A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES OF THE VIGO COUNTY SCHOOL CORPORATION, VIGO COUNTY, INDIANA, WAS HELD AT THE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, 686 WABASH AVENUE, VIGO COUNTY, INDIANA, ON THE 10^TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2001, AT 7:00 P.M.

Boy Scout Troop 339 led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Dr. Karen Goeller, Deputy Superintendent, commended Mr. Tanoos for recently being honored as the West Central Indiana Superintendent of the Year by the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents. She noted that Mr. Tanoos was selected for this prestigious award based upon his numerous professional achievements and many exemplary accomplishments as a school and district leader in the state of Indiana. Mr. Mytron Lisby, Ms. Donna Rockwood, Mr. Jeff Blake and Mrs. Marylin Leinenbach also spoke on behalf of Mr. Tanoos and his accomplishments.

Mr. Tanoos expressed thanks to his family, friends and staff. He commented that it is his belief a person is only as good as the people that surround him.

Mrs. Holly Pies presented information about the Advanced Placement Program and noted that Terre Haute South Vigo High School was recently recognized by the College Board as having the most Advanced Placement Scholars in the State of Indiana. She also noted that in addition to being recognized as the high school with the most AP Scholars, Andrew Chi, Terre Haute South graduate, class of 2001, was recognized as the AP State Scholar and AP Scholar of the Year for the Nation. Mr. Jim Freese, Principal at Terre Haute South Vigo High School, and Mr. Dan Wunderlich, teacher at Terre Haute South Vigo, presented a brief overview of the Advanced Placement program at the school.

Mr. Shike moved for approval of the Consent Agenda. Mr. Schuster seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

The following Consent Agenda items were approved:

1. Minutes – Regular Meeting – November 26, 2001
2. Encumbrance Report – Period Ending November 30,, 2001
3. Financial Status Report – Month Ending November 2001
4. Payment of Interim Claims in December
5. Professional Leave Requests
6. Gifts (1) Chauncey Rose Middle School – Monetary Gift of

1. Chauncey Rose Middle School – Monetary Gift of

Mr. Tanoos presented the Personnel Report for approval.

Mr. Hamblen moved for approval of the Personnel Report. Mr. Tom seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Tanoos requested approval for Policy IGAD, presented as Third Reading.

Mr. Shike moved for approval of Policy IGAD. Mr. Schuster seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Tanoos presented Policy IGADA (Third Reading) for approval.

Mr. Hamblen moved for approval of Policy IGADA. Mr. Tom seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Tanoos requested approval for Policy IKD, presented as Third Reading.

Mr. Shike moved for approval of Policy IKD. Mr. Schuster seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Tanoos presented Policy JF-R for approval

Dr. Minnis moved for approval of Policy JF-R. Mr. Tom seconded the motion.

Mr. Schuster, Mr. Tom, Mr. Burks, Mr. Shike, Mr. Hamblen and Dr. Minnis voted "aye." Mr. May voted "no."

Mr. Tanoos requested permission for contract purchase orders for music equipment to be awarded to nine (9) vendors at a total cost of $192,430.03. Mr. Tanoos and Mr. Thornton responded to questions from Board Members.

Mr. Schuster moved for approval. Mr. Shike seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.

(See Proceedings)

Mr. Tanoos requested permission to award the bid for maintenance vehicles to Sycamore Chevrolet, Inc., in the amount of $189,143.23, and requested that all other bids be rejected. He noted that the budget for these vehicles is $220,000. Mr. Danner responded to questions from Board Members.

Mr. May moved for approval. Mr. Schuster seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.

(See Proceedings)

Mr. Tanoos recommended that cafeteria items 302100 through 703413 for the bid period January 14, 2002 through July 31, 2002 be awarded to the following vendors: B & B Foods, Clark Foodservice, Dakota Gourmet, Gage, H.P. Chemical, and Wabash Coffee.

Mr. Tom moved for approval. Dr. Minnis seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.

Mr. Tanoos noted that in January 2002, our lease agreement with our current lessor expires and requested permission to advertise for the leasing of photocopiers. Mr. Blade and Mr. Thornton responded to questions from the Board.

Mr. May moved for approval. Dr. Minnis seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously.

Comments were received from Mr. Michael Misovich, Mr. Bob Clary, Mr. Donald Hyde, Mr. Clayton Sparks, Mr. Jeff Hills, Mr. Dave Hurst and Mr. George Amies.

Mr. Schuster expressed concern with the flow of traffic and congestion at Otter Creek Middle School. He asked that the administration look at this situation and report back with a possible solution.

Mr. May asked if all classrooms had access to the American Flag now that the Pledge of Allegiance is being recited at the beginning of each school day.

Mr. Blade responded that he has ordered 1000 flags and holders.

Mr. May expressed concern with the traffic flow at North Vigo High School, and suggested that perhaps there should be a turn lane on Maple Avenue for eastbound traffic turning into the school.

Mr. Tanoos shared that the Board had requested that the administration look into the situation of making up the salary difference for those employees that have been called up into the armed forces. He stated that Mr. Orr has been working with the state, and we will be able to make up the salary difference for those employees.

Mr. Tanoos noted that when Mr. Shike first interviewed him several years ago as the Interim Superintendent, one of the first things he said was that we needed to get rid of the textbook rental debt that has existed in the school corporation for many years, sometimes up to close to two million dollars. Mr. Tanoos commented that through the hard work of Mr. Azar and his committee, and Mr. Thornton and his staff, he is pleased to announce that at the end of this calendar year we will be debt free of the textbook debt. Mr. Tanoos also thanked the building principals and teachers for the work they did on this.

Dr. Minnis asked if the bidder that was rejected last year on bus bids because of their warranty would be allowed to bid this year. Mr. Danner responded that they would be allowed to bid, however we are still asking for the same warranty so they would need to provide a bid that would qualify for our specifications.

Dr. Minnis stated that he knows the closing of Crawford Elementary School is an emotional issue, and it is his belief that Crawford is community school that is a very unusual and nice situation. He commented that he would like to see the bottom-line economic advantage of closing that school. He noted that he is hopeful that the administration can look further into this matter, and get long-range plans developed before a judgment is made on one school.

Mr. Tanoos stated that he will make a presentation to the Board at the first meeting in January and let the Board make that decision. He noted that he will recommend that Crawford Elementary School be closed, and at that time will come back with a recommendation and proposal, after working with architects, to replace other buildings. He noted that the decision has been difficult and emotional, but the bottom line is the administration is going to do what is best for our students.

Monday, January 14, 2002 – 7:00 P.M. – Administration Building

Approved:

______________________________President ______________________________

______________________________Vice Pres. ______________________________

______________________________Secretary _______________________________

______________________________Dep. Secy.