CES principal promotes positive behavior program

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

CLOVERDALE -- Elementary school principal Stacey Baugh gave an update to the school board during its regular meeting Monday.

"Everything is going great," she said.

The school has adopted a positive behavior program the students seem to responding well to. It is based on a ticket system, and for every five tickets received, students earn a special treat. The treats range from extended recess time on Friday to having lunch with a person of choice.

The program teaches students to own their actions among several other positive behavioral actions. Baugh hopes to extend the program to school buses as well.

"(The program) has been a real positive," Baugh reported.

In addition to the behavioral program, first grade students are learning social skills, and a group of third grade boys are learning how to organize their desks, homework, etc.

Baugh also reported the before and after-school programs are helping a tremendous amount of students. There are approximately six to 12 students there in the morning and 65 to 75 students who stay after school.

The school board also heard an update on the greenhouse from Superintendent Carrie Milner, who was taking the place of project manager Dan Sulkoske. She said the greenhouse is up and "looking good."

"The final checklist isn't completed yet," Milner added. "But good progress is being made."

In other business:

* Milner reported Duke Energy rates would be increasing. It is the only provider for Cloverdale schools and the rate increase would not just affect the school, "but be across the board," she said.

* Milner gave a report on the Indiana School Board Association/Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents fall conference. She said the H1N1 virus was discussed at length, but it is still unclear what the state will do regarding school closings.

She added licensure changes might be in the future for administrators. It is being recommended building principals are responsible for record keeping on teacher's professional development.

Milner said there are at least two problems with that recommendation. The first is possible poor record keeping by principals or additional record keeping for the administrators. The second was the possibility of a teacher or principal leaving the school and the record of professional development being transferred.

* The school board approved a couple of policies -- background checks and authorization to sign agreements for alternative services and private residential school placements.

The background checks have been required since the first of July and cost a paid employee $29 for the check. Milner said most people are happy to have positions and don't object to paying the fee. There is a $3 fee for a non-paid employee, but the corporation covers the cost.

The authorization to sign agreements for alternative services and private residential school placements is an annual policy brought before the board. It is designed for Milner to have authorization to sign agreements, when a student has to be placed in juvenile detention or Res-Care.

* The board also approved two students be transferred into the corporation; facility use requests; professional leave requests; field trip requests; and conflict of interest disclosure statement.

* Under personnel, the board approved hiring for two middle school positions and coaching. Matt Langdon will be the junior varsity girls basketball coach; Ken Williams is the girls varsity golf coach; and Amanda Hampton will be the girls varsity assistant basketball coach.

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