Milan School Board passes 2005 budget
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

With no questions from those present, the Milan Community School Corporation Board of Trustees adopted the 2005 Bus Replacement Plan, 2005 Capital Projects, and 2005 Budget with a motion by Charles Rohlfing, a second by Anita Pitts, and a 5-0 vote.

The special session preceded the regular meeting of the board on Monday, September 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the Administration Building. President David Voss, Stephanie Baker, Edward Amberger, Rohlfing, and Pitts were in attendance, along with Superintendent Donald Swisher.

The board approved fund-raising events for the Milan Elementary PTO, the junior class, and the high school choir and show choir.

As an annual event, the PTO fundraiser begins October 1 and ends October 11.

The junior class will sell cheese and sausage from November 2-16, and the high school choir and show choir began theirs last Monday and will end Friday, October 1.

Field trips were approved for the first graders to visit the Cincinnati Zoo on October 8; thirteen FFA members to attend the annual show in Louisville on October 29; and 18 SADD members to participate in the Youth Summit in Lebanon from October 24-26.

Superintendent Swisher announced lawn care quotes are due by 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 8.

Under personnel items, the board approved Middle School Principal Connie Nobbe's recommendation that Linda Oelker serve on the KEY team.

Driver Education instructors ap
proved are: Fall, Steven Gutzwiller, classroom, and Thomas Cook, driving; Winter, Jon Custer, classroom, and Thomas Cook, driving; Summer, Rick Koch, classroom and driving.

Resignations from extra-curricular positions included Brian Voss as coach of the freshman boys' basketball team; Linda Swisher as freshman cheerleader sponsor; and Carrie Bruns as junior class sponsor.

Concerning the pool renovation project, Superintendent Swisher said bids have been postponed for a month because of unavailable money. When the project begins, the pool will be closed for 45 days, probably from the beginning of March until the end of April.

Most of the renovation concerns the regulation of humidity and is under the direction of Jerry Firestone of RQAW.
In his report, Superintendent Swisher announced the Afternoon's Rock program, sponsored by the Community Mental Health Center as a "Latch Key" project, will take place on Tuesday and Thursday until the end of October.

The ISBA Fall Regional Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 19, in Seymour. The Milan School Board will receive an award at that time.

At the beginning of the meeting Math Teacher Rick Koch introduced Mrs. Linda Hamrick, who reported on a summer workshop she and Alecia Foreman had attended as a part of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.

Superintendent Swisher and each of the board members welcomed five students from Mrs. Amy Ralston's sixth grade classroom. Alex Layden, Elaina Voss, Leanne Siemer, Stephanie Kirk, and Arielle Noel attended to score points for an assignment.

Under the "President's Prerogative" part of the agenda, Board Member Baker noted school had gotten off to a good start and welcomed those in attendance.

Board Member Amberger also noted he was pleased to see the room full of people. He also commented on the new computer lab at the elementary school.

In her comments, Board Member Pitts said the budget is such an important issue, and although it passed
in just a few minutes, the board's work sessions to get to that point had been quite lengthy. "This is really an important thing to keep the wheels running here at school."

Board Member Rohlfing echoed her sentiments, adding that he appreciated the confidence of the taxpayers concerning the $8 million budget. He also commented on the excellence of the Baylor Invitational Track Meet, in which several records were set.

President Voss wished all the students good luck on ISTEP and noted that the speaker at the elementary school was "amazing" in their "Test Buster" program.

Adjournment came at 7:45 p.m.