Press Release

It has been brought to the attention of Smith-Green Community Schools that an individual has called homes in the district asking community members to donate money for field trip funds and programs.

Smith-Green Community Schools is NOT soliciting money for field trip funds or programs.

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. (Oct. 28, 2009) — According to an article published today in the Fort Wayne  Journal-Gazette , the American Civil Liberties Union has sued Smith-Green Community School Corp. and a principal in federal court on behalf of two girls punished for summer postings on MySpace.

According to JG reporter Rebecca Green, the suit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Fort Wayne, claiming the two girls, both sophomore fall-sport athletes, were suspended from extracurricular activities for the entire school year because of sexually suggestive photographs posted on their pages on MySpace, a social networking site on the Internet.

The lawsuit names the district and Churubusco High School Principal Austin Couch, both individually and in his official capacity, and alleges that Couch and the district violated the girls’ First Amendment rights. For more on this story, go to the Journal Gazette …

More on this story from the Indianapolis Star/Associated Press Oct. 30, 2009:

Students sue school over Web free speech

By Charles Wilson / Associated Press

Two sophomore girls have sued their school district after they were punished for posting sexually suggestive photos on MySpace during their summer vacation.

The American Civil Liberties Union, in a federal lawsuit filed last week on behalf of the girls, argues that Churubusco High School violated the girls’ free speech rights when it banned them from extracurricular activities for a joke that didn’t involve the school. They say the district humiliated the girls by requiring them to apologize to an all-male coaches’ board and undergo counseling.

Some child advocates argue that schools should play a role in monitoring students’ behavior, especially when dealing with minors. And the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that students can be disciplined for activities that happen outside of school, so long as the school can prove the activities were disruptive or posed a danger and that it was foreseeable the activities would find their way to campus …

For more on this story from the Indianapolis Star/Associated Press (Oct. 30, 2009) click here

Other links to this story:

• Wane TV

James Fehring, a student at Churubusco High School, was honored for his academic success and leadership at the Sept. 20, 2009, meeting of the Smith-Green Board of School Trustees.

Fehring has an 11.3 (out of a possible 12) grade point average. He received a perfect score of 5 on his AP chemistry exam and a 4 on his AP U.S. history exam. Fehring is involved in Campus Life, where CL director, Jon Pelz, praised Fehring’s leadership and mentoring abilities. Fehring also participates in cross country and track and serves in leadership roles on both teams.

“James understands the value placed in his education and works hard every day to maintain his grades,” said CHS principal Austin Couch. “While doing this, he has also been able to dedicated himself outside of the classroom. He has never jeopardized his integrity or his convictions. He is an exemplary young man who has a bright future ahead of him.”

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. — Smith-Green Community Schools Corporation has established a hotline for parents and students to remain anonymous and report rumored conflicts and/or threats of violence.

The number is:

877-231-0170

The 24-hour crisis line will allow callers to remain anonymous and leave a message.

The caller cannot be tracked or traced, according to SGCS Superintendent Steve Darnell.

“In many cases of school violence, there were documented rumors of violence beforehand) that went unreported,” Darnell said. “We want parents and students to report any such rumors so they can be investigated and hopefully prevent such violence.”

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. – The Churubusco Business-Education-Community Partnership of Churubusco welcomed the staff of Smith-Green Community Schools back for the new school year at a breakfast held Aug. 19, two days before the first day of school.

The theme of the breakfast – from the host and president of the BEC, Jerry Gurrado, to student speaker, Alex McDowell, to superintendent Steve Darnell, to the featured speaker, John Black, was “Everyone can make a difference.”

Gurrado, a former educator, told audience members – including all teachers, custodial staff and support staff – that they all can make a difference in the life of a child.

“All of you will touch a hundred kids’ lives this year and not even realize it,” Gurrado said. “You all have the power to make a difference in the life of a child.”

McDowell, a student member of the HANDS philanthropy group – a division of the Whitley County Community Foundation – explained the function and organizational structure of HANDS.

