By Kayla Crance for buscovoice.com

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. (Nov. 25, 2009) – School officials stressed that  a proposal for reconfiguring the school structure was not a done deal at a community meeting held Tuesday night, although a vote on the issue could come before the school board as early as Dec. 7.

It was the second such meeting regarding the reconfiguration and about about thirty people were in attendance, not including the administrators.

Steve Darnell, Smith-Green Schools Superintendent, began the meeting by introducing the proposal. Basically, the idea is to move the sixth graders to the elementary school.

Darnell stated that the program in place now is working for about 80 percent of the middle school students, but the other 20 percent seem to be falling through the cracks. After saying that 20 percent of the students who enter and leave the middle school are failing, a parent asked why we are focusing on the sixth grade and middle school when it should be addressed before the students even reach middle school.

Superintendent Steve Darnell listens to a parent's question on the proposed school reconfiguration.

Austin Couch, high school principal, then spoke on his reasons for being behind the plan. Couch believes that “artificial boundaries” have been placed on the students, that there are a lot of excuses, but not a lot of solutions as far as the school is concerned. He stated that there are two upstairs rooms in the high school that will no longer be ADA compatible so the high school will lose those classroom spaces.

Nicole Singer, elementary principal, explained a map given to those in attendance; the map showed what the elementary would look like after the reconfiguration. A room that is currently a computer lab would be transformed into another classroom for first graders. The sixth graders would be put in what used to be third grade classrooms; “this way they are off by themselves and somewhat isolated from the rest of the elementary school”, she said.

The high school study hall room would then be converted into computer labs for the elementary. In order for this to work, however, the choir room, band room, and possibly the auditorium would have to be soundproofed which the administrators stated could be done at “nominal cost.”

A parent suggested that altogether, this plan could cost about $100,000; that cost coming from converting the rooms and the hiring of an assistant principal for the elementary school.

John Davis, middle school principal, voiced his support for the plan and stated that he just does not have the time with the current setup to assist the 20 percent who are failing or that need help. The question was then raised as to why the school could not hire an assistant principal for the middle school to assist Davis.

“Why do we need to take such big steps, when we could take some baby steps first?” one parent asked.

Another asked if the administrators had considered any other options and how the teachers feel about reconfiguration. She stated that she has yet to speak to a teacher who is for the plan though the administrators stated otherwise.

Another question was whether or not the proposal would be ready by the first of the year for the school board to vote on; the concern being that there is not sufficient time to get the plan up and running should it be passed. The superintendent stated that the school board would be voting on whether or not to go forward with the restructuring as they do not want to waste the effort of coming up with the plan if it is not going to go through.

“This is not a done deal,” says Darnell, “We want what you want.”

At this point in time, there are no more meetings scheduled to discuss the proposal, but a vote on the configuration could be on the agenda for the school board meeting Dec. 7.

Story by Kayla Crance; Video, photos by Viv Sade

What do you think of the school’s reconfiguration plan? Email Kayla or Viv at editor@buscovoice.com or post your comments to this story below.

From left, Jerry Gurrado, president of the BEC Partnership of Churubusco; Lee Prescott of National City Bank, Steve Darnell, Smith-Green Schools Superintendent; and Cathy Petrie, vice president of the Smith-Green School Board, listen as John Black speaks on behalf of the United Way.

John Black spoke on behalf of the United Way of Whitley County.

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.

Jerry Gurrado, president of the BEC Partnership of Churubusco, was the host for the annual back-to-school breakfast.

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.”

Alex McDowell, a student and member of HANDS philanthropy group, addresses the audience.

“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.”

Local Boy Scout leader, Rob Pope, is flanked by Stu Hilsmier at left and and Robbie Pope at right.

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. – Lunch prices will increase for all students in grades K-12 this year at Smith-Green Community Schools.

Pam Hill, cafeteria supervisor, told board board members at the July 22 meeting that the cafeteria is using some equipment that is so old, it has been called “antique.”

The board approved price increases as follows:

• Elementary students: $1.85 per lunch – up 15 cents from $1.70;
• Middle school students: $2 per lunch – up 15 cents from $1.85;
• High school students: $2.70 per lunch – 15 cents from $2.55.

