By MICHAEL SHANNON
Record Herald Writer
Courtesy of the Weekly Record Herald; Printed 12-23-11
TIPP CITY-The possible reorganization of Broadway and Nevin Coppock Elementary schools was the primary topic for Monday night’s Tipp City Board of Education meeting.
Current discussion is to take the two elementary schools and make one of them house kindergarten and first grade, and the other second and third grade. This differs from the current complement of kindergarten through the third grade at both Broadway and Nevin Coppock.
Reasoning for this change is that it would save approximately $150,000 annually by eliminating three staff positions, yet only increasing class size by two or three students. According to the board, this follows along with their three top priorities for the school district: safety, academics, and staff.
Community response to this issue brought out some concerned parents seeking clarification.
Andi Trezciak asked board members if the reorganization would remove the need for new facilities.
Superintendent Dr. John Kronour replied, “That never goes away,” adding that many of the buildings have exceeded their life expectancy.
Carli Amlin-Dean was curious about the effect of the transitions from first to second grade, then from third to fourth grade.
Kronour responded that currently the transition anxiety comes from merging with new students from the other school going into the fourth grade. The new system will remove that issue because there will be no new class mates at the new locations. They will remain the same group from year to year.
Citing a recent conversation with L. T. Ball Intermediate Principal Sarah Patterson, Kronour explained that the difficulty in merging came more from new students than the new building.
Other question brought forth were: whether there is a model of success for this system at other locations, if coaching positions could be eliminated before teachers, and if the district was planning to begin this new organization of the elementary schools this fall.
Kronour said there were many examples of proven success all over the state, with many different ways to structure grading. He stated eliminating the coaching positions would not relieve the strain on the budget.
He also confirmed that the new organization would likely take effect at the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year.
“Unless we receive overwhelmingly negative feedback, we are strongly considering it,” he said.
In other action the board approved replacing service vehicles for the school district. First, a new school bus purchased from Cardinal Bus Sales for $85,000. The average age for replacement in the district’s fleet is 15 years.
Also, the purchase of a truck with a snow plow package was approved for the sum of $25,120. The vehicle being replaced was purchased in the year 1986.
Normally the vehicles are replaced on a regular basis. However Kronor stated due to budget constraints it is not always available.
The budget constraints of students were a topic for board member Scott Dixon. He brought in literature to showon a financial literacy course. Next month teachers will be making presentation to the board for other options on the financial literacy curriculum.
Dixon stated, “(The financial curriculum) is part an obligation we have to create a well rounded kid.”
He went on to encourage the board to consider an in-depth course study of this subject matter. He said not having this curriculum would be doing students a “disservice.”
Board member Tom Merritt agreed students need this information presented to them in school.
“Once they graduate they are approached with many opportunities to incur debt,” he said.
Upcoming dates set for the board are Records Commission Meeting on Monday, Jan. 2 at 6:30 p.m. Organizational Meeting will be Monday Jan. 2 at 7p.m.
Also, the Facility Planning Meeting will be Wednesday Jan. 18 at 7p.m. This reinstates the Facilities Planning Commission. This event, located in the Tippecanoe High School commons, is open to the public. Kronour requests you inform him of your intent to attend so he can have materials prepaid.
The next regular Board of Education meeting will be held Monday Jan. 23 at 7 p.m.
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