february board briefs 2010.pmd - Ionia Public Schools

BOARD BRIEFS
250 E. Tuttle Road • Ionia, MI 48846 Board Meeting: February 15, 2010
Approval of Bills
Board Actions
Curriculum Showcase
Ionia County Community
Foundation Presentation of
Grants
Community Partners
School Finance Update
Present: President Dr C.J. Basler, vice president Gale Yeomans, treasurer Dave O'Mara, and trustees
Walter Downes and Tim Hemenway.
Absent: Secretary Cathy Hoppough, Trustee Karen Balice Gregory
Approved minutes and ordered paid general fund vouchers in the amount of $ 2,479,207.70 which
includes accounts payable in the amount of $657,405.25 and payrolls in the amount of $1,821,802.45.
Approved and ordered payed 2006 Capital Projects Fund bills in the amount of $73,458.43
increasing expenses to date to $17,815,201.88.
The board took the following actions by unanimous (5-0) vote:
-- approval of Resolution in Support of May 4, 2010 Vocational Technical Educational Millage
Proposal
-- approval of overnight student trips for swimmers, wrestlers and bowlers who might qualify for State
Tournaments as well as an IHS Art Trip to Chicago Art Institute.
-- approval of the second reading of Policy 1650, "Board Memberships" with revision to delete
requirement that liaison be required to report monthly.
-- approval of the first reading of Policy 6050, "Recognition of Bargaining Units" to identify the
district's five bargaining units.
-- approval of both lacross and equestrian as competitive club sports at Ionia High School. These teams
are not funded by Ionia Public Schools.
-- expulsion of one Welch Alternative student, with provision that student may petition for reinstatement
to Welch Alternative after successfully completing two trimesters at ISD's A-Squared Program
with recommendation.
Twin Rivers Elementary Principal Dayna Ellis introduced Fifth Grade Teacher Jeff Groom and
students Ashley Pennington and Sara Zarebski to present on a global literacy program the fifth
graders are using to connect with Russian students and to practice literacy skills. Mr. Groom noted
ePals School Mail, a 100% secure and free email program, brings the penpal concept into the
electronic age and has excited his students to read and learn about the world. He noted the writing skills
of his students is improving as they write for a purpose. Although much of the writing and
corresponding is done outside classroom time, the teacher must approve all messages before they are
sent.
Brian Talbot, chairman of the Grants Committee for the Ionia County Community Foundation,
presented awards to four projects at Ionia Public Schools. The recipients and their project are IHS
Teacher Christopher Craft, $238 for Positively Mentoring Young Males program; IHS
Broadcasting Teacher Sean Harmon, $4,900 for Community Video Commercial project and
equipment; Mr. Talbot; Rather Teacher Jan Fate, $1,165 for “Elmo to the Rescue” program; and
IMS Community Representative Chris Zuchowski, $1,500 for collaborative “No! To Tobacco”
program.
IPS recognized the Muir Village Market and the Lyons-Muir Community Church as its Community
Partners. Market owners Mike and Kelly McClintock accepted the honor on behalf of the Village
Market; Pastor Bert Nelson and members involved in the Weekender Program accepted on
behalf of the Lyons-Muir Community Church.
Director of Finance Don Wilcox reviewed the district's financial picture for this year, highlighting
that no additional State Aid cuts are anticipated but that the 2009-2010 General Fund Budget deficit
A Publication of the District Communication Team • 527-9280

Financial Update
continued
Vocational Education
Millage Presentation
Finance Committee
Update
PR Committee
Report
Superintendent's
Report
is projected to be $1 million.
The variables for 2010-2011 keep getting bigger, with the Governor's and the Legislature's proposals for
retirement incentives and mandatory state employee wage reductions/insurance costs proposal as well as the
County's prospective Vocational Ed Millage. Considering the huge unknowns, Mr. Wilcox said the plans for
2010-2011 staffing recommendations is on hold until after the May election. The district will continue to make
every effort to conserve resources and reduce costs.
