West Central School Board Reviews Epi-Pen Policy

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board reviewed the new law that allows corporations to allow Epi-Pens at the nurse’s station in case of emergencies.

Superintendent Charles Mellon stated that those would be available sometime in February and stressed that they would be supplied and available for an emergency situation only.

“The law permits parents to waive their right so the schools are busy now sending out the information letters as this new policy takes effect in February,” said Mellon. “We hope we never have to use this device but we do have policy now that says we do have it available. We would save a life if we ever got into that situation. Once again, I want to stress that parents do have a waiver with that.”

Schools Send Waiver to State to Forgive Monday and Tuesday as Missed Days

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The state will forgive missed days of school on Monday and Tuesday if a waiver is filed with the Indiana Department of Education.

West Central Schools Superintendent Charles Mellon stated that he has filed the proper paperwork to have Monday and Tuesday forgiven as no school was in session either day. He also included an attachment of a notice sent by Pulaski County officials stating that the county was under a condition on Wednesday where emergency vehicles were the only approved vehicles to be on the roadways.

Mellon hopes that the school’s built in snow days will not need to utilized and the state will approve all three days.

Culver Community Schools will use Monday, Jan. 20 as a make up day for the cancellation of school on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

West Central School Board Discusses Budget

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board discussed the corporation’s budget at their recent meeting.

Superintendent Charles Mellon said the corporation received the 1792 notice and the board reviewed the notice.

“I went through that with the board and explained the rationale behind some of the budget cuts with the main reason being the reduction in revenue coming in,” said Mellon.

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West Central School Board Approves Boiler Purchase

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board approved the purchase of a new boiler as one of three boilers stopped working at the corporation.

Superintendent Charles Mellon said the board discussed purchasing either a high efficiency boiler or an 85 percent efficiency boiler.

“We approved going with the 85 percent efficiency boiler rather than the more expensive high efficiency boiler,” said Mellon. “Since there are three boilers tied together, tying one high efficiency boiler in with two that are not we weren’t gaining that much. We didn’t want to replace all three at this time.”

The board hopes that the purchase can be made soon so the boiler can be replaced.

West Central School Board Approves School Improvement Plans

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board members heard the school improvement plans for the school buildings at their meeting last week.

Superintendent Charles Mellon said these plans are required by the state. The principals gave a comprehensive report which the board approved.

“This is a little bit later this year,” said Mellon. “Normally that is to be done in September, but with the scoring errors and the lateness in getting the I-STEP results back to us, they extended that to January. The board approved the school improvement plans for each of the buildings.”

West Central School Board Approves Bus Bids

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board approved a bid from Kerlin Bus Sales for two buses.

Superintendent Charles Mellon stated that the school traded in two buses for $14,500 to get two buses for the model year 2014.

“We purchased two 72-passenger Thomas buses for delivery in the spring,” stated Mellon. That was about $151,000 for the two buses.”

The board approved the purchase with a unanimous vote.

West Central Maintenance Officials Working on Boiler Issue

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board recently learned that the boiler system needs repairs fairly quickly as the colder weather sets in.

Superintendent Charles Mellon explained that one boiler needs to be repaired and another needs replaced at the high school.

“It’s a three-phase unit so we are down to one boiler and we need one repaired rather quickly,” stated Mellon. “We don’t want to be caught having no heating system at all. We’re going to move rapidly on that.”

Mellon has discussed the issue with the maintenance director at the school corporation and repairs are ongoing at this time.

West Central School Board Looks Ahead for 2014-2015 School Year

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board members approved the 2014-2015 school calendar at their recent meeting. The calendar is similar to this year’s calendar.

Superintendent Charles Mellon explained that while it is early, the course description book was also presented to the board by middle and high school principal Don Street.

“It’s that time of the year where we are getting to enroll students for next year. That seems a little early, but that’s the process. The state had changed a lot of course titles and we have some new offerings that are due to some of the licensing of our staff so we were able to make some course selection changes for the 2014-2015 school year,” said Mellon.

West Central School Board Approves $28,000 Program

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board approved the high ability grant that was submitted to and approved by the state.

Superintendent Charles Mellon said the program leader was able to attain the grant.

“Monica Gainor who writes this grant is in charge of the program,” said Mellon. “We get about $28,000 from the state to operate a program for our higher ability students. The board approved that.”

West Central Schools Receive Secured School Safety Grant

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board members received word last week that the school corporation was the recipient of a Secured School Safety grant.

Superintendent Charles Mellon commented that Safety Director Chuck Evans worked hard to make sure the grant was completed properly and on time to be considered for this grant. The grant, totaling just over $26,000, will be used to upgrade security in the entryways to all of the schools.

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West Central School Board Approves Purchase of New Dishwashers

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board approved the replacement of two new dishwashers during their meeting on Thursday night.

Superintendent Charles Mellon said the appliances served the purpose for the school corporation for quite some time.

“The one at the high school was the original unit so it had been washing dishes since 1969,” said Mellon. “The other one was the original in the elementary school since 1982.”

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Wind Turbine Good Investment for West Central Schools

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The wind turbine that serves as a power source for the West Central School Corporation has been working well so far, according to Superintendent Charles Mellon.

July and August are typically months where wind isn’t prevalent so the turbine had not been in action and Mellon explained they were able to fix some mechanical problems at that time.

Mellon said that the turbine has already saved the corporation money.

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West Central School Board Approves 2014 Budget, Health Insurance

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
The West Central School Board approved the 2014 budget this week that includes the General Fund along with the Capital Projects Plan and Bus Replacement Plan.

Superintendent Charles Mellon added that the board approved a renewal on health insurance.

“We had about a four percent increase and that is through our MASE Trust,” stated Mellon. “We’re very happy with that type of increase. The norm is about 13 percent or 15 percent so we were happy with the four percent increase.”

Common Core Standards Decision Delayed

Posted on Author WKVI

West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon
No recommendation has come out of a committee tasked with evaluating the Common Core standards.

The General Assembly decided earlier this year to pause further implementation of statewide Common Core standards beyond second grade. A committee was formed and lawmakers approved a decision for a year of public feedback on Common Core before the Board of Education decides what the state’s standards will be.

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West Central to Apply for Safe and Secure School Grant

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The West Central School Corporation is in the process of writing the secure and safe school grant.

Superintendent Charles Mellon explained that the state is giving a $50,000 matching grant to schools with over 1,000 students in a school corporation and a $35,000 matching grant to schools with less than 1,000 students in a school corporation. West Central fits in the $35,000 matching grant category which, if awarded, the school will use the money to upgrade security at the buildings. That could include hiring a security officer, buying equipment or performing a security audit.

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