The Milan School Board welcomed new Superintendent Dr. Thomas Reale at the regular meeting on Monday, January 17. “I am very excited to be back in Milan,” Superintendent Reale said. “My wife and I want to stay here and be a part of the community.”

Meeting dates for February and March were changed by the board due to school not being in session on the regularly scheduled meeting dates. The board will meet on Monday, February 14 and on Monday, March 14, at the same time and location.

The 2011-2012 school calendar was presented for board approval. The calendar schedules parent-teacher conferences around fall break with both day and evening schedules in order to accommodate parents working second and third shifts.

President’s Day and Good Friday will no longer be snow makeup days next school year. Instead, additional snow makeup days have been built into the calendar. The board unanimously approved the 2011-2012 school calendar as presented.
Contracts were signed to buy three bus routes in 2012 from Jim Berger, route #6 and Ken Lewis, routes #7 and #9. According to Superintendent Reale, the goal is for the corporation to operate all of its routes and own all of its buses.

The board approved two new policies. Policy #6851 cancels school events when school has been cancelled or closed for early dismissal. An exception in the policy allows the superintendent to permit the activity if weather conditions change.

Board member Randy Kirk requested an addition to the policy that would not penalize a student if unable to attend an activity if parents believe that road conditions are not safe. The board unanimously approved the new policy.

Policy #8060 prohibits anyone other than the board from changing the school mascot name or school colors. According to Superintendent Reale, the original colors for Milan are black and bright gold. Over the years, the gold color was changed to Vegas gold.

The board approved the policy that established the mascot as the Indians and the school colors as black and bright gold. Superintendent Reale noted that those uniforms with the Vegas gold colors will continue to be used until no longer serviceable and replaced using the new colors.

In other business:

• The board approved the fund raising request for the junior class to sell candy-grams.

• The maternity leave request presented by Renee Mischell was approved. Trina Schutte was approved to replace Mischell during her absence.

• The board approved the non-renewal of the 2010-2011 administrative contract for Anita Boggs due to a reduction in staff. Boggs will continue with her teaching position.

• The FFA field trip request to the Farm Machinery Show in Louisville was unanimously approved.

• The recommendation to employ Michael Zinz as elementary custodian was approved.

• Tiffany Taylor’s resignation as elementary special aide was approved. Also approved was the recommendation to employ Beth Mathes to replace Taylor.

The board approved the recommendation to employ David Honnert as reserve softball coach.

All board members were in attendance. The next regular meeting will be on Monday, February 14 beginning at 7 p.m. at the administrative building.

BETH RUMSEY PHOTO New Milan School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Thomas Reale, left, presided over his first board meeting in January. Reale told the board that he is excited to be a part of the Milan community. He is pictured from left with board members Randy Kirk, Edward Amberger, Tim Tuttle, Greg Lewis and board president, Doug Norman, not shown.