MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF SCHOOL BOARD

OF BLOOMFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT

January 22, 2004

The Board of School Trustees of the Bloomfield School District, of Greene County, Indiana, met in regular session on January 22, 2004, at 7:05 p.m. in the junior high school conference room in Bloomfield School District, 501 West Spring Street, Bloomfield, Indiana.  The following school board members were present: Peggi Blakley, Randall Burcham, Nancy Canty, Steve Dowden, Keith Hanauer, and Marvin Helms. Richard Richeson was absent.  President Hanauer called the meeting to order at approximately 7:05 p.m.  The following order of business was transacted with the President presiding:

1.  Approval of Minutes.  The Board had been provided with minutes of the executive session and regular school board meeting held on December 18, 2003, which had been prepared by corporation recording secretary Kelli Vandeventer.  Steve Dowden moved to approve the minutes as presented.  Nancy Canty seconded the motion.  The minutes were approved by a 6-0 vote.

2.  Treasurer’s Report.  The Board had been provided with the Treasurer’s Report, prepared by corporation treasurer Sue Pritts, consisting of the Appropriation Report and Claims Listing Report.  Upon motion duly made by Randall Burcham and seconded by Marvin Helms, the Board by a 6-0 vote approved the Treasurer’s Report. 

3.  Transfer of Appropriations 2003 Budget.  Board members were presented with a report from the School District’s Treasurer showing transfers within and among both minor and major categories in all funds in order to allow for expenditures to close out the 2003 budget.  (See attached)  Superintendent Hasler told the Board that at its November 20, 2003 meeting they had adopted a resolution allowing and authorizing the Treasurer to make these transfers.  Mr. Hasler recommended acceptance of this report.  Nancy Canty moved to accept the transfer of appropriations report showing transfers in the 2003 budget.  Randall Burcham seconded the motion, which passed by a 6-0 vote.

4.  Mileage Rate Set for District.  Superintendent Hasler recommended that the Board set the mileage reimbursement rate for the district to be the rate established by the Internal Revenue Service for mileage expenses. Randall Burcham moved to approve the recommendation.  Steve Dowden seconded the motion, which passed by a 6-0 vote.

5.  Report Heard on Excess Levy Shortfall Appeal.  Superintendent Hasler gave the Board the following report on the Excess Levy Shortfall Appeal.  He said that during the 2004 budget process the district filed an Excess Levy Shortfall Appeal to the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF).  The appeal was properly advertised along with the 2004 budget.  The advertised levy shortfall for the general fund was $93,611.  The DLGF ordered a levy increase of $58,943.  The advertised levy shortfall for the transportation fund was $23,411.  The DLGF ordered a levy increase of $14,315.  The primary reason for the reduction was due to the appeal being for 2001, 2002, and 2003.  The amounts the district received were only for 2001 and 2002.  The DLGF cannot consider 2003 until after the reassessment is completed.  Mr. Hasler said that this action was an effort to recapture the levy funds lost due to the closure of KPT.  He said this had been a learning experience and the district received some money so he considered it was well worth the time.

6.  Plan for Substitute Contract Bus Drivers Approved.  The superintendent explained that the district’s contract bus drivers are responsible for securing their own substitute and that it is becoming a hardship on many of them.  He said with the cost of maintaining a CDL License with a Public Passenger endorsement, substitute drivers are becoming scarce.  Mr. Hasler recommended that the Board approve his recommendation that up to three (3) district bus driver substitutes receive reimbursement for their physicals, drug testing, license fee, driving test, and a $100.00 per year stipend for actively driving for the district.  Although locating a substitute driver will still be the responsibility of the contractor, this proposed plan should help keep an available pool of qualified drivers.  Randall Burcham moved to approve Mr. Hasler’s recommendation.  Marvin Helms seconded the motion. Mr. Hasler said he would be preparing regulations for this plan.  The regulations will stipulate that the person would make him/herself available to regularly drive a bus.  The superintendent told the Board that school employees who are already being compensated for substitute driving would not be eligible for this program.  The motion passed by a 6-0 vote.

7.  ECA Recommendation Approved. Board members were provided with an ECA recommendation for the 2003-2004 school year from athletic director Jason Skomp.  Mr. Skomp recommended Shane Evans as Varsity Baseball Coach.  Superintendent Hasler included his support of the recommendation.   Nancy Canty moved to approve the recommendation as presented.   Peggi Blakley seconded the motion.  The motion passed by a 6-0 vote.