Black, representing the United Way, was the featured speaker. He urged all present to make a difference in the lives of those living in Whitley County by giving generously to the United Way. The United Way annual campaign will kick off with the Annual Day of Caring on Sept. 22 and continue throughout the fall.

Some of the organizations that are funded by the United Way include American Red Cross, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Boy Scouts, Beds & Britches (B.A.B.E.), CASA (court appointed special advocate), Churubusco Child Care Center, Interfaith Mission (Lighthouse), Imagination Library, Junior Achievement, Passages, Salvation Army, Whitley County Council on Aging, Energy Assistance and Literacy Council and the YMCA Domestic Violence services.

Boy Scout troop Leader Rob Pope and two accompanying Boy Scouts, Stu Hilsmier and Robbie Pope, spoke on behalf of the United Way.

Pope outlined many of the Boy Scout events and ranking process and explained how the United Way helps keep the Boy Scout Troop alive and well in Churubusco.

“We have a canned food drive, we help clean up the town and landscape around the welcome signs and the trees downtown, ” he said. “We clean up the park after Turtle Days and help with the festival parade. We also shovel snow and help with the Mason’s Thanksgiving dinner and annual pancake breakfast.”

The ultimate goal of any Scout, Pope said, is to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

“A Scout will work toward this goal for four or five years,” Pope said. “We had five Eagle Scouts in the last two years and will probably have two more this year and two more next year.”

“Churubusco has a Scouting program you can be very proud of,”Pope said in closing.

Superintendent Steve Darnell spoke last and urged Smith-Green employees to give generously to the United Way.

“Last year only 16 staff members contributed,” Darnell said. “I know we can do better this year.”

Darnell then announced a competition drive between the three schools, and said the building that raised the most money within the next 48 hours would be treated to breakfast by the building administrators.

“The administrators are just now hearing about this,” Darnell said, amid laughter. “And the custodians, bus drivers and cafeteria staff may pick the building where they want to direct their donation.”

Then Darnell announced that everyone in the audience would be receiving a copy of the book, “The Fred Factor,” a motivational best seller by Mark Sanborn. “This is just like the audience at Oprah Winfrey’s show,” Darnell said, “Everyone gets a gift.”

(Story, photos by Viv Sade for buscovoice.com)

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. – It was a mix, but most students we talked to were anxious to go back to school. The parents, more so.

Busco Voice was there to catch some of the action. Check it out.

Photos by Tim Michael for buscovoice.com.

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. – (July 6, 2009) The Smith-Green Corporation of School Trustees unanimously approved the purchase of a house and property at Monday’s board meeting. The property is located at 201 North Mulberry Street and is adjacent to the school’s front parking lot.

The school purchased the property from David Ditton for $23,750 which was the median of two appraisals received from NBC & Associates, Inc. and Scott Fields. The appraisals were $26,000 and $21,500, respectively.

The purchasing money, along with all necessary fees will be taken from the school’s capital projects fund, according to Adam Skiles, business and technology director.

One board member asked if the house would be razed and the parking lot expanded and Skiles replied that it would be a board decision as to what to do with the property.

A lien release affidavit was signed by the necessary parties for the purchase of the property, Skiles said.

In other school board business Monday night:

• Board members approved salary increases for the 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 contracts to the following administrators:

Administrator/Position Contract length Amount Current /Proposed Expiration

Nancy Becker, Special Ed Director 260 days $84,281 6/30/2010 6/30/2011

Austin Couch, CHS principal 220 days $81,790 7/31/2010 7/31/2011

Jerry Lange, CHS asst. principal 220 days $73,077 7/31/2010 7/31/2011

John Davis, CMS principal 220 days $80,297 7/31/2010 7/31/2011

Nicole Singer, CES principal 220 days $74,798 7/31/2010 7/31/2011

Lee Etzler, CHS athletic director 220 days $57,370 6/30/2010 7/31/201

• Skiles outlined the budget timeline and noted that the corporation was facing at least a 1 or 2 percent decrease in funding for 2010 and 2011. This is due to a lower class sizes and recent legislative reductions in funding, Skiles said. He added that there had been a 25 percent increase in funding for vocational studies, but he did not think the school’s vocational department costs would increase by 25%.
• Board members approved expanding Wayne Krider’s current position of head of maintenance to Director of Buildings and Grounds. Krider’s duties will include supervision of bus garage, custodial and maintenance personnel.
• Matthew Turner was hired as a full time custodian.
• A Back to School night will be held for elementary parents and students on July 20 at the Churubusco Elementary School, according to principal Nicole Singer.
  

