The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

La Harpe School Board Approves Employment

The La Harpe School board approved the employment of Nathan Kotleba as middle grades special education resource teacher, Melinda Dixon as junior high special education resource teacher, Krista Willdrick as 7/8 grades cheerleading sponsor, and Karri Brewer as a substitute teacher aide for the 2002-03 school year.

The action took place at the regular meeting of the LaHarpe School Board held Monday night, June 10th, in the School District Library.

Board members in attendance were Don Latherow, Lawrence Johnson, Dan Horton, Larry Caston, Mark Irish, Ricky Johnson, and Barbara Cox.

Also present were Jerry Arthur, Charlotte Davis, Charles Apt, Pat Deitrich, Steve Rodeffer, Brad Hunt, John Quigle, and David Grimes.

Steve Rodeffer and Brad Hunt reported on the latest meetings of the Committee of Ten regarding possible school consolidation.

In other business, the board

• approved the first reading of the high school, junior high/elementary and preschool handbooks,
• approved offering football and 24 hour coverage student accident insurance through Hometown Insurance Agency,
• approved the Prevailing Wage Law, voted not to make any change in Board Policy #765.03 Dual Credit,
• approved the first reading Student Transfer Policy #705.01,
• approved changing the date of the next board meeting from July 8th to July 22nd, raised the registration fee for kindergarten from $14.00 to $24.00 which will be the same as the other grade for the 2002-03 school year,
• voted to ratify a two year contract with the LaHarpe Education Association,
• approved the salaries for the unit secretary and bookkeeper for the 2002-2003 school year,
• approved the employment of Jerry Schmitz for 6 weeks work cleaning, repairing and installing computers this summer,
• approved stipends of $500 for Carroll Hickenbottom for coaching assistance for the junior high track team and for David Hobby for auctioneering services, and
• approved requests for reimbursement for college courses taken by Hollie Gebhardt - Teaching Reading in the Elementary School, Paul Mealiff - Topics Relating to Physical Sciences in Agriculture, Melissa Sturlic - Brain-based Research Course: Teaching on a Brain Friendly Classroom, Todd Porter - Application of Educational Technology and Supervision of Instruction, John Napolitano - Major Authors and Advanced Creative Writing, and Lila McKeown - leadership Development and Self Assessment and School Improvement and Organizational Development.

High School Principal Charles Apt reported that the spring athletic awards program was held here to recognize those who participated in track, softball, and baseball.

Baseball coach Todd Porter was named Coach of the Year by the Burlington Hawkeye newspaper.

Jensen Jones was the player of the year, and Jason Myers, Lane Metcalf, and Jason Siegworth made the Burlington Hawkeye all area baseball team. Mr. Mealiff has been selected as the FFA Section 11 winner of the district award on June 21st at the Ag Teachers Conference at Decatur.

Elementary/Junior High Principal Charlotte Davis reported that registration packets and class assignments for next year will be mailed out to all parents during August.

"We hope this will cut back the amount of time parent need to spend filling out forms on the day of registration since they can complete them at home before that day."

Registration will be August 15th from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Teacher Institute will be August 19th and students will attend for a day on August 20th. Preschool students will begin August 27th, as has been past practice. This allows the PK teachers to meet with parents and complete orientation activities during the first week.