MINUTES OF  MEETING

 

MOORESVILLE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL CORPORATION

 

APRIL 12, 2005

 

A regular meeting of the Board of School Trustees of the Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation was held in the Education Center auditorium, 11 W. Carlisle Street, on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 7:00 p.m.  The Chairman after calling the meeting to order noted the presence of the following: Dr. Phil Wright, Mrs. Beverly Viles, Mr. Randy Davis and Mr. Ron Wright. Mr. Dave Davis arrived later in the meeting. The Chairman noting the presence of a quorum declared the meeting duly constituted.

 

Mr. Freeman led the board members and the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

The Chairman asked if the board members had read the minutes of March 8, 2005.  Noting that all members had read the minutes the Chairman asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes.  There being no additions or corrections to the minutes and upon motion by Mrs. Viles and seconded by Mr. Wright the minutes were approved.  Motion carried 4-0.

 

The Board Members then examined the claims that were submitted for payment. After due consideration and upon motion by Mr. R. Davis and seconded by Mrs. Viles the following claims were approved for payment:

 

                                    Payroll – March 18 and April 1, 2005

 

                                                  Claim Nos:  6974 & 7057

 

                                                  Warrant Nos:  50824-51146    DD# 38337-38630

                                                                          51151-51481    DD# 38633-38926

 

                                    Vendors – April 12, 2005

 

                                                     Claim Nos:  6974-7222

 

                                                     Warrant Nos:  #1 -1137-1171

                                                                          #2 -10900-11257

 

Motion carried 4-0.

 

Mr. Freeman stated that the lease agreement that the school corporation has with the Community Foundation for the Academy Building that the lease between the school corporation and the Jr. Basketball Leagues for the use of Newby Gym both need to be renewed.  These are both five year leases (4-15-06 to 4-15-2010) with a payment of $1.00/year.  There is a protection clause in the lease of 90 days in the case the board would see the need of the buildings for the corporation.  Mr. Freeman recommended the renewal of both leases.  Mr. Wright made a motion to renew the leases for the Foundation and the Jr. Basketball Leagues, seconded by Mr. R. Davis. Motion carried 4-0.

 

Mr. Ward stated that they have completed the textbook adoption process and are presenting their recommendations to the board in the areas of Science K-12 and Health 7-12. They are recommending for science Scott Foresman at the 1-6 level, Glencoe McGraw/Hill for 7-8 and a variety of textbooks at the high school level. In the area of health they are recommending Glencoe McGraw/Hill for 7-8 and grade 10.  Mr. Ward stated he will bring the recommendation for the other grades in Health at the May meeting.  Mrs. Viles made a motion to accept the recommendation for the textbooks, seconded by Mr. R. Davis.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Ward stated that he is asking for a textbook waiver for the Biology II course.  They want to use a textbook that is also used for an AP course.  This is not on the list of state recommended books but we can use the book if we apply for a waiver.  Mr. Wright made a motion to approve applying for the waiver for the textbook, seconded by Mr. R. Davis.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Freeman stated that the 6th grade classes at Newby Elementary would like permission to take their annual trip to Camp Tecumseh on May 2 & 3, 2005.  Mrs. Viles made a motion to approve the request, seconded by Mr. Wright.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Ward stated that he had distributed the Curriculum Standards to the board members so they were able to look over them before tonight’s meeting.  This year covers the areas of Art, Music, Career and Technology, Ag., Business, etc.  He stated that we are aligning with the state standards and not making too many local standard changes. Mr. Ward stated that the Advanced PE classes at the H.S. and M.S. do not have individual standards at the state level so we are currently writing our own and he will bring those to the board at the May meeting.  Mr. Wright made a motion to approve the curriculum standards, seconded by Mr. R. Davis. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Turner stated that we have received a donation from Target in the amount of $564.53 for the H.S. student activity Fund.  Mrs. Viles made a motion to accept the donation, seconded by Mr. R. Davis. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Ward stated that this is our annual request for permission to apply for Federal and State grants throughout the coming year.  This also covers Title grants.  Mr. R. Davis made a motion to give permission to apply for Federal and State grants, seconded by Mrs. Viles. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Freeman stated that the board received a packet in their folders this evening of the summer camps that will be offered this year for our students.  These are camps that are put on by the different coaches, mainly for the younger students. These are basically the same camps that we have offered the past several years.  Mr. Wright made a motion to approve the summer camps, seconded by Mr. R. Davis. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Freeman is asking permission to send a letter of support for the CAPE Grant initiative “Morgan County Project”.  This is a Lilly Grant and is being applied for in a collaborative effort by all the county public schools. It would work with the pre-school students and provide instructional materials to help prepare the students coming into kindergarten.  If we were to receive the grant it would be 1.5 million over a 4 year period and would be administered through the Community Foundation for all the Morgan County public schools.  Mr. R. Davis made a motion to approve sending a letter of support for the CAPE grant, seconded by Mrs. Viles. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Freeman presented a list of personnel items:  Retirements:  Annetta Moore – Northwood Teacher; Nina Langley, Neil Armstrong teacher; Carole Stout, Northwood teacher and Eleanor Witt, H.S. Food Service worker.  Resignations:  Merle Mann, H.S. Custodian, Aaron Thomas, H.S. English Teacher & Coach, Kori Valbert, Spec. Ed. Aide, Waverly, Larry Bischoff, Bus Mechanic and Dana Anderson H.S. Boys Soccer Coach.  Leave Requests for 2005-06 School Year – Mandy Chitwood, (Maternity)Waverly; Amy Coffey,(Sabbatical) North Madison; Emily Ehrgott, (Sabbatical), Waverly; Lisa Sumpter (Sabbatical) North Madison; Rochelle Kuntz (Maternity) Waverly; Joslyn Roberson, (Sabbatical), Northwood;  Vicki Hunter, medical leave the remainder of this school year and Londa Soladine is requesting leave the first 9 weeks of 2005-06.  The board receive middle school coaching updates in their packets and there are lay coach contracts to be signed.  Mr. R. Davis made a motion to approve the above personnel items, seconded by Mr. Wright.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Turner stated that the board would need to accept the $10,000 that the high school students received for winning the Project Ignition communication program.  Mr. D. Davis made a motion to accept the money, seconded by Mrs. Viles. Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Turner shared with the board that since the 2005 tax bills were beginning to come out people might be asking why the school portion would be increasing.  He reminded them that with the current formula passed by the legislature our corporation’s had to raise more than $600,000 locally because the formula called for a reduction in the state share.  He further stated that currently both versions of the formula proposed for the next two years will require our corporation to have to raise all new money and additional money to make up for reductions from state support.  In short the legislature thru the formula proposals will be requiring local property taxes to continue to increase due to state financial woes.  He reminded the board that they have no choice in this since the formula is set by the legislature.