There will be no change in the breakfast meal prices.

Last year the board had – on Aug. 4, 2008 – approved an increase on the cafeteria ala carte items so that there would be no increase on the regular meal prices.

Hill told board members and SGCS Superintendent Steve Darnell that there “had been substantial increases in food products and supplies” recently.

Steve Darnell

The facility also is in need of a new steamer and dishwasher at a cost of about $33,000 for both, Hill said.

Other schools get more funding for their cafeterias than Smith-Green, Hill said, because they have a higher percentage of students who qualify for reduced or free lunches.

Smith-Green has 27 percent of its students who qualify for free or reduced lunch prices, but one grant (for cafeteria equipment) is only for schools with numbers of 50 percent or higher.

“I’m still trying for that grant,” Hill said. “I think they may have reduced the percentage since I first applied.”

But in the meantime, she said, the only alternative was to increase lunches. “The last lunch increase was eight years ago,” Hill said.

In other school board business July 22:

Bruce Hippensteel

• Bruce Hippensteel, who served as interim superintendent at SGCS from December 2008 through July 2009, was approved as an educational consultant at a rate of $420 for a full day and $210 for a half day.

“He is a wealth of information with all of his years of experience,” Darnell said.

Hippensteel will be used on an as-needed basis, Darnell said.

• Lay coaches were approved as follows:

Boys/Girls Cross Country – Head coach, Jon Pelz (lay coach);
MS Cross Country – Pending;
Boys Tennis – Head coach, Ben Jagger;
Volleyball – Head coach, Mark Bankson (lay coach); Varsity asst., Breann Brown; JV coach, Megan Haines (lay coach); Freshman coach, Kirsten Waterman (lay coach);
MS Volleyball – 8th grade coach, Mari Huelsenbeck; 7th grade coach, Kim Fulkerson; 6th grade coach, Chris Holloway (all lay coaches);
HS Football – Head coach, Lee Etzler; Assistants – Zach Dock, Todd Lortie, and John Schmidt and Paul Sade (lay coaches);
MS Football – Head coach, Nate Wright; Assistant (lay) coaches – Ed Shearer, Duane Murphy, Mike Adams, John Petrie;
HS Cheerleading – Head coach, Carla Horne (lay coach); Asst. coach, Melissa Shearer (lay coach);
MS Cheerleadering – Head (lay) coach, Emily Polakovic.

• Darnell submitted a budget timeline for the school’s budget, which begins Aug. 1 with the auditor certification of the net assessed values and continues until Feb. 15, 2010 which is when the Department of Local Finance & Government will certify the tax rates, levies and budgets.

Public budget hearings will be held in September and October and the budget will be adopted in November.

Bruce Hippensteel

Hippensteel came on board last fall after former SGCS superintendent Carol Kaiser announced her sudden resignation Nov. 1, 2008, to accept a position in Northwest Indiana.

The board praised Hippensteel for his leadership and hosted a farewell reception after Monday night’s (July 6) board meeting.

At his last SGCS meeting, Hippensteel said he felt good about his time in Churubusco. “Smith-Green has a lot of strengths and they should continue to build on those strengths,” Hippensteel said.

He also said that the five school trustees were the “… hardest working board I’ve ever been around,” and were completely dedicated to “finding the best person for the job of superintendent.”

The board hired Steve Darnell in late May after no less than six interviews, Hippensteel said.

Darnell’s term as superintendent begins this month.

Steve Darnell

Hippensteel’s wife, Judy, was in the audience. Hippensteel praised his spouse for being so supportive for the past 49 years. “She’s been with me since 1960 when I was a teacher and a varsity coach and is still hanging in there,” Hippensteel said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Board member Cathy Petrie announced that the board was nominating Hippensteel for the Indiana School Board’s Lorin A. Burt Outstanding Educator Award.

“Bruce is celebrating his 49th year in education and has improved the quality of education for children in six districts,” Petrie said.

Petrie said the board has received letters of support from all the districts that Hippensteel has served.