  Adam Skiles, left, talks to Wayne Krider after Monday's school board meeting. Board members approved expanding Krider's current maintenance position at the school to Director of Buildings and Grounds.
• The board awarded a contract to H.O. Fairchild and Sons for the removal of concrete risers in the choir room for $12,000. Only one other bid was received – from Fetters Construction – for over $37,000.
• The board approved the appointment of Adam Skiles to the Employee Benefit Trust as a representative through January 2010.
• A policy regarding a more expanded criminal history check for Smith-Green employees was approved and will begin this fall. The criminal history check will be on a national instead of state-only basis.
• Phases III and Phase V of the security project will be completed at a cost of $31,866 and $69,992, respectively. The project includes security cameras in classrooms and at all entrances and exits, access control at entrance ways, video surveillance of the exterior of the building.

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. – The board of trustees for the Smith-Green School Corp. will meet Monday for two executive sessions and the regular board meeting at 7 p.m. in the administrative center, 222 W. Tulley St. Following are the agendas for each meeting.

Executive session, training room, administrative center, 6:15 p.m.:

The Board of School Trustees will meet for the following purpose(s) in accordance with IC5-14-1.5-6(b):
2. For discussion of strategy with respect to any of the following:
D. The purchase or lease of real property by the governing body up to the
time a contract or option to purchase or lease is executed by the parties.
8. To discuss a job performance evaluation of individual employees. This
subdivision does not apply to a discussion of the salary, compensation, or
benefits of employees during a budget process.
10. To train school board members with an outside consultant about the
performance of the role of the members as public officials.

Agenda for the regular school board meeting at 7 p.m.:

1. Call to Order and Welcome of Visitors – Tanya Young, board president
2. Pledge of Allegiance – Bruce Hippensteel
3. Moment of Meditation
4. Action on Consent Agenda
A. Minutes
1. Regular Meeting, June 1, 2009
2. Executive Session, June 1, 2009
B. Claims
5. Comments from Visitors
A. Community
B. Administrators
C. Board Comments
D. Correspondence to Board
6. Personnel
A. Resignations/Retirements
B. Terminations
C. Reassignments
D. Leave Requests
E. New Hires
7. Business
A. Action: Approval of Professional Leaves
B. Action: Approval of Changes in Transportation Handbook
C. Action: Approval of Quotes (Moake Park & Other CPF Projects)
D. Report: SGCS Libraries, 2008-2009 – Mr. Ben Moore
E. Action: Approval of 2009-2010 Textbook Rental Fees for CMS/CHS
F. Action: Approval of Proposal for Safe Schools Hotline Service
G. Action: Approval to Apply, Receive, and Use Title I Funds
H. Report & Handouts: Board of School Trustees Calendar
I. Action: Adoption of Student Transfer Resolution
J. Action: Approval of Server Virtualization Project
K. Action: Approval of Printer Management Services
L. Public Hearing: Additional Appropriations for Debt Service Fund
M. Action: Adoption of Additional Appropriations Resolution
8. Future Agenda Items or Meetings
A. Appointment of Small Claims Designee – July 6
B. Appointment of Corporation Representative to SEBT – July 6
C. Recommendations Concerning Administrative Team – July 6
D. Approval of Custodial Services Supervisor – July 6
E. Future Agenda Requests – Board Members
9. Adjournment
Executive Session immediately following Regular Meeting
Next Regular Board Meeting – Monday, July 6, 2009, at 7 p.m.

