Field trips, fundraisers approved by Milan Board
Administrators share goals
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Milan Community School Corporation Board of Trustees approved fundraisers and field trips for several groups at their Monday, October 18, meeting in the Administration Building.

With President David Voss, Vice President Charles Rohlfing, and members Edward Amberger and Anita Pitts present, the meeting began with a presentation by the high school English Department represented by Roy Adams, Peggy Mix, and Michael Myers, who share 60 years of experience among them.

Students Kayla Johnson and Sara Meister, co-editors of the school paper which Myers advises, told of a workshop their newspaper class had attended.

Board Secretary Stephanie Baker was not present for Monday's meeting. Superintendent Don Swisher and school administrators were present, along with several staff, patrons, and students.

Presenting their request for a senior class trip from March 28 through April 1, 2005, President Levi Knowlton and Vice President Mark Horstman asked the board's permission for class members to travel to St. Augustine and Orlando, Florida.
Their itinerary includes a lighthouse tour, a sunset cruise, Ripley's Believe It or Nor Museum, the Fountain of Youth, an alligator farm, and Epcot Center at Disney World.

A motion by Rohlfing and a second by Amberger approved the trip for the Class of 2005 with a 4-0 vote.

Band Director Stefani Bedel also requested a Goodwill Tour for the Milan High School Band to Hershey and Gettysburg, Pennslyvania, where they will perform at four nursing
homes and visit a children's cancer facility to pass out coloring books and crayons. Their tour also includes a dinner theatre production of "Beauty and the Beast."

This trip also received unanimous approval with a motion by Pitts and a second by Amberger.

In another request, Bedel asked for guidance in disposing of 80 old band uniforms stored in the high school band storage area. After discussion Rohlfing moved to declare the uniforms obsolete, give a few to the Milan Museum, and offer individual uniforms to community members for a free will offering.

If after a certain length of time uniforms remain, Rohlfing felt they should be donated to a needy school. Pitts seconded and the motion passed 4-0.

Under old business, Superintendent Swisher recommended the lawn care contract for 2005-2006 be awarded to Pro Green Lawn Care, whose bid of $15,350 was lowest of the six bidders. The board voted unanimously to accept his recommendation.

Notice to bidders concerning the renovation of the pool was approved with the deadline for bids set for November 11 and the awarding at the Monday, November 15, board meeting.

Jerry Firestone and Carl Denham of RQAW informed the board of the procedure to upgrade the dehumidification system and the shut down time for the pool. Starting in February, the pool will be shut down between 45 and 60 days, but should be operational after spring break.

Lease agreements were approved for St. Nicholas School to use the elementary gym for home basketball games; the elementary PTO to use the elementary facilities for a "Santa's Workshop" on Saturday, December 11; MIST summer swim team to use classrooms and equipment for "Movie Nights" on November 5, February 25, and April 15.

Appie Thompson, sponsor of SADD, received permission to use the elementary school for several activities for K-4 students, as well as night lock-in's, and babysitting projects during parent-teacher conferences.

Fundraising requests approved by the board included: Randy Combs' request for the boys' basketball teams to sell sports clothing from Scholastic Sports Services from November 15-29; Anita Boggs' request for the FFA to sell citrus fruits, meat snacks, and Farm World magazine subscripts during the month of November; Stefani Bedel's request for band members to sell candy bars from QSP from March 7-18.

Under personnel, the board accepted the resignation of Jeff Mersmann as the elementary computer aide and as sixth grade girls' basketball coach. He will be leaving Milan to do his student teaching in social studies during the second semester.

The resignation of Steven Gutzwiller as fall classroom instructor for driver education was accepted, and Rick Koch was named as the replacement.

Positions added to the extracurricular schedule for payment included: Melissa Williams, Middle School SADD sponsor; Pam Holbert, Middle School yearbook sponsor; Sheri Cunningham, Middle School newspaper sponsor; Jeremiah Loehmer, Middle School Art Club sponsor; Lisa Kirk, Middle School Media Club sponsor; and Julie Meyers, drill team instructor.

Recommended by Principal Michael Parks, JoAnne MacVey was named junior class sponsor.

Michael Meyers will serve as freshman boys' basketball coach and his former position as eighth grade boys' basketball coach will be advertised.

Each of the eight administrators reviewed his/her goals for the 2004-2005 school year. Superintendent Swisher presented board members with a draft copy of his educational goals and asked for their input before the November meeting.