TCSC Board Meeting - June 13, 2019

1. Call to Order/Welcome
Rick Powell, Board President

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Approval of Consent Agenda Items
Rick Powell, Board President

A member of the Board may request any item to be removed from the consent resolution and defer it for a specific action and more discussion. No vote of the Board will be required to remove an item from the consent agenda. A single member's request shall cause it to be relocated as an action item eligible for discussion. Any item on the consent agenda may be removed and discussed as a nonaction item or be deferred for further study and discussion at a subsequent Board meeting if the Superintendent or any Board member thinks the item requires further discussion. (ByLaw 0166.1)
It is recommended that the following Consent Agenda Items be approved:
Approval of the Agenda
Approval of Minutes

  • May 14, 2019, Regular Meeting
  • May 14, 2019, Executive Session
  • June 7, 2019, Executive Session

Approval of Claims

  • Payroll, May 24, 2019
  • Payroll, June 7, 2019
  • Accounts Payable June 2019

Approval of Personnel Report
Approval of Field Trips (Overnight and/or Out-of-State)

  • None.

Approval to Accept Donations

  • The Board has been given a list of several donors for 2018-19 school year for My Closet.  Thank you to all who help make this a huge success for Tipton Community School students and families. And a special thank you to Mrs. Schultz for all of her hard work and dedication to this wonderful resource for our students.

4. Superintendent's Report
Kevin Emsweller, Superintendent

4.1 Spotlight on Schools

Tipton High School


4.2 Department Reports

The following monthly department reports are attached:

  • Facilities & Transportation, Scott Wessel
  • Student Services, Staci Duncan
  • Food Services, Adam Proulx
  • Technology, Steven Gingerich

4.3 Financial Report
Kevin Emsweller

The monthly report provides you with a summary of the monthly revenue versus expenditures.  For May, our expenditures exceed the revenue by $104,874, giving us a cash balance of $887,370 in the Education Fund.  The other funds listed in the middle of the page include Debt Service with a cash balance of $1,313,403, and the Operations Fund with a cash balance of $1,778,697.  The year-to-date interest at 1st Farmers is $73,200.  In looking at the transfers from the Education to the Operation Funds, we will be recommending that the amount transferred be adjusted from $157,350 (18%)  to $119,705 (14%).


4.4 Other
Kevin Emsweller, Superintendent
  • Plans are being finalized for this year's Teacher's' Summer Academy, August 1 & 2.  This year's focus will be on curriculum writing and technology integration.  The academy provides two days of professional development to help jump start teachers for the beginning of the new school year.
  • The school's administration has begun drafting a School Improvement Plan for the corporation. We are using the information gathered from the community input meetings last fall, the AdvancED Report,  and other school data to begin drafting the plan.  Some of the items we have already begin working on such as curriculum development and communications. We hope to have something to present to the board within the next couple of months.
  • We like to congratulate Griffin Hare on his successful run in this year's  IHSAA Golf Tournament. He finished tied for 12th place out of 100 players. 
  • Congratulation to the Girls Softball Team, earning another berth to the semi-state round in the state's tournament. Another successful year for them.
  • Tipton High School has received notice from the Indiana Department of Education that they will be recognized for their efforts to provide students with access and success in Advanced Placement courses and exams.  Mrs. Capshaw and I attended the ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse today tor receive this award. THS is one of 54 high schools recognized where at least 25 percent of the graduating class cohort (Class of 2018) earned a score of three or higher on at least one AP exam.  Last month, THS announced it would be adding AP German and AP Music to their offerings for students.  We congratulate and celebrate THS’s achievement in Advanced Placement courses.

  • We will have a booth set up for the Tipton County Fair, July 16-21.  Board members and Administrators need to sign up to help man the booth.

5. Old Business
Rick Powell, Board President

6. New Business
Rick Powell, Board President

6.1 Consideration to approve changes in administrative assignments.

With the retirement of Ms. Heaston and resignation of Ms. Duncan, the following administrative staffing changes are being recommended:

  • Mrs. Lori Rayl be named as the Principal of Tipton Elementary School,
  • A position of Elementary Assistant Principal be created,
  • Mr. Shayne Clark be appointed as Director of Student Services and the position of TMS Principal be posted,
  • Miss Michelle Dunham be restored as Special Education Coordinator,
  • The two Title I Instructional Assistant positions be restored, and 
  • Mrs. Debora Lamb remain as the person responsible for the dyslexia coordination, reporting to TES Principal.

6.2 Considerations to approve changes in the mowing contract.

It has been agreed by both parties that the mowing agreement is not working out.  It is being recommend to make a change in the mowing arrangements.