 

Mr. Turner stated that we have looked at all our bond issues to see if there was an area where we could help save the corporation money.  The 1997 bond issue which involved the High School/Waverly/Northwood can be refinanced.  By refinancing with the interest rates now we could possibly get $140,000 back to use on capital expenditures and could receive $60,000 in future payment reductions.  The bond was financed at rates at approximately 4.4 to 5.5% and the rates now are approximately 3-5% over the life of the bond.  Mr. Freeman stated that they feel this is a good process and a way to save the corporation some money.

 

Mr. Steve Harris presented a resolution to the board for their approval which stated that there is still 10.3 million owed on the bonds and the Mooresville School Building Corporation would need to take steps to start the refinancing process.  He stated they would use Ice Miller as Bond Counsel and Hillyard Lyons as the underwriter and the Bank of New York.  He also stated the resolution would authorize the officers of the corporation to sign any other forms to complete this process.  This would still be paid off in 2017.  Mr. D. Davis made a motion to approve the resolution, seconded by Mr. Wright.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Mr. Freeman stated that at a previous meeting we honored 5 students from Mooresville schools that were up for two Lilly Scholarships.  Both scholarships were awarded to Mooresville High School students  - Nicole Riley and Kristina Armitage.  Also we were notified that Trudy Land, Neil Armstrong teacher has been selected a Golden Apple Award winner.

 

Mr. Freeman reminded the board that April 14-15 is Kindergarten Round-up in our elementary schools.  April 22 is a snow day and will be no school for students and staff.  May 2 is the Top Twenty Banquet and May 3 is the Employee Appreciation Dinner.  May 7 is the Prom and May 9 is a Snow day with no school for students and staff.  May 10th is the next board meeting.

 

The board discussed changing the times of the board meetings back to 6:30 p.m.  Mr. Wright made a motion to change the board meeting times from 7:00 to 6:30 p.m., seconded by Mr. R. Davis.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

There being no further business to come before the board and upon motion by Mrs. Viles and seconded by Mr. Wright the meeting was adjourned.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Attest:                                                          Respectfully submitted,

 

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President                                                      Randy Davis

                                                                     Secretary

 

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Vice-President

 

 

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Member

 

 

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Member