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The Panorama school board Monday evening decided to limit how much faculty members can reach out to each other or receive when it comes to donating sick leave days.
The matter came to light as a teacher is pregnant and has accumulated six weeks of sick leave. Since it will be a C section birth, she wants eight weeks and asked if her husband, a fellow faculty member, could donate two weeks of sick leave.
The board turned the request down. Tina Thomberry said it could cause resentment among teachers who don't have faculty spouses. She and Carol Wendl pushed for faculty members donating sick leave days to a pool. Supt. John Millhollin said this had been done in one instance in the past on a voluntary basis. Teachers can take up to 12 weeks off, but are unpaid for time that isn't accumulated sick leave.
Millhollin was instructed to draw up a proposal with a limit on the number of days of sick leave a faculty member can donate (probably two) and how many donated days one person can receive. Cost and risk were reasons cited for the limitations.
Millhollin said the delay in construction work is costing the school money, but, "I'm not worried yet." All the data is in the hands of attorney Jeff Bump for purchasing 5-1/2 acres from Jim and Carol Wendl. Part of this land will be traded to Cass Township for about one acre of West Cemetery property. This is needed first to create a new parking area. Then dirt work will begin on present parking areas prior to a new street being built.
Millhollin is seeking for the city and school to share in the cost of the street as they did for Panther Drive.
In board action, Bob Rogers was hired as head cook and Ann Lawton