In his report to the board, Superintendent Bill Narwold announced that the winners of the Lilly Scholarship were both JCD seniors, Gerald Hardesty and Valorie Wagner. Narwold noted that their success was a reflection on the parents and teachers as well as the students. “I can’t say enough about how proud of the students and staff we are,” he said.
The students in the special education class will attend the Very Special Arts program in Sunman, according to Narwold. Artists from the tri-county area will meet to help these students to experience the many types of music and art forms.

Narwold told the board that due to the boys basketball team’s success, the school has been receiving offers of donations from several organizations at the state and local levels. He assured them that every donation is adhering to the strict policies in place. A list of the donations received will be available to the board members at the next meeting, according to Narwold.

Art teacher Stacy Gray urged the board to consider the art and music programs when voting on the Reduction in Funds or RIFs next month. Gray questioned how teachers will have time to effectively teach an arts or music program with everything else they have to accomplish as per state standards.

“The art and music programs represent the elementary school to the public,” said Gray. “If the programs are eliminated, the students won’t have the chance to express themselves in that area,” she continued.

Chelsea Dwyer, Delaware, was in attendance to support the art and music classes. According to Dwyer, the music program was important to her son. “It’s a great thing,” she said.

The master contract for the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 school years was unanimously ratified. According to Narwold, details include increases in salary; additional money on the insurance for the single and family plans; as well as minor language changes.

In other business:

• Due to the cost of supplies, the after school latch-key program increase to $3 a day beginning with the 2009-2010 school year was unanimously approved.

• The board unanimously approved the recommendation as Leanna Phillippe as the Title I program director.

• The recommendation for new social studies textbooks made by the textbook committee was unanimously approved.

• The elementary handbook was unanimously approved.

• The NEOLA policy was approved on the second reading.

• The resignation of Lynne Davis, speech pathologist, and Sarah Kelts, assistant speech pathologist, was unanimously approved. The recommendations to employ Joan Roads as speech pathologist was unanimously approved.

All board members were in attendance, along with corporation treasurer RuthAnn Peetz and corporation attorney Tim Day to advise. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 20 beginning at 6 p.m. at the high school cafeteria.