GCCS OKs modified balanced calendar

Clark County

Discussion

February 8, 2012

Transition to a full balanced calendar expected in 2013-2014

By JEROD CLAPP Jerod.Clapp@newsandtribune.com The News and Tribune Wed Feb 08, 2012, 02:14 AM EST

JEFFERSONVILLE — Next year’s calendar for Greater Clark County Schools isn’t quite a balanced calendar, but it’s close.

The district’s board of trustees unanimously passed a modified balanced calendar for the 2012-2013 school year.

Kevin Satterly, board member, said there are some variables to watch with the next school year, though. The weeklong intersessions after holiday breaks — used to provide extra instruction to students who need to catch up to their peers — could cause some issues and additional cost with staffing and transportation.

“I think we have some investigation to do on our own with transportation and the teachers that are going to staff the intersession and how we’re going to work that,” Satterly said. “I guess that’s the reasoning behind my support of the balanced calendar — so we can get some data before we jump into the balanced calendar.”

The board also unanimously voted to tentatively accept a full balanced calendar for the 2013-2014 school year, on the condition there’s an opportunity to review data from the previous year’s finances during intersession and other variables.

The calendar for 2012-2013 closely follows the calendar adopted by the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation for the same year. The holiday breaks match to minimize complications with students from Greater Clark who attend the Prosser Career Education Center.

The board for NA-FC schools voted to move to a modified balanced calendar for the 2013-2014 school year at their meeting on Jan. 23.

The board also voted to approve health courses online in the 2012-2013 school year. The corporation will purchase the class from Apex Learning for $10,000 for all high school students and textbook rental will cost $15.

In other business:

• The board approved an updated drug and alcohol screening policy for new employees.

The new policy allows prospective employees who pass the screenings to begin work before board approval to allow them to start work faster.

The policy previously only required drug testing, but Nancy Kraft, board member, suggested adding alcohol testing after Charlestown High School principal Keith Hedges was arrested Sept. 4, 2011 for drunken driving. Hedges’ contract was listed for non-renewal on a personnel report dated Jan. 24.

The board approved the measure, 5-1 with Becka Christensen, board member, voting against it.

• The board named members of the Superintendent Search Committee. From the school board, Kevin Satterly, Christina Gilkey and Jerry White will serve on the search committee, as well as GCCS general counsel Sandra Lewis. Paul Stahly from New Washington, as well as members from Clarksville, Charlestown and organizations in the county will also serve.

After the meeting, Christina Gilkey, board president, said discussions about superintendent Stephen Daeschner’s role with the district after his contract expires have not continued. She said she expects those talks to begin at a later date.