Website confusion gets attention at Cloverdale

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Cloverdale Community School Corp. board member Todd Whitlock isn't happy with the corporation's website.

And according to Whitlock, neither are several residents in the town.

On Monday, Whitlock expressed concern to school officials regarding the website, specifically pointing to Harmony, a component on the website intended to keep track of students' information.

Technology Coordinator John Davis said CCSC is in its third year using Harmony, a student database that helps keep track of information including grades, discipline and attendance records.

Davis said parents can access the program off each main page for each of the three schools. There is a link on each homepage and the icon is a little red school house with a blue notebook stating "bringing your school together."

However, on Monday, Whitlock said several residents had recently expressed concerns to him saying the information was difficult to attain.

"It is extremely hard to process for our community members," Whitlock said.

He said he had expressed concern regarding the corporation website nearly six months ago and took partial blame for the problem not being resolved.

Whitlock added if the corporation was not getting a good investment on the program, the corporation "might as well go back to paper and pencil and save $6-10,000."

Whitlock also said several residents had recently expressed concerns to him about having difficulties finding lesson plans on the website, something he believed was going to be started this year.

Middle school Principal Jeff Brookshire assured Whitlock that all teachers had been instructed to begin putting lesson plans on-line, starting with the second six weeks of the school year.

The board, along with various other school officials, discussed getting the word out regarding Harmony and future lesson plans in a community newsletter, but no action was taken.

"It is a learning process," CCSC Supt. Carrie Milner said.

Whitlock also expressed concern regarding the updating of the website, saying several pages on the site were at least two years old.

"We have to update this," he said.

Meanwhile, the board heard an update on the corporation's Gifted and Talented program from its coordinator Jennifer Mann.

Mann told the board there are 130 students currently enrolled in the program, five less than last year. However, she said she had several other applicants ready for the program.

"We should all be patting ourselves on the back that we have a program," Mann said.

Mann added the GT students would take part in a recycling project this year.

"I think it's a good thing," she said. "The kids seem real excited about it."

In other business, the board:

-- Heard an analysis on the corporation's NEOLA project from Milner. She said she recently received the company's suggestions on corporation policy changes.

"We have a lot of good things going, but a lot of work to do," Milner said.

Milner said the next phase in the changing of policy would cost the school an estimate $7,000, a figure she said was affordable.

She requested the board make a motion to move forward with the phase, but board member Bobbi Nees expressed concern regarding the issue.

"It breaks my heart to think that small schools have to align themselves with legalities," she said.

Still, board member Don Albietz motioned to move forward with Jim Sharp giving the second. The board voted unanimously on the issue.

-- Heard an update on academic standards from Milner. She said it was "pretty exciting" about the school's recent exemplary status but moving forward was the goal.

"We recognize however that when you're here, it's easy to slip," Milner said, pointing above her head.

-- Approved minutes for the regular and executive sessions of Aug. 14, 2006, with Whitlock abstaining.

-- Approved claims and financial reports, including middle school and high school monthly statements by a 6-1 vote. Nees voted no.

-- Approved Board Policy 5760 Criteria for Denial of Board Consideration of Student Due Process Appeals by a 7-0 vote.

-- Recognized elementary student Noah Cox, middle school student Frank Skiles, and high school student Duke Lovins as Students of the Month.

-- Discussed recent concerns of parking and the dropping off of students at both the elementary and middle school.

-- Approved a donation of a conference table and chairs for the Knoy Resource Center from First National Bank by a 7-0 vote.

-- Approved gifted and talented room for parent meetings set for Sept. 18, Nov. 20, Jan. 15, March 19, and May 21.

-- Approved the use of an elementary school room for girl scout meetings every other Tuesday, beginning Sept. 19.

-- Approved the use of the high school cafeteria for the high school band fall concert on Oct. 17.

-- Approved the use of the high school parking lot for a gifted and talented cookout for recycling set for Oct. 13.

-- Approved the middle school cafeteria for a band and choir fall concert on Sept. 25.

-- Approved the use of the middle school cafeteria for a band and choir concert on Dec. 12.

-- Approved the high school gymnasium for a fall festival set for Oct. 28.

-- Approved 20 professional leave requests.

-- Approved 21 field trip requests.

-- Approved the employment of half-time preschool teaching assistant Tricia Heavener, second grade teaching assistant Regina Tate, second grade teaching assistant Heather Patterson, third grade teaching assistant Barbara Harris, first grade teacher Kristen Rissler, half-time preschool teacher Regina Chestnut, middle school teaching assistant Nicole Cullery, gifted and talented teaching assistant Katina Wetter, special educational teaching assistant Martha Scott, and special educational teaching assistant Dianna Baysinger.

-- Approved the hiring of freshmen boys' basketball coach Jeremy Simpson.

The board meets regularly at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. Its next scheduled meeting is for Oct. 9.

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