8.  Choral Group/Band Trip Approved.  Superintendent Hasler recommended that the Board approve two field trips involving Joyful Noise, Cardinalsong, Center Stage and the band sponsored by Sheila Jerrels and Jeff Rockey.  The first trip is to Branson, Missouri from April 30 to May 3, 2004.  The second trip involves only the Joyful Noise choral group going to St. Louis from May 7 through May 9, 2004.  Randall Burcham moved to approve the trips.  Steve Dowden seconded the motion, which passed by a 6-0 vote. Randall Burcham mentioned that the students pay their own way for the trips. 

9.  Disposition of Bell Tower on Elementary Roof Approved.  The superintendent explained that when Mr. John Dorrer was surveying the roof to prepare bid specifications he noticed that the bell tower was causing potential leak problems with the roof.  Mr. Hasler recommended that the Board approve the recommendation that the bell tower be removed from the elementary building roof and that the bell be stored until a more suitable location is found.  Marvin Helms moved to approve the recommendation.  Peggi Blakley seconded the motion, which passed by a 6-0 vote.

10.  Board Policy Second Reading and Adoption Held. Second reading was held on one (1) school board policy.  #4401 Fringe Benefits for Support Staff policy was presented to the Board for second reading and adoption consideration.  (See attached)  Steve Dowden moved to approve the policy as presented.  Nancy Canty seconded the motion, which passed by a 6-0 vote. 

11.  Board Policy First Readings Held. First reading was held on two (2) school board policies. 

Policy #4140 Resignation and policy #3140 Termination and Resignation were presented to the Board for first reading. 

(See attached)  Superintendent Hasler said these recommended revisions come from the Indiana School Boards Association’s council who felt that our old policies did not meet Indiana Code.  These policies will be brought to a later meeting for consideration. 

12.  Board Approves Attendance Grant Agreement with Greene County Office of Family and Children.  Superintendent Hasler explained that the Greene County Office of Family and Children asked that Bloomfield School District participate in their Attendance Grant.  (See attached)  He recommended approval.  Nancy Canty moved to approve participation in the attendance grant.  Peggi Blakley seconded the motion.  Mr. Hasler said that this grant is intended to complement the C.A.P.E. grant and the new Greene County attendance policy.  The motion was approved by a 6-0 vote.

13.  Collaborative Agreement with Wabash Valley Human Services Accepted.  It was recommended that the Board accept the collaborative agreement with Wabash Valley Human Services and authorize the administration to sign the same.  (See attached)  Nancy Canty moved to accept the collaborative agreement with Wabash Valley Human Services and authorize the administration to sign the agreement.  Peggi Blakley seconded the motion.  Superintendent Hasler said that the agreement primarily allows collaboration between our primary teaching staff and the Head Start program.  After the proper releases are obtained, the elementary school can provided tracking and educational information regarding the success of Head Start graduates.

14.  Executive Session Date Decided Upon.  After discussing their schedules, the Board decided to meet in executive session on Thursday, January 29, 2004, at 7:00 p.m. to discuss collective bargaining strategies. 

15.  Report on “Committed to Education” License Plate Fund.  Superintendent Hasler that at the October 2002 board meeting, the board adopted a recommendation to designate the “Committed to Education” license plate funds to purchasing an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) for the school district.  He said at the last EPICS meeting, superintendents learned that every public school in the county would receive at least one AED from the tobacco settlement money through the Greene County Health Department.  Mr. Hasler told the Board that the “Committee to Education” license plate fund had $1,803.14 as of December 19, 2003.

16.  Collective Bargaining Update. Superintendent Hasler read a prepared Collective Bargaining Update to the Board and public.  (See attached)

17.  Comments and Information From the Public.  Elementary principal, Mary Jane Vandeventer told those present that she would be organizing a “Welcome Back Celebration” for members of the 152^nd Infantry to be held in the near future.  Mrs. Vandeventer said there would be a special program to honor those members during the school day for students and the public would be invited also.   Superintendent Hasler told the Board that he had posted the jr/sr high school principal position with all of the university placement offices in the state and that some interest was starting to come in to his office.  He said the application deadline is March 1, 2004.

18.  Adjournment.  There being no further business, Randall Burcham moved to adjourn.   Peggi Blakley seconded the motion.  The meeting was then adjourned by a 6-0 vote.