Superintendent Charles Mellon that most will see a decrease in fees since last year, but middle school students in grades 6–8 will see a new fee at the beginning of the school year.
West Central School Board Discusses Affordable Care Act
The West Central School Board members discussed several topics at their meeting last week. Superintendent Charles Mellon said they are still trying to gather more information on the Affordable Care Act.
“We’re still looking at a little more direction from the IRS and the federal government,” stated Mellon. “I know some of the legislators at the federal level are saying this is a train wreck waiting to happen – that’s in the news more and more and schools are making some quick changes so that we’re in compliance.”
The board had to make some urgent changes when the plan was approved in January.
Mellon and the school board hope to have most of the changes ironed out quickly after those mandates come from the federal government.
West Central School Board Discusses Funding
Superintendent Charles Mellon noted that the way the increase of public school funding has been relayed to the public is quite deceiving. The two percent increase in the funding formula is correct, but he says there is a misconception that every school corporation in the state is getting a two percent increase.
West Central School Board Takes Action on Several Items
The board approved the student accident insurance policy for the next school year.
West Central School Corporation Receives $70,000 Grant
“This was the result of other corporations throughout the state not using all of their funding and having to turn it back in,” said Mellon. “Basically, the state does not want to return it back to the federal government, so they gave us an opportunity to write a proposal and receive some items with this funding.”
West Central Superintendent Clarifies Counseling Service
“I think some people interpret it like we’d have a psychiatrist here and have different people walking in the door that we didn’t know and that’s not the case,” stated Mellon.
Elementary Principal Dan Zylstra will be sending a letter home to parents and guardians to clarify the services and encourage those students and guardians who would benefit to utilize the service.
West Central School Board Discusses School Resource Officers
“It could be an unfunded mandate,” said Mellon. “If the bill is presented in such a way saying that each corporation shall have a resource officer in each building, schools under 1,000 students will receive a $35,000 matching grant to hire this person, or these people.”
West Central School Board Discusses Kindergarten Roundup, Staffing
The West Central School Board got an update from Elementary Principal Dan Zylstra concerning the Kindergarten Roundup enrollment. Superintendent Charles Mellon indicated that the numbers look good.
“Our roundup figures are near 70 which is good for us. We were down to only two sections last year. That means we do have kids in the community that will be coming to school next year,” stated Mellon.
West Central School Board Discusses Energy
“This is the company that will do the maintenance on our [wind] turbine. They’re out of Sandusky, Ohio,” said Mellon.
West Central Approves Change to Facility Rental Fee
“That change was to include the rental fee which includes the employer share of FICA that will be paid for by the renter,” said Mellon. “We had always paid for that as a corporation, but we’re trying to find different ways to cut back a little bit and save a little money.”
West Central School Board Approves Order in One-to-One Computer Initiative
“We’re beginning that with the middle school next fall,” explained Mellon. “The ChromeBook is what we will be using and that’s become a very hot item. They’re kind of back logged with orders so we wanted to place an order for 270 ChromeBooks. We wanted to get the paperwork rolling and have those computers here by fall. The board did approve that as well.”
The program will begin with middle school students with the anticipation that it will branch out to more grade levels after the initial rollout.
West Central School Board Gets Report on Active Shooter Training
The feedback will also aid in reviewing the corporation’s emergency plans.
West Central School Board Addresses School Security
The West Central School Board discussed school security recently and Superintendent Charles Mellon said the corporation will be working to improve security conditions.
“We’re getting involved with the county-wide effort on the active shooter procedures. That will be carried out in the next two months where we can reevaluate our own plan and make it coincide with the county plan once it is designed,” said Mellon.
West Central School Board Reviews Levy, Budget
The West Central School Board members took some time to review the county tax draws from Pulaski County and Jasper County and Superintendent Charles Mellon commented that there was some excess levy.
“I think that’s mainly due to late payment of taxes from the prior years and then and I think the counties many times underestimate for their own protection. They’re making sure that they have enough money to give out when it is due,” stated Mellon.
West Central School Board Reorganizes, Inspirational Speaker Talks to Students
The West Central School Board reorganized for the year during their recent meeting.
Jeff Tanner was elected president, Dennis Gutwein was elected vice president and Kerry Miller was elected secretary.
Production Better Than Expected For West Central Wind Turbine
The West Central School Board got an update on the wind turbine during their recent meeting and Superintendent Charles Mellon said production is ahead of projections.
“We did have a very good month of October where we produced over 240, 000 kilowatts of energy. That has been our best month to this point. This was considerably above projection. Our other months have been slightly above or slightly below so that was good for us,” said Mellon.
West Central School Board Plans Work Session For Student Performance
The West Central School Board scheduled a work session for Jan. 15 to discuss the strategic plan for the corporation. Superintendent Charles Mellon explains some of the points the board will be going over during the work session.
“Our most important is student performance, you know we want to make sure that the staff has adequate resources. That’s both material type things and staff, you know to do the best job possible. We also look at projects that may be upcoming, always put energy savings and kinds of things first on the list. So, we’re working our way through that list,” Mellon said.
West Central School Board Approves School Bus Purchase
The West Central School Board members approved several action items during their meeting Thursday night and Superintendent Charles Mellon said one of those items included approving the purchase of school buses.
“We have one that is a 72-passenger bus, also an activity bus. Best bids came in from Midwest Transit so the board approved the purchase of those and they will be delivered here sometime in the second semester,” said Mellon.
The Board also approved the school calendar for the 2013-2014 school year.
“People like to have that a year in advance to schedule vacations,” Mellon said.
West Central School Board Approves 2013 Budget; 1:1 Technology Discussed
The West Central School Board approved the 2013 budget during their recent meeting which included the General Fund, Capital Projects Plan, and the Bus Replacement Plan. The board also approved the Technology Plan which Superintendent Charles Mellon says goes along with the Capital Projects Plan.
Last year, the corporation underwent a wireless transformation and projectors with internet capability were put into the teachers’ rooms so the teachers can walk around the room and discuss what is on the board. Mellon explains technology upgrade is next.
West Central School Board Discusses State Grade
The West Central School Board dissected the preliminary grades given to the corporation by the state. Superintendent Charles Mellon said the way corporations are evaluated has changed. As part of the former Adequate Yearly Progress requirement, high performance schools were assessed as an Exemplary School where severe under-performing schools were classified as being placed on Academic Probation. Now, Mellon says, the corporations are given a letter grade based on certain statistics.