Agenda, executive session immediately following the regular meeting:

The Board of School Trustees will meet for the following purpose(s) in accordance with IC5-14-1.5-6.1(b):

• 8. To discuss a job performance evaluation of individual employees. This subdivision does not apply to a discussion of the salary, compensation, or benefits of employees during a budget process.
• 10. To train school board members with an outside consultant about the performance of the role of the members as public officials.

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. – All three Smith-Green schools will begin at 8:45 a.m. instead of 8:15 a.m. every Wednesday, beginning this fall with the new 2009-10 school year.

The school board approved the new schedule at Monday night’s meeting, with the stipulation that they will revisit the policy next year and evaluate the effects.

The CTA (Classroom Teachers Association) was overwhelmingly in favor of the policy and 30-minute delay, which will be used for developmental and networking opportunities for staff. It will result in a 45-minute developmental time for staff and a 30-minute delay for students.

Mark Cheshire, president of the CTA, said the teachers all agreed on a 45-minute staff time (8-8:45 a.m.) rather than an hour, as was previously discussed.

John Davis, principal of the middle school, said the system is aligned perfectly for such a change. “We are all in the same building (all three schools),” he said, “so it’s really cross-building collaboration, as well.”

Board president Tanya Young said while the delay on Wednesdays will affect some home schedules, it ultimately will benefit the students and staff.

“It will take some adjustment,” Young said. “But I think it will show a lot of benefit to the students by allowing teachers this time.”

After experiencing difficulty with providing driver’s education instruction for students in recent years, Churubusco High School has announced they will coordinate efforts with the Driving Academy in Fort Wayne, beginning this summer.

The Driving Academy is willing to offer the classroom portion of drivers training at Churubusco High School, assistant principal Jerry Lange told Smith-Green Community Schools board members at a meeting held Monday, March 2.

CHS teachers will teach the class and the driving portion will be scheduled through the Driving Academy on Dupont Road in Fort Wayne. Cost to the students will be $375. The Driving Academy has also agreed to pay the school $1,000 for use of its facility.

In other school board business Monday:

• Athletic director Lee Etzler submitted a list of lay coaches for the board’s approval for all spring sports, which was approved by the board.

Coaches include:

Baseball – head coach, Mark Grove; assistant coaches, Jim Folland, Phil Brackman, Jamie Perlich and Matt Turner; and volunteer assistant coach, Terry McManama.

Softball – head coach, Wayne Gibson; assistant coaches, Jennifer Cripe, Keith Heffelfinger, Jamie Wilson, Daniel Burkhart and Nancy Herron.

Boys/girls track – head coach, Zack Dock; assistant coaches, Todd Lortie, Jon Peltz, Kip Griffin; volunteer coaches, Lindsay Hively and Paul Sade.

Tennis – head coach, Ben Jagger and assistant coach Amanda Smerdel.

Golf – head coach, Mark Cheshire.

Middle School boys/girls track – head coach, Mari Huelsenbeck; assistant coaches, Heather Lortie, Tara Dice and Loree Grimm.

• The board accepted the resignations of two paraprofessionals at Churubusco Elementary School, Anita Noland and Deb Earnhart, effective immediately. Bruce Hippensteel, interim superintendent, said the school corporation will post the jobs and take internal requests within the corporation to fill the positions. He added that they will go back and give those paraprofessionals who left due to budget restraints the first opportunity – in order of seniority – to return to their jobs.

• Claims were approved in the amount of $390,112, including $241,610 in payroll.

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. — The Smith-Green School Board is planning to host a community input meeting Monday, Jan. 26, beginning at 7 p.m. in the library at Churubusco High School.

Board members are seeking input on their quest to find a new superintendent for Smith-Green Schools.

Until a decision is made, Bruce Hippensteel will continue as  the interim superintendent.

Participants will be asked to speak out and give their ideas and suggestions on the search process and/or to fill out a Leadership Profile survey.

Those who cannot attend the meeting, but would like to fill out a Leadership Profile form, may do so online at the Smith-Green Web site.

Those who plan to attend the meeting are encouraged to  print out a form, fill it out and take it to Monday’s meeting.

For more information call the school’s administrative office at 260-693-2007.

(Story and photos by V. Sade for buscovoice.com)