Culver School Board Reorganizes for 2013
The Culver Community School Board held their first regular meeting of the year on Monday, Jan. 7, and the first order of business was the swearing-in of new board members.
Vice President Ryan Sieber and notary public Jo Ann Warner administered the oath of office to elected board members David Cooper, Ken VanDePutte, James Wentzell, and Mark Maes, before the board members made their nominations for board officers.
Culver School Board Re-appoints Brown to Library Board
The Culver Community School Board at their meeting last week appointed a member to the Monterey-Tippecanoe Public Library Board.
Superintendent Brad Schuldt explained that the school corporation is required to make an appointment for the Monterey Library as the appointing board for certain positions on public libraries within the district. They decided to re-appoint Melvin Brown, a man who has been on the library board for a considerable amount of time.
Culver School Board Updates Policies to Comply With State
The Culver Community School Board made a number of changes to its board policies with the help of Neola, the board’s policy company.
Superintendent Brad Schuldt said they changed approximately 25 policies, and many of them were minor typographical changes. However, he said a number of changes the board made to their policies were done to reflect new laws passed last year to ensure they are still in compliance with state law.
Several School Board Races To Appear On Nov. 6 Ballot
Several school board races have surfaced since the Friday filing deadline in the Starke County Clerk’s Office.
For Knox Community Schools, voters will select three members from a ballot of eight candidates for Center Township Seats 2, 3, and 4. Those candidates include incumbent members William Kirk Bennett, Gerald (Jerry) Fletcher and Harold A. Welter, and candidates Dawn M. Bailey, Jeffrey B. Fosler, Wendy McIntire, Larry D. Sennert and Valarie Williams. Incumbent Nathan Marcum and challenger Kurt A. Kemble have filed for the California-Washington Township seat.
Apple to Host Technology Discussions at Culver
Culver Community School Corporation’s One-to-One Technology Initiative is receiving some positive attention, and Principals Albert Hanselman and Julie Berndt informed the board this week of an upcoming presentation hosted by Apple to allow visitors from other school corporations to see the iPad initiative in action. According to Superintendent Brad Schuldt, the event will give visitors a chance to talk to Apple representatives regarding products, services, and their costs, as well as speak to Culver employees regarding the use of the technology and get an idea of the major successes and problems with the program.
Culver Community Schools Accept Donation from Kiwanis Club
The Culver Community School Board this week gratefully accepted an $800 donation from the Kiwanis Club that Superintendent Brad Schuldt says will be used to help kids who are in need.
Schuldt says that the Kiwanis Club has on a near-annual basis made donations to the fund, which is handled by School Nurse Kathy Hermanson and Deb Stevens, social worker for the school.
Culver School Board Reorganizes
The Culver Community School Board made a number of organizational changes at their recent meeting, including the appointment of a new Vice President. Jack Jones was originally nominated, but he declined the position, telling the board that he would be more comfortable in the Secretary position.
Ryan Sieber was ultimately nominated and elected with a unanimous vote.
Culver Community School Board Meets
At this week’s Culver Community School Board meeting, Culver Elementary School Principal Charles Kitchell informed the board that one of their teachers, Kim Morrison, has applied for and received a $1500 grant from the Marshall County Community Foundation. She has received half of the grant up-front, and Kitchell says that Morrison plans to use the money to purchase a Mimio smartboard, digital audio/video recorder, and a Bose sound dock for her iPod.
Culver Community School Board Approves Teacher Contracts
Contracts are once again ink on paper for the Culver Community Schools Corporation. After a team of administrators and the Culver Community Teacher’s Association went through a series of negotiations, a contract has finally been ratified by both the CCTA and the school board.
Superintendent Brad Schuldt praised the CCTA highly for their efforts in the negotiation, and their drive to help the corporation by making some concessions in producing this contract. The contract that was approved included no raises for the staff, including incremental raises which are given annually based on years of experience—a first since collective bargaining has been in effect. In addition, they agreed to contribute more of their own money to cover their insurance plans. Schuldt was impressed with the teachers’ willingness to cooperate in the contract negotiations.
Culver Community Schools Welcome New Employees
With the new school year in full swing, two newly hired teachers and one new board member are settling into the routine at Culver Community Schools.
David Cooper will be replacing Gene Baker on the Culver School Board. Cooper is a Culver local, having grown up and graduated in Culver. Cooper is currently employed as maintenance supervisor for Plymouth’s Park and Recreations Department, and has been serving as a member of the Culver Fire Department for several years.
Monterey Elementary to be Closed at the end of the School Year
A tough and controversial decision was made last night by the Culver Community School Board, as they ultimately voted 5-2 to discontinue operation of Monterey Elementary School. The closure of the school was due to a need to meet budget cuts in the amount of $855,928 over two years from the state. While this decision may not have been the most popular one, the Board felt it was the best decision for the school, as well as the teachers, the students, and even the parents.
“The vote ended up being five members voted for the motion, two members voted against the motion, and the motion was to discontinue operation of Monterey Elementary school effective at the end of this current school year,” said Superintendent Brad Schuldt, “and that the students beginning next year would be a part of the Culver Elementary School body.”
Culver Community School Board to Vote on Future of Monterey Elementary School
The Culver Community School Board will discuss, and possibly vote on the future of the Monterey Elementary School tonight during their regular meeting at 7:00 p.m. ET in the Administration Building. The Board needs to reduce expenses in order to meet budget cuts from the state level in the amount of $855,928 over two years.
The Culver Community School Corporation has a number of options to explore in order to meet this new budget. Some of the options include increasing revenue through a referenda, in which the school tax rate would be raised $0.11 per $100; the use of the Rainy Day Fund, and decreasing expenses through budget reductions, such as closing Monterey Elementary.
The Board will also look at reducing certified staff, non-certified staff, and administration, and reducing the following programs: business, music, art, athletic, extra curricular, Industrial Technology, Physical Education, Foreign Language, Building Trades, and Vocational.
Culver Community School Board to Discuss Future of Monterey Elementary Tonight
When the Culver Community School Board meets tonight, the future of the Monterey Elementary school will be one part of a larger discussion planned for the meeting as “possible” budget cuts at the state level. In spite of much discussion in the community, Superintendent Brad Schuldt says nothing has been decided yet. But he says the Board will have an item on the agenda to begin cutting expenses.
Monterey Elementary, which includes kindergarten through 6th grades, has in recent years, enrolled between 135 and 180 students. Closing the school would result in an increase of about six students per classroom at the Culver facility if they were transferred there. The school at Monterey is listed as the second smallest Kindergarten through 6th grade building in the State of Indiana.