ISD Superintendent Robert Kjolhede noted the proposed Vocational Education Millage Proposal has the
possibility, in these trying financial times, to help maintain quality vocational education programs and at the
same time help the General Fund of the local K-12 school districts. The ISD has the ability to put the millage
proposal to the voters with the local districts' support.
Outlining the benefits of Vocational Education, Mr. Kjolhede noted not all students fit the university, yet
Vocational Education can prepare everyone for employment. Benefits include stimulating the Ionia County
economy by strengthening the Ionia County work force for high skill, high wage, and high demand jobs.
Vocational Education also helps with drop out prevention; compulsory education age is now 18.
Mr. Kjolhede noted Heartlands has experienced a reduction in programs to 8.5currently, has operating
costs, and student enrollment hasdeclined from a high of 700 to 300. Current budget concerns at the local
district level threaten Heartlands enrollment; without a millage, Lakewood and Portland students will not be
part of the Heartlands consortium next school year.
Mr. Kjolhede pointed out that the Vocational Education millage request is 1 mill, which would generate
$1.8 million dedicated to Vocational Education in Ionia County. The average tax increase on a $100,000
home, if the millage proposal pases, would be $50.
Details in a complete powerpoint will be available on www.dawggle.net after the ISD Board takes action on
Feb. 19. See Vocational Education Millage Proposal Powerpoint on the homepage.
Board Treasurer Dave O'Mara reported that Vocational Education millage was a huge topic of discussion
for the board finance committee. The hardest part for this committee is that so much potential legislation
with powerful impact is up in the air. The committee is continuing its funding studies but is looking at the
Vocational Educational Millage Proposal as having impact right now. The committee recommends the Board
approve the Resolution in Support of the May 4 Vocational Technical Education Millage Proposal.
Trustee Tim Hemenway gave an enthusiatic endorsement for enotify, the alert available through
www.dawggle.net. Mr. Hemenway offered everyone a simple way to "be the first to know" when a snow day
cancels school by signing up for the alert text or email notification.
On behalf of the District Public Relations Subcommittee, Mr. Hemenway noted data gathered at Parent/
Teacher Conferences indicates parent use of www.dawggle.net on a weekly basis is up by 10% over 2008.
Superintendent Patricia Batista gave the following report to the board:
-- Recognition and thanks was given to district Principals for their outstanding leadership, care and concern
for the staff and students. Feb. 15 is Principal's Week.
-- Incumbents Dr. C.J. Basler and Walt Downes are joined by candidates Dan Kriegbaum and Karen
Armentrout for the two 4-year terms on the May 4 annual school election ballot. Residents of the school district
must be registered by April 6 to be eligible to vote in the May 4 election.
-- The IHS Student of the Month is Haley Hildebrandt; the IMS Citizen of the Month is Kerry Braun; the Ionia
Student of the Month for Heartlands is Kodie Lewis, Auto.
-- The monthly Meijer Dignity & Respect winners for were Taylor Everitt, Rather; Summer Sawdy, Twin
Rivers; Kira Bailey-Waldron, Jefferson; Karmon Underhill, Boyce; and Ali Ockert, Emerson; Jenna
Koelsch, IMS; Alex Haskins, IHS; Mara Schafer, Heartlands; and Cady Clark, Welch Alternatives.
-- Many members of the Ionia FFA earned honors at the District Leadership Contests at Ionia High School.
Among the students qualifying for Regional Contests on February 17 were Emily Carmey, first and gold award,
Extemporaneous Speaking; the Greenhand Conduct of Meeting team of Michaela Card, Breann Nugent, Nora
Fitzpatrick, Erika Hagen, Kelby Stout, Elliot Styles and Brice Walsh, second and gold award; Becca
Blundy, gold and second, Job Interview; and the demonstration team of Joe Conley and Mike Bell, Belding
students, first and gold award.
