Activities restored at Milan schools

Beth Rumsey
Staff Writer

Several extra-curricular activities in which the salaries were cut last year due to a reduction in the budget, were restored by the Milan School Board at the regular meeting on Monday, June 20. Some of the salaries were cut 50% and other activities such as FFA and the art club were volunteer.

Board president Doug Norman asked if this action will allow for the high school band to perform at the Fourth of July parade. Superintendent Thomas Reale explained that a special stipend will be used for summer band.

“I think that reinstating the stipends is the right thing to do for those who have stuck by our kids,” said Reale.

Reale proposed changes to Policy 1220 regarding school board elections. School board elections will be held in November rather than May, according to Reale, and the policy needs to reflect the changes.

This will change the date that new board members will take office to January 1. Board member Ted Amberger noted that it would be difficult for a new board member to begin mid year. The board unanimously approved the motion to amend Policy 1220.

Reale also proposed a new policy which would set the minimum number of athletes for a team for a season. According to Reale, Policy 6810 would have the minimum set by the athletic director and would be based on student interest.

According to Reale, Milan currently has the same number of athletic programs as Batesville High School. He explained that those sports with low participation will be dropped from the athletic program. The motion to approve Policy 6810 was unanimously approved.

The soccer coaching position was reinstated by the board. The board also approved to eliminate co-ed soccer and have separate coaches for the girls and boys teams.

Due to increased participation for volleyball, Reale requested the board consider reinstating a third coach. The board unanimously approved the request.
In other business:

• The board approved the field trip request by the Spanish Club to Spain during spring break in March.

• The lease agreement with the Red Cross to use the pool for swimming lessons was approved.

• Book course fees were approved. The student handbook was approved with a vote of 3-0-1 with Randy Kirk abstaining noting that he did not feel comfortable voting on something he has not had a chance to review.

• Fundraisers approved were for the high school band to sell magazines and candy bars; the band boosters to hold a raffle; the Spanish Club to hold a walking taco bar at area events; and the cheerleaders’ sale of jerseys.

• The request for a new position in order to offer a health class required for graduation was approved. The request for an additional first grade teacher, due to increased enrollment, was tabled until the next meeting in order to see if enrollment continues to increase.

A re-organizational meeting was held after the regular meeting. The officers for the new board will continue to be Doug Norman, president; Greg Lewis, vice president; Tim Tuttle, secretary and the entire board to serve as the finance board. Meetings will continue to be the third Monday of the month with the exception of February, 2012, which will be held the second Monday.

The next meeting will be on Monday, July 18 beginning at 7 p.m. at the administrative building.