SH bids football locker room project

The South Harrison Community School Corp. Board of Trustees heard the preliminary plans Dec. 6 for expansion of Corydon Central High School’s football locker room.
Originally, the corporation had tried to obtain a grant through the Harrison County Community Foundation to help pay for the project; however, the grant was denied. Without the added monies, the project was scaled back somewhat.
On the list of needs for the new locker room were shelf space and bathroom facilities (currently the locker room has one toilet, one urinal and one sink for dozens of athletes). The current locker room entrance would be maintained, designers said, and 48 to 50 lockers would be installed inside a room planned to be significantly larger so coaches and players wouldn’t be in two different areas during pre-game, halftime and post-game. Currently, some players have to sit outside the locker area.
An alternative plan would be to have an addition for outside storage somewhat similar to where a current storage room is on the west side of the facility.
School trustee Ray (Radar) Lillpop asked if the renovated locker room would still have a flat roof and was told that it would due to possible bleacher expansion.
Dr. Neyland Clark, superintendent of the South Harrison Community School Corp., told the board that the bleachers at the football complex actually sat too low and, that at some point, they should probably be raised a few feet so people can see over the heads of players on the sidelines.
Bids for the project will be opened Jan. 10 at 4 p.m.
Larry Timperman and Angie Klear of architectural firm Michell, Timperman and Ritz also told the board that Timperman had checked roof-leak issues at South Central Junior-Senior High School and he found a couple of possible sources of the leaks.
Carolyn Wallace, director of business operations at SHCSC, said that the warranty for the roof was nearing its end and that repairs needed to be made soon.
Clark said that several superintendents had talked roof replacement at a recent meeting he attended, and that a firm from Fort Wayne offered a 20-year comprehensive warranty that the corporation may want to look at in the future.
In another matter, bids for tax anticipation warrants were opened and were to be considered before a final determination was made on who to award the bid to. The six banks that submitted bids, and what the bids were, are as follows: First Federal Savings Bank, 3-percent interest rate, no statement of fees; First Harrison Bank, 1.95 percent, $1,600 in fees; First Savings Bank, 1.88 percent, no fees; Key Bank, 1.86 percent, no statement of fees; and Regions, 2.4699 percent, no statement of fees.
Later in the meeting, Cheryl Johnson, the Spanish teacher at CCHS, was on hand to answer questions about a possible trip by the school’s Spanish Club to Spain, either in June of next year or June of 2013, for 10 to 14 days.
Clark cautioned the board that accepting a school-sanctioned trip overseas could open the corporation up to liability issues should anything happen. Past trips overseas, he said, were not sanctioned by the board and utilized an independent agent outside of school.
‘We see it as co-curricular and as an enhancement and enrichment activity,’ Clark said.
The board had to approve the trip to allow for fundraising to begin.
Johnson said she could design the trip so students must pay for liability insurance in order to go. The insurance would pay for hospital bills, lost luggage, doctor bills, medical transportation and more.
‘I went to Spain in 2001 and it was expensive then,’ she said. ‘If this comes back as being too high, then we’ll go to Costa Rica.’
The board also heard from Jim Crisp, director of technology, regarding the use of electronic textbooks.
Crisp said that by using current computers, students could go from carrying 35 pounds of books to having the same information stored on a laptop. He said that teachers can create their own curriculum and then pull materials from educational websites for free. Another option would be to use an outside source that would cost about 50 cents per child per lesson.
‘There are still questions, but we’re looking at every option,’ Crisp said, noting that already 11 percent of schools in Indiana have moved to digital content.
The board accepted several personnel changes. They were, by building:
Corporation ‘ accepted hiring of homebound instructor Dawn Martin.
Corydon Central High School ‘ accepted volunteer coaches John Michael Biros (boys’ and girls’ swimming), Chris Falardo, Chris Paulley and Dennis Kaufer (wrestling), Linda Kopsolias (dance team) and accepted termination of custodian John Michael Biros. The vote for Biros was pulled by trustee Joyce Bliss for an individual vote. The vote was 4-3, with Bliss, Lillpop and Karen Lopp voting against.
Corydon Intermediate School ‘ accepted a leave of absence for teacher Kristin Drummond.
Corydon Elementary School ‘ accepted resignation of literacy reader Ruth Strong and hired Strong as a special education preschool teacher.
Heth-Washington Elementary School ‘ accepted a leave of absence for teacher Tracy Schwartz and hiring of temporary teacher Sara Tucker.
New Middletown Elementary School ‘ accepted resignation of Title I instructional assistant Sara Boone.
South Central Junior-Senior High School ‘ accepted hiring of media specialist Regina Sue Lanham and assistant softball coach Israel Temple and a leave of absence for instructional assistant Baylie Stahl.