Being consistent aim of review

Heaven Smeelink enjoyed sliding down a hill on her stomach in The Dells west of Locust Street Friday evening. The snow was packed into a slick slope by many sledders who had visited the hill before her. Area children should have plenty of time for sledding this weekend as an additional 2-4 inches are expected to fall Saturday across Putnam County. As for making up snow days missed this week, only Cloverdale schools plan to be in session on Monday, which is usually observed as the Presidents Day holiday. However, South Putnam has announced it might be in session Monday, but that depends upon the weather that morning. Meanwhile, both Greencastle and North Putnam schools will be closed Monday, Feb. 19 in observance of Presidents Day.

In an effort to be consistent in academic policies and procedures, a special committee of educators and parents will be formed to review practices at Greencastle High School.

Some challenges have been raised recently on how academic honors and awards are decided at the high school, prompting the Greencastle School Board to seek the policy review.

"We need to have a consistent practice of those policies," Supt. Robert Green told board members Mark Kannowski, Barry Fisher, Jack Berry, Monica Fennell and Michael Dean at their regular monthly meeting Thursday.

The high school principal, staff, counselors and Assistant Supt. Kirk Freeman will be looking at various policies and practices, such as has how grades from other schools are transferred to the academic record, how online course credit is applied, and how weighted grades affect a student's academic standing. Other community members will also be invited to work with the committee.

"I think some of these issues have been on the front burner recently, and maybe some have been on the back burner for a while," board president Berry said.

The board agreed by consensus to set up the committee, and is expected to give formal approval to the committee make-up in March. The committee could bring its recommendations to the school board in May, and have the board attorney draft new policies to fit the intent of the rules.

The recommendation is to have the new practices in place for next school year.

Meanwhile, the board learned that the Indiana Department of Environ-mental Management has approved a 30-day burn of the corn boilers at Greencastle High School so that testing of the system can be conducted.