Meeting Details
January 21, 2019
5:30pm - 6:30pm
1 hr
Administration Office, 1051 S Main St, Tipton, IN 46072
Purpose
N/A
1.
Technology Staffing
In December, the Technology Director resigned his position. The question is how can we fill that void. With his departure, three staff members remain in the technology department that would be retained and shifted. In addition, it is proposed that TCSC employ the services of Five Star Technologies. Five-Star is an Indiana-based company (Scottsburg) that provides a multitude of services to schools throughout the state.
A proposal for restructuring the staff (with additional pay) and a proposal from Five-Star Technologies are attached.
2.
School Safety
2.1
SRO
As we pass the mid-year point, we are assessing the new position of the SRO. What some of our staff do not yet fully understand is the role of the SRO, or us as administrators and the SRO. The MOU was drafted to be generic as we more fully define the role as we need it. One thing I keep emphasizing to administrators is that the SRO is a city employee, not a corporation employee. Chief Clark and Mr. Junco spent weeks draft an MOU that has been reviewed by attorneys on both sides. The administration does not have discretion on how they think the SRO can/should be used. So we continue to work through those issues. Overall, the SRO is a very positive position for the schools.
The Tipton County Foundation has established a fund to provide for a substitute SRO should Officer Maddox be gone. I have not heard anything from the TCF on this issue. Mr. Wessel is working to get more information on this.
2.2
Safety Plans
We are planning a couple of drills in the upcoming months:
- Evacuation Drill – THS. This would be similar to the one that was done with the middle school. Both TCSC and Emergency Management learned a lot from that experience. We hope to learn more by doing a more extensive one with the older students.
- Metal Detector Drills. We have the metal detector wands. We have a policy and procedures in place. But we still are not sure of how to use these devices. We are planning to have announced drills in the high school and middle school. This will give us practice on how to use them when we do need them. We hope to have the local policies present simple as observers and trainers for our staff.
The School Safety Committee will be working on planning for these drills.
2.3
Other
3.
Public Relations
Having reviewed the Facebook page of Our Children First, there is an ongoing concern about the sometimes negativity of this site and others that we do not have control over. Their recent information is what was reported at the last board meeting about the declining enrollment. They continue to think that there is something wrong that TCSC is doing or that the schools and, in particular the administrations, are not doing to keep students here and to attract new students to the area.
Many of those involved with the community meetings mentioned the need for marketing our schools (which we do). But as we put out the positive messaging, the negative information being posted on Facebook just counteracts that effort.
The administration is hoping to initiate an ambassador program. This would involve bringing 12-15 community members in and educating them about the business of schools. This would be a year long process. They in turn would go out and help educate others and correct some of the misinformation being put out there on Facebook and other areas.
4.
Other
5.
Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 15 at 5:30 PM.