Standing ready as alternates are Emma Fitzpatrick, third and gold in extemporaneous speaking; the Ag Issues
team of Luke Braun, Raymond Christensen, Nathan Card, and Kyle Enz, third and gold award; and
Mackenzie Kneale, third and gold award, Prepared Public Speaking.
The Ionia FFA will hold its 75th Anniversary Celebration Banquet on Wednesday, Feb. 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.
in the IHS Cafeteria. Advisor Jason Griffith invites all alumni to join in the celebration and be included in the
group photo of the anniversary event.

Superintendent's
Report
continued
Coming Events
-- Nine members of IHS Vocal Music captured Division I ratings at District Solo & Ensemble at GVSU , including
Caitlin Cusack, Alicia Wayne, Haley Hildebrandt, Sara Klein, Savanah Curtis, Kayla Shreve, Rebecca Green,
Spencer Zeigler, and Hannah Kusmierz. Four additional – Kim Hawley, Victoria Benallack, Garrett Gamble,
and Amanda McGinnis – plus Men's Select earned excellent Division II ratings. Those earning ones continue to
State S&E in April.
-- IHS Band students captured Division I ratings in 12 Solo & Ensemble events, including Dulce Claudio, trombone;
Brandon Bowker, trumpet; Ethan Fitzpatrick, soprano sax and alto sax; Jordan White and Kaitlin Smith, flute
duet; Mackenzie Kneale, trumpet; Autumn Luginbuhl, Luke Braun, Ryan Elvert, Nate Maroulis, percussion
ensemble; Christine Nelson, Danielle Bell, clarinet duet; Autumn Luginbuhl, Ryan Elvert, marimba duet; Haley
Hildebrandt, flute; Caitlin Cusack, flute and clarinet. These students qualified for State.
In addition, the following earned Division II ratings: Dulce Claudio, trombone; Autumn Luginbuhl, piano; Kara
Largent, tenor sax and clarinet; Michaela Card, clarinet; Jordan White, flute; Allison Rittersdorf, flute, Haley
Hildebrandt, flute trio.
-- The I HS Jazz Band once again won distinction at CMU Jazz Weekend as “ First runner-up, Outstanding Band Award”.
Congrats to Band Director Scott Beyer and to the entire Ionia Jazz Band!
-- Wrestlers Tom Rockwell, junior, 215 pounds, and teammate Luke Smalley, junior, 285 pounds, each earned a
fourth place finish at districts to qualify for regionals. Sophomore Brandon Piggott finished the season with a 29-
8 record, losing two district matches by 1 point.
-- The IMS sixth graders enjoyed great outdoor activities at Winter Camp at Camp Manitou-Lin the last week of
January. The staff is looking at the possibility of changing Sixth Grade Camp to a location large enough to allow all
sixth graders to go together.
-- The IHS Debate Team finished second in the West Michigan Legislative League behind Kalamazoo Central. In the
final round at Otsego on Feb. 17, Greg Botting was elected to run one of the debates and finished 2nd as an individual
speaker. Ken Voet placed 8th overall at the Otsego debate. The Debate Team was led by Botting, Voet, Audrea
Malokofsky, Jimmy King, Jorden Welton, and Cole Colwell. Congrats to Advisor Doug Tackmann and the
Team!
Feb. 20 Scholarship Pancake Breakfast at Applebee's, 8-10 a.m.
Feb. 26: "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" by Ionia Community Theatre begins
March Is Reading Month begins
March 8: No School K-12 students
March 9: Grade K-5 Parent/Teacher Conferences
March 11: Grade K-5 Parent/Teacher Conference
March 12: No School
March 13: Business Expo at IHS gym, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
March 19: Young People’s Theatre starts, “Dear Edwina, Jr.”
March 30: The 25th Annual Community Dinner, 6 p.m., IHS Gym and Commons
Ionia High School Gym and Commons
Saturday, March 13 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
90 display booths
FREE
Prizes
Pancake Breakfast - Public Safety
Taste of Ionia and More!