Board hears NEOLA proposal

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Representatives from NEOLA met with the Cloverdale School Board on Monday with the hope the corporation would join a vast number of schools that take advantage of the program.

NEOLA representatives Victor Fisher and Bob Hartman spoke to the seven-member board Monday at its monthly meeting, giving the board an idea of how the program benefits school corporations.

"We're really a service organization," Hartman told the board.

Hartman -- who has been with NEOLA for 13 years and was a superintendent for 25 years -- told the board the program is a management communication system that helps set policies and administrative guidelines.

He said NEOLA works primarily in the Midwest and conducts business with at least 150 schools in Indiana.

"We try to keep you out of trouble," Hartman said. "We develop policies tailored to your needs."

He said corporations taking advantage of the program will go through five phases. First, NEOLA conducts an analysis of the corporations' policies before producing a policy manual that can consist of 10 chapters.

Then, NEOLA sets administrative guidelines and regular updates. In addition, Hartman said the manual is on the Internet, providing instant updates. He said the Internet manual also includes keyword searches.

"It's a service organization," Hartman said. "NEOLA is very comprehensive."

CCSC Supt. Carrie Milner said the program could be valuable for the corporation in the future.

"At least we'll know we have a product that we can stand by," she said.

Meanwhile, the board received an update on the corporation's drug testing policy from CHS Principal Sonny Stoltz.

Stoltz told the board members Monday that the school recently received its annual report and learned that 31 of 73 students tested at the middle school and high school level tested positive.

"That put us up in the upper two-thirds (in the area)," Stoltz told the board.

Stoltz told the board the students were tested due to behavior patterns and recommended the corporation change its policy and make it more stringent.

"This is something I'd like to get cleared up," he said. "I believe there needs to be a little more bite to it."

Stoltz said the current consequences to testing positive for drug use are not up to par.

Board member Todd Whitlock asked Stoltz if he had asked for input on the possible policy change from parents and students, to which Stoltz replied no.

In other business, the board:

-- Established its monthly meeting date to take place on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m.

-- Established board member compensation for $1,500 annually.

-- Appointed Debbie Leonard as corporation treasurer and Terri Bailey as deputy treasurer.

-- Appointed Karen Dutcher from Ice Miller as the corporation attorney.

-- Unanimously approved claims, financial and annual reports.

-- Tabled a report on energy savings the board was supposed to receive from Scott Whitaker, but Whitaker was unable to attend Monday's meeting.

-- Approved by a 7-0 vote to advertise the corporation's proposed 2007 budget, capital projects fund, and school bus replacement plan.

-- Approved bids from Handy's Dairy and Nickle's Bread for the upcoming school year.

-- Approved a bid from Pepsi-Cola for service for the upcoming school year.

-- Approved a request by middle school athletic director Dave Walton to use the middle school gymnasium for a seventh- and eighth-grade volleyball invitational on Sept. 16.

-- Approved a request from Walton to use the middle school gym for the fall sports banquet on Oct. 24.

-- Approved a request from Lita Sandy to use the high school for the Dance Workshop Booster Club for a benefit for Clothe-A-Child.

-- Approved textbook rental fees for the 2006-07 school year.

-- Approved the resignation of middle school health/physical education teacher Dan Bain, who was hired as South Putnam High School Assistant Principal in June.

-- Approved the resignation of high school English teacher Crystal Potter.

-- Approved the hiring of third-grade teacher Wade Fanning, morning preschool teacher Josh Glover, K-2 LD/MIMH teacher Krista Watson, biology teacher Kathryn Holmstrom, middle and high school agriculture teacher Andrea Mrozinski, middle school physical education/health teacher Nathaniel Aker, and high school English teacher Claire Hunter.

-- Approved a new salary index for teachers in the corporation.

-- Learned that Sarah Dyer did not accept the agriculture position she had been offered.

Whitlock requested the corporation receive written notification from Dyer as to why she did not accept the position.

The board meets regularly on the second Monday of each month. Its next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Aug. 8.

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