Chesterton Tribune

 

 

Duneland School board keeps officers for 2016

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By JEFF SCHULTZ

It’s a new year but things don’t look all that different on the Duneland School Board.

Under a motion by member Mike Trout, the board elected Ralph Ayres as its president for this year, and under a separate motion by member John Marshall, elected Kristin Kroeger for vice-president and Ronald Stone as secretary.

That’s how the officer roles have been since 2014. Tuesday was the board’s annual reorganization meeting with hardly any changes.

New physician

One change is that the Corporation’s physician will be Dr. Alex Molina of the Franciscan Physician Network. Molina, who will succeed Duneland’s longtime medical advisor Dr. John Forchetti, specializes in family medicine at the Chesterton Health and Emergency Center.

Meanwhile, the board agreed to retain the Chesterton-based law firm Harris Welsh & Lukmann as legal counsel for the Corporation.

Duneland’s Chief Financial Officer Lynn Kwilasz will be the Corporation’s treasurer and Business Manager Mary Jo Brust is deputy treasurer, both positions are bonded for up to $100,000.

Redevelopment Commission appointments were affirmed. Ayres is on the Burns Harbor RDC, Marshall is on the Porter RDC and Trout in on the Chesterton RDC. School board members are non-voting members to the RDCs.

Marshall will continue to be the board’s legislative liaison and delegate for the Indiana School Board Association.

Board compensation

The board unanimously agreed to keep the same compensation of $2,000 per year plus a $112 per diem for each regular meeting and $62 for special meetings.

“These are the same rates that have been adopted as long as I’ve been here,” Duneland Superintendent of Schools David Pruis said.

The regular meeting date for the board will be the first Monday of the month at 6 p.m.

Interest improving

Tuesday’s meeting included a report on Duneland’s investments and interest earnings from this past year. The board convened as the Board of Finance, approving the report.

Kwilasz said that with a $19,877 certificate of deposit closing out, Duneland earned a total of $38,420 in interest from investments in a number of local banks. That’s comparable to the $10,200 in interest earned the year before, she said optimistic for the improved rates. A number of investments are due to mature later this year.

Bidding policy

Next, the board voted 5-0 in the second and final reading of a new policy regarding Duneland’s responsible bidding practices.

The vote is the same as last month’s reading to ensure proper bidding procedures are followed for major projects of $150,000 or more and would require bidders and subcontractors to submit a certified payroll on those projects.

Ayres thanked his colleagues for their vote saying, “The bottom line is we support quality construction to protect the students who use our facilities, the teachers who use our facilities, and the taxpayers” whose dollars pay for construction.

Flying drones at CMS

During the meeting, the board was treated to a presentation by the Chesterton Middle School Robotics Club, one of the school’s newer co-curricular clubs which has been learning to assemble and fly a mini quadcopter drone. Helping are teachers Mary Gish, Carla Sissell, and school resource officer Randy Komisarcik.

Using a slide show to demonstrate the workings of the club were students Jason Chael, Kaii Figurski, Josh Yocum and Megan Koster. Members had attached cameras to their drones and captured on video flights around the school’s outdoor running track.

“It’s not easy (to fly),” Sissell said. Students learn how to operate the drones safely.

“You need to be careful on a windy day,” Figurski added. “If you are not careful, you’ll lose (your drone) in a tree.”

Twenty students have signed up for the club and 16 have purchased their own drones. The cost is about $245 for the quadcopter and the ones with first-person view goggles are roughly $525, Sissell said. The school’s PTO agreed to purchase four additional drones for students who couldn’t buy their own.

Gish and Sissell said the club is looking to enter into racing competitions with the drones which is becoming a popular sport.

The board lauded the teachers for giving their time to help students learn skills in robotics.

“Thank you for giving these kids the opportunity to do something they love,” Kroeger said.

Superintendent comments

In his comments to the board, Pruis said that Bailly Elementary raised over $920 for Riley’s Children Hospital through its “Slap a Sticker” fundraiser. Students and staff could purchase stickers with their name on it and post it onto Principal Kevin Zeck.

All Duneland Schools are collecting pop can tabs through “Hannah’s Hope Pop Tab Wars” to benefit families in the Ronald McDonald House of Indianapolis, now through Jan. 29. Each school has their own drop box.

The CHS Business Professionals of America group is asking for blankets, towels and other items for the Porter County Animal Shelter. A drop off for the items will be in the CHS main office through Feb. 11.

The CHS Guidance Department will be hosting a financial aid information meeting on Thursday, Jan. 21 in the CHS cafeteria for parents and students.

Also, two Duneland teachers have been nominated for the 2015-16 LifeChanger of the Year award through the National Life Group Foundation -- CMS Social Studies teacher Kim Marshall and English teacher Tina Clindaniel. The program recognizes the best K-12 public and private school educators across the nation who are making a difference in students’ lives, Pruis said.

Next meeting

Following its regular meeting schedule, the board will hold its next public meeting on Monday, Feb. 1, but will meet in executive session before that on Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m.

 

Posted 1/13/2016

 
 
 
 

 

 

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