SR officials say school will be ready for students on August 12

Karen Reynolds, Contributing Writer

When the South Ripley School Board met July 20 part of that meeting was a tour of the newly renovated high school and junior high school.

Board members were amazed to see the progress and are confident the school will be ready on August 12 when the first day of school opens. Registration times will be different than usual. They are: August 6 from 1-7 p.m.; August 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; August 10 from 1-7 p.m. at the elementary school; and August 11 from noon to 3 p.m. at the jr. sr. high school.

Milk prices will remain the same, 35 cents. Lunch prices for elementary students are: $1.85, high school students, from $2.10, and adult meals are $2.75. Breakfast prices are $1.25 for students and $1.50 for adults.

Unanimous personnel changes include:

• Employment of Gayle Wrightsman as special education teacher at the high school, effective for the 2009-2010 school year.

• Resignation of Kendall Sheets as junior high science teacher and junior high cross country coach, effective for 2009-2010.

• Julia Heidlage was hired for grade 3 and 4 Title 1 reading teacher for just the one year of 2009-2010, paid for with stimulus monies.

• Resignation of Lori Moore as Title 1 aide, effectively immediately.

• Employment of Carol Berry to fill the leave of absence of elementary teacher Kristen Stone from August 10 - September 18.

• Larry Sutherlin to fill the part-time position of US History teacher, effective 2009-2010. This is a two-period a day for 185 days contracted teaching position with pro-rated benefits. Sutherlin will also help with lunch supervision for one hour at the hourly aide pay rate.

• Patsy Holdsworth to fill the part-time position of choral teacher, effective this school year. This is a three-period a day, 185 days contracted teaching position with pro-rated benefits. Holdsworth will also help with lunch supervision for one hour at the hourly aide pay rate.

Personnel positions created include:

• Grade 3 and 4 Title I Stimulus reading teacher. Position posted as an anticipated pending grant and board approval for the 2009-2010 school year only.

• Title I aide position for the 2009-2010 school year. This position is temporary for one year only without benefits.

• Two Title I stimulus aide positions for the 2009-2010 school year. Positions are temporary one-year only positions without benefits.

In financial news:

Unanimous approval was given for:

• The milk and meat prices to remain unchanged for the 2009-2010 school year.

• Ted Ahaus to attend all budget hearings and change lines one and two of the submitted 2010 state budget, in all funds, at any time during the budget process.

• The revised budget timeline. A copy of the annual financial report was provided to board members and will be reported in The Versailles Republican on August 6.

• Monthly claims on the building project totaled $1,418,740.04.

In other news:

Unanimous approval was given to change the vision insurance carrier from ISTA Insurance Trust to Vision Service Plan (VSP), effective July 1. VSP will provide the same plan and rate that now exists. To change the life insurance carrier from Lafayette Life to Madison National Life, effective July 1. Madison National Life will provide the same benefits at the same rate. To have a second reading on a criminal history background check policy.

Discussion was held about the need for equipment in the fitness room. Since the community will use this facility, a grant request will be presented to the Tyson Fund.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be August 17.

Board members attending the July meeting were: Robert Garcia, Gil Landwehr, Randy McIntosh, Jim Miller, and Tim Taylor. Superintendent Ted Ahaus and assistant superintendent Dr. John Mehrle were also present as well as school attorney Merritt Alcorn.


KAREN REYNOLDS PHOTO
Although some of the hallways were cluttered with construction debris, South Ripley school officials were confident that from the date this photo was taken, July 20 until school begins on August 12, the mess would be cleared and students will begin school on schedule.