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by Katie Wagner
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After several work sessions and presentations to the public, Smith-Green Community Schools Board of School Trustees passed resolutions at Monday evening’s meeting to go ahead with renovation and improvement projects that will not exceed $6 million.
The Board held a public hearing before passing resolutions and welcomed comments from the handful of community members in attendance.
Dick Moake, owner of Moake Park Group architectural firm, said building needs that were presented five years ago are still coming up, so they have stood the test of time.
“The project will not only solve functional problems,” Moake said, “but it will add to the cost effectiveness of building operation over time and resolve long-term operating issues.”
The proposed debt service rate will not exceed the current rates, meaning that taxpayers will not see an increase in property taxes over the 2011 rate.
At the end of the public hearing, School Board members Cathy Petrie, Nick Uecker, Tanya Young and Rick Trump unanimously passed a resolution to authorize proceeding with a project up to $6 million. Board member Mike Sturgis was absent. Board members also signed a preliminary determination resolution and an official intent to reimburse expenditures.
Once the resolutions are published and filed, the project enters into a 30-day remonstrance period in which constituents have the opportunity to file a petition against the project with 125 certified voter signatures needed to apply for a referendum process, which will place the project on the November ballot for voter approval.
In other Board news:
• Superintendent Steve Darnell shared a report regarding the Strategic Plan and the progress the corporation has made since establishing goals for the five-year plan.
Darnell described the progress as “quite impressive” and noted that the Department of Education has named SGCS an “A” district and both CES and CJSHS are “A” schools. He also said that having a strategic plan not only measures achievement, but it requires accountability.
A copy of the achievement summary is available for download on the corporation’s website www.sgcs.k12.in.us by clicking “2010-2015 Strategic Plan Update.” Areas highlighted in green represent goals that have been achieved. Yellow fields represent goals that are still in progress and red shows no activity or not achieved.
The Strategic Planning Committee will report to the Board every year with the progress on each goal area and the Board will see a comparison of data from each year.
• CES first grade teacher Mrs. Linda Smith was named Teacher of the Month for her 29 years of service at CES. She plans to retire at the end of the school year. CES Principal Shellie Miller and Vice Principal Nicole Veit shared kind words from Smith’s colleague, Mr. Tomlinson, who wrote, “I wish I had words to express my appreciation for Linda. Not a day goes by that I don’t marvel at her patience and her energy. Her organization and wisdom amaze me and I only hope that someday I will be even close to the caliber of teacher she is.”
• The Board approved new hires as follows: Bryan Brudi as JV Baseball Coach with a vote of 3-1 with Rick Trump dissenting; Jeff Howell as Baseball Volunteer with a vote of 4-0 and Elizabeth Piercy as HS Musical director with a vote of 4-0.
The Board accepted several donations for the Eagle Garden gazebo project, including $500 from Churubusco Rotary Club, $100 from Churubusco McDonald’s and almost $270 from the Key Club bake sale. Board President Cathy Petrie said she is amazed how donations are flowing in for the gazebo and she is thankful for the tireless efforts of individuals conducting fundraisers (Key Club, Julie Mast and Cindy Zollinger) and everyone else involved in the project.
The Board also accepted a $200 donation from Farmers & Merchants Bank for the CJSHS boys’ and girls’ basketball posters.
The next regular scheduled meeting is on Monday, March 5 at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building.  (Dick Moake of Moake Park explains the proposed building project plan) photo by wagner
LARGER IMAGE by Katie Wagner
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
After several work sessions and presentations to the public, Smith-Green Community Schools Board of School Trustees passed resolutions at Monday evening’s meeting to go ahead with renovation and improvement projects that will not exceed $6 million.
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Churubusco High School's New Era Show Choir competed last Saturday at the Homestead Classic Showcase Invitational and received First Runner-Up in the Small Mixed Division. They also received the Best Crew award. Peyton Hunsberger was selected as the Outstanding Performer in their group. The New Era senior class members are shown here with the group's trophies for the day. Front left to right are: Jana Lewellyn, Peyton Hunsberger, Taylor Fry, Maranda Partin. Center: Caitie Eakins, Dylan Jones, Olivia Reed, and Sawyer Dechert. Back: Harrison Sade, Chris Uecker, Alan Meeks, and Greg Bloem.
(Churubusco FFA traveled to Rensselaer, Indiana for their annual invitational livestock judging contest on Saturday February 18th. The Busco team of Colton Geiger, Bailey Keener, Jacey Keener and Kaley Kanis placed 6th overall in the Senior-Reasons Division. Geiger placed ninth individually. This division had 22 teams and 94 competitors.)
(Row 1 Cody Parish, Tyler Knight, Miranda Sturgis, Jaymin Longardner; Row 2 Katelynn Zeller, Brad Bair, Taylor Bock, Julianne Edwards.)