  1. It is recommended that the mowing contract between Platinum mowing and Tipton Community School Corporation be dissolved.
  2. It is recommended that the remainder of the contract terms be fulfilled by the next higher bidder at the time, Unique Landscape. This mowing period would be through 12/31/2019. At that time, the mowing would be up for re-bid for the 2020-2021 season.

6.3 Consideration to grant permission to apply for the Title I Grant.

We would like to ask permission to apply for the 2019-2020 Title I Grant. Title I funding provides additional federal resources to assist students who struggle with attaining reading and math skills. As the final report is being prepared, we are also looking ahead to next year.  It is recommended that permission be granted to apply for the 2019-2020 Title I Grant.


6.4 Consideration to grant permission to apply for Indiana’s High Ability Grant.

We are preparing to submit our final report to the state’s office and at the same time, prepare for submitting our grant for the 2019-2020 school year. Typical funding has been in the area of $33,000. The actual grant will be submitted in early fall.  It is recommended that permission be granted to apply for the 2019-2020 High Ability Grant.


6.5 Consideration to approve the surety bonds for the Corporation Treasurer and the Deputy Treasurer.

This is the annual renewal of the surety bonds for Mr. Cloum and Mrs. Carter serving in their capacity with the school corporation.  The surety bonds are for $100,000 for each of the positions through the Ohio Casualty Insurance Company.  It is recommended that permission be granted to renew the surety bond for the Corporation Treasurer and the Deputy Treasurer.


6.6 Consideration to approve the 2020 Budget Calendar.

The budget calendar for 2020 has been prepared. We will start with a work session on August 13 and plan to adopt the 2020 budget on September 10.  It is recommended that the Board approve the 2020 Budget Calendar.


6.7 Consideration to approve the agreement between TCSC and KASEC for 2019-2020.

This is the annual renewal for the agreement between TCSC and KASEC in delivering services to special needs students as part as a cooperative.  TCSC has been a member of KASEC for a number of years.  It is recommended that the 2019-2020 agreement between TCSC and and KASEC be approved.


6.8 Consideration to approve school meal prices for 2019-2020.

It is recommended that the meal prices for 2019-2020 be increased by ten cents ($0.10) per meal. This pricing increase will raise the student lunch/breakfast as well as the adult lunch/breakfast while keeping the reduced/free student meal prices the same. The state has released the Paid Lunch Equity Tool for meal price calculations, and Mr. Prouxl has completed it. Based on the calculations, it is recommended a minimum price increase of $0.10.


6.9 Consideration to adopt the TCSC's Internal Controls and Procedures Manual.

Indiana Code now required that the School Board adopt a set of minimum internal control standards as defined by the State Board of Accounts.  The State Board will now be looking for school corporations to have a specific manual addressing Internal Controls regulations and procedures.  Mr. Cloum has been working hard the past few months to craft the TCSC Internal Control Manual following state guidelines.  It is recommended that this manual be approved.


6.10 Consideration to approve consulting contract for Media Relations

We have discussed the need for more emphasis on marketing our schools and improving communications.  It is recommended that we use the services of Peggy Georgi as a Media Relations Consultant for TCSC.  


6.11 Consideration to amend the resolution authorizing the transfer of funds from the Education to the Operation Fund.

In October the Board approved the resolution to transfer funds from the Education Fund to the Operation Fund.  With this being a new budget process this was something that would need to be monitored.  As the Transfer Report indicates, we have been spending more in the area of 14% rather than the original 18%.  It is recommend that the Board approve the resolution adjusting the amount transferred from the Education Fund to the Operation Fund to $119,705 each month.


7. Other Matters to Come Before the Board
Rick Powell, Board President

7.1 Advisory Committees
Rick Powell, Board President
  • June 17, Personnel Advisory Committee
  • July 8, Business Affairs Advisory Committee
  • August 19, Facilities & Technology Advisory Committee

7.2 Schedule of Events
Rick Powell, Board President
  • June 17, Personnel Committee
  • July 9, Board Meeting, 5:30/6:30
  • July 16-21, Tipton County Fair
  • July 25, Back to School Night (Dept of Health)
  • July 29, Schools’ Offices Open
  • July 30, Online Registration Available
  • August 1 & 2, Teacher Academy
  • August 6, New Staff Orientation
  • August 5-7, TMS Rocks, 9:00 - 2:00
  • August 6, White Card Night
  • August 6, Walk-In Registration, 2:00-7:00 PM
  • August 7, Blue Devil Kickoff, 9:00-12:00 (Freshman Orientation)
  • August 8, Staff Day
  • August 9, First Day for Students
  • August 12, Tipton Academy

8. Comments from Community
Rick Powell, Board President

9. Adjournment
Rick Powell, Board President