Nominees for the award must show qualifications and achievements in six categories including:

A farewell reception was held for Bruce and Judy Hippensteel after Monday night's school board meeting.

• Effort involved;
• Promoting positive change;
• Going beyond the call of duty;
• Impact of contribution;
• Voluntary effort, and;
• Additional attributes, contributions and achievements.

Board president Tanya Young said it had been a privilege to work and socialize with Bruce and Judy Hippensteel.

“I know how much my husband sacrifices with me being on this board, and I give credit to Judy,” Young said.

“Bruce has touched us all with his compassion and integrity and his love for people,” Young went on to say. “He really inspired people to talk to each other. I’m glad we found him. He will be deeply missed.”

Hippensteel plans to retire and spend time in Florida.

Steve Coburn, left, talks with Bruce and Judy Hippensteel after Monday night's school board meeting.

Bruce and Judy Hippensteel speak with Nicole Singer, elementary principal.

CHURUBUSCO, Ind. – The new superintendent of Smith-Green Community Schools, Stephan “Steve” W. Darnell of Huntington, said he was impressed with the community’s support of the school and is excited to begin working for Smith-Green School Corporation.

Stephan "Steve" Darnell

Darnell was named the new superintendent of Smith-Green Community Schools at a meeting and reception held Monday night, May 11.

“The school seems to be the central focus of the community,” Darnell said. “Everyone seems to support the school and school events and that’s impressive.”

Darnell said he plans to work with the community in doing what is best for the children.

Darnell and his wife, Debbie, live in Huntington and have two sons who are both currently attending Huntington University.

Story, photos, video by V. Sade

Darnell said moving to Churubusco is contingent upon selling his home in Huntington.
“I plan to be here a long time,” he said.

July 1 is the official start date for Darnell, but he plans to be in and out of the office throughout June working with Bruce Hippensteel, who has served as interim superintendent of Smith-Green since September.

Tanya Young, president of the school board of directors, announced the recommendation and the five school board members voted unanimously to hire Darnell at a starting wage of $96,000 plus benefits.

Stephan Darnell addresses the crowd after being hired as superintendent of Smith-Green Community Schools.

Young read several comments from people who had endorsed Darnell, including friends, community members and staff at Lancaster Central Elementary School in Ossian, where he has been a principal for the past four years.

Young also thanked Hippensteel for his help as interim superintendent, along with the Indiana School Board Association and the University Search Team for their help in finding Darnell and other candidates.

About Steve Darnell

Darnell received his BS degree in basic business and accounting from Ball State University in 1982, and earned a MAE degree in vocational data processing and business from Ball State in 1988.

Darnell obtained an all building administrator license from IPFW in 1997, which was renewed in 2005, and an Indiana superintendent license from Indiana State University in August 2008.

Darnell has been in the education business for 25 years. Before working as principal at Lancaster Central, Darnell was the assistant principal and athletic coach at Norwell Middle School and an assistant principal at Justice Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Marion.

County Councilman John Barrett speaks with Smith-Green interim superintendent, Bruce Hippensteel (right), at a reception held Monday night for newly hired superintendent, Steve Darnell.

He also has experience as a business and marketing consultant for the Indiana State Department of Education and as a state supervisor of business education and vocational and technical education for the Department of Public Instruction. For five years he also served as an associate director and CFO of the Family Service Society, Inc. in Marion.

In 2005 Darnell received the Assistant Principal of the Year in District III from the Indiana Association of School Principals. In 2004 he was the recipient of the Lilly Endowment Teacher/Administrator Creativity Award.

As a member of the Business Professionals of America, Darnell was inducted into the BPA Indiana Hall of Fame in 2008 and the BPA National Hall of Fame in 2004. He has been presented with three outstanding service awards from the BPA, one for Indiana in 2003; one for Delaware in 1992 and a national service award in 1990.

After the board meeting, a reception was held where Darnell and his wife, Debbie, met and talked with members of the community and the SGCS staff, as shown in the photos below.

(Watch this site for video – to be posted in the next 24 hours – of the school board’s announcement and Steve Darnell’s comments after being hired.)