Seventh grader presents special project
Student athletes honored at Milan mtg.
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

As is their custom, Milan Community School Corporation board members honored outstanding students at the beginning of the Monday, April 19, board meeting in the Administration Building at 7:00 p.m.

Athletic Director Marty Layden introduced Student Athletes of the Month for the winter sports season: November: Laura Snyder, senior member of the swim team with a GPA of 4.00 - first in the senior class; Jordan Caudill, senior member of the wrestling team, winning the sectional and regional at 275 pounds; GPA of 3.17.

December: Megan Lade, junior member of the girls' basketball team and cheerleader, ranked first in her class with a 4.00 GPA; Josh Yatsko, sophomore member of the wrestling team with a 4.00 GPA and top member of his class. January: Amanda Walter, freshman member of the girls' junior varsity basketball team, ranked first in the freshman class; Zach Baker, member of the swim team and freshman basketball team, also ranked first in the freshman class.

February: Lauren Ison, member of the varsity girls' basketball team with a GPA of 3.80 and ranked seventh in the junior class; Sean Custer, member of the boys' varsity basketball team with a 3.51 GPA. March:
Shayna Gerster, member of the girls' varsity basketball team with a 3.95 GPA and ranked 15th in the junior class; Gary Caudill, member of the boys' varsity basketball team and recently named to the Academic All-State Honorable Mention basketball team.

The J. Martin Layden Award for team academic excellence for the winter season was presented to the girls' varsity basketball team with an overall GPA of 3.51.

At the beginning of Monday night's meeting Alec Lauber, a seventh grader at Milan Middle School, displayed the castle he had built as a project while studying the Renaissance in Mr. Wade's class.

Introduced by Middle School Principal Connie Nobbe, Lauber told the board members he had built the castle from things he found around his
home: paper towel rolls, gravel, the bark from trees, skewer, packaged feathers, rocks, and other items.

Board members present included President Stephanie Baker, Vice President David Voss, Secretary Anita Pitts, Members Charles Rohlfing and Edward Amberger.

Also in attendance were Superintendent Donald G. Swisher, Transportation Director Andrew Jackson, Corporation Secretary Susan Dudgeon, school administrators, teachers, parents, and patrons.

Concerning insurance recommendations for the corporation, the board heard a discussion from Todd Winters from Winters Insurance Agency in Milan clarifying and explaining items on his bid and noting that the corporation would be covered through Indiana Insurance.

At the conclusion of his explanation, Superintendent Swisher told the board three companies had returned bids for insurance from May 1, 2004 through May 1, 2007. Member Ted Amberger moved with a second by Voss to schedule a special meeting for Monday, April 26, at 5:30 p.m. to award the insurance quote. The vote was 5-0.

New business included:

* Approval of two lease agreements/fund raisers for MIST (the Milan summer swim team) for a movie night at the elementary school on April 23, and the use of the pool and equipment from May 1- July 13 for swim team practice and meets.

* Approval of a lease agreement with the Ripley County Chapter of the American Red Cross for use of the pool June 1-4 and June 7-11 for swim lessons.

* Approval of high school, middle school, and elementary school math book adoptions. Adoption committees earlier selected and approved included teachers, parents, and students.

* Approval of summer school teachers for June 1-14: Tara Mauer, Lisa Bradshaw, Linda Swisher, and Paul Brunner.

* Approval of summer school teachers for the Jumpstart program from August 2-13: Amy Ralston, Lisa Bradshaw, Linda Swisher, and Paul Brunner.

Superintendent Swisher noted he had received notes of appreciation from five more of last year's graduates for the Academic Honors Diploma money they had received.

Teacher Donna Barton had written a thank you for the consideration she had received on the recent passing of her mother.

Under personnel items, the board:

* Voted to approve the resignation of computer/technician/systems administrator Patrick Gray effective April 28 to accept a position with Franklin County schools.

* Approved a request from Director of Technology Chris Cain to advertise the vacated computer position.

* Approved the resignation of Kirk Rice, high school teacher, at the end of the current school year.

One item after 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, received approval: A field trip request by Agriculture Teacher Anita Boggs to take 10 FFA members to the State Ffa Convention at Purdue University from June 14-17.

Under the President's Prerogative at the end of the meeting, Superintendent Swisher and each of the board members expressed appreciation for the students and parents who had attended the meeting and received recognition; commented on the successful 150th Anniversary program at the Milan Elementary School; congratulated seniors, members of the high school band and art club on successful trips; and reminded those gathered of the upcoming PTO carnival, Damon Bailey, barnstorming tour, and the prom.

Both Voss and Pitts had attended the National School Board Association meeting in Orlando and reported on speakers Terrance Parker of the Little Rock Nine, First Lady Laura Bush, and Jim Collins.

In thanking the community for allowing her to attend the conference, Pitts said that the membership fee for NSBA is well spent because much of the money goes to lobby for children and to improve the laws that affect children and education. "The conference is a forum for school boards to come together to learn and talk about being a buffer between the laws, teacher, and students."

President Baker commented on the presentation by seventh grader Alec Lauber, the learning experience the elementary students had received from the 150th anniversary celebration, the parade entries which included a replica of the Harding homestead, the hotel, and Arkenberg's Restaurant.

The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m.