Wanda English Burnett - Editor

The Milan Community School Corporation Board of School Trustees met in regular session, Monday, August 21. Minutes from the previous regular and special meetings were approved as read. All five members and Superintendent Jackson were present.

The high point of the meeting was a PowerPoint presentation. It was given by Superintendent Jackson and illustrated the Milan School District’s recent accomplishment, being named an exemplary school by the State of Indiana. Jackson began by saying, “We have some pretty exciting news.”

He went on to explain that Indiana schools are now ranked by following the percent of students who pass Math and English, and students’ improvement and performance from one grade to the next.
Category designations (from best to worst) are:
* Exemplary,
* Commended,
* Academic Progress,
* Academic Watch, and
* Academic Probation.

Milan Community Schools are ranked as exemplary. Milan is the only school corporation in the area to receive an exemplary rating, with an overall rating of 80.7% and an improvement rating of 5.4%.
Highest in the rankings was Milan Elementary with 83.5% overall and a 10.4% improvement. The middle school was next with an 82.3% overall with 6.9% improvement and received an Academic Progress designation. Jackson reported that Milan Middle School might have received exemplary status, but attendance was reported incorrectly. Milan High School received a ranking of 64.7% and was put on Academic Watch.

Jackson congratulated the students, teachers and administrators of all the schools in the corporation. He pointed out that Milan is in some very elite company in Indiana with only a handful of school corporations attaining this honor. Jackson commented that Milan has implemented some innovations that have contributed to its improvements. In particular he cited a change in the way report cards are compiled. Rather than simply listing letter grades with sparse comments by teachers, the new system breaks down each student’s progress and details areas in which a student needs help. Jackson continued by explaining that this system not only helps parents better understand their child’s needs, but alerts the child’s future teachers to his or her individual needs.

Board members and meeting attendees offered a round of applause for the corporation’s achievement. All agreed that the exemplary rating is quite an honor, and expressed confidence that the schools will continue their forward progress.

In other matters, Milan Elementary principal, Jane Rogers, presented Christy Wilhelm as her choice for the full-time position of teacher for EH (emotionally handicapped) classes. The position used to be only part-time. Rogers informed the gathering that Wilhelm brings with her seven years’ teaching experience in the Indianapolis school system. The board approved hiring Wilhelm 5-0. Superintendent Jackson welcomed Wilhelm saying, “We’re glad to have you aboard. This has needed to be a full-time position for a long time.”

Some middle and high school students will attend the Medieval Renaissance Festival in Ohio as field trips on September 27 and 28. Students will pay their own way.

The Milan Park Board has raised the rent on its soccer field from $500 to $750 this season. A board member asked if it might be possible to negotiate an extended contract with the park board in the future to avoid unexpected price hikes. Superintendent Jackson agreed, “I’d like to do a two to three year agreement.”

The winter swim team will be allowed to use the elementary school facility again this winter at no cost.

It was announced that the school corporation’s budget hearing will be held on Thursday, September 7 at 7:00. Budget adoption will be Monday, September 18 at 6:45 p.m. just prior to the regular school board meeting at 7:00 p.m.