Patrons in the Exeter-Milligan school district that expected
to hear more about the proposed combining of the elementary grades were
disappointed as the topic was not even mentioned at the May 14th
meeting in Exeter.
Opening the meeting, Dr. Sharon Kuska, school board
president welcomed the crowd, “We are glad you are interested in the school
system and what we are all about.”
Working through the agenda the first discussion was held on
the work study program. Secondary Principal Lin Schlueter reported the
successes of the program to the board, “It went better this year but right now
we only have one student interested in the program for next year.”
Dr. Kuska also praised the school’s efforts in helping clean
up the storm damage near Cordova, “It was a good idea to incorporate the
students into the storm damage clean up. Service learning is so
important.”
Superintendent Paul Sheffield quickly game the credit for
the idea and organizing the school day event to teachers Lisa Soukup and Mary
Kay Pribyl.
Sheffield reported there was not too much new on the TYKE
program planned for the fall. The playground equipment will be delivered
in June and any parent wanting to enroll their student can contact Beth
Lightwine in Geneva.
Next under old business was the building project. “There is
no building project update because the committee has not been able to get
together with the busy school schedule right now,” according to school board
member Tim Pribyl.
When the topic of the 2014-25 breakfast and lunch program
was discussed Sheffield still was receiving differing opinions from the State
and the district’s legal advisor. “Other schools are wanting us to do this and
watching what we do. We could lose over $20,000 in state funding,”
according to Sheffield.
Kuska was not in favor of leaving the current government
program, “I don’t feel like we need to be the guinea pig on that one, it’s too
big of a gamble at this point.”
The board discussed the summer maintenance projects and Sheffield
reported that they will move the weight room up to the south half of the small
gym for the summer and also purchase a few more pieces of equipment.
The board discussed the two requests to coop junior high
football from Friend and Meridian. No decision was made.
The board approved the non-certified employee contracts with
Sluka abstaining. They unanimously approved admitting East Butler to the
Crossroads Conference.
The board looked at bids to replace the furnace in the gym
at the Milligan site and voted to go ahead and do the furnace but let the
administration and the maintenance department make the specific equipment
decisions.
Schlueter and Sheffield reported that they are still working
out the 2014-15 schedule along with the extra duty roster and should have that
ready in the next week.
After approving the absence of board member Jim Zeleny the
board scheduled the next meeting for June 11 in Milligan at 8 p.m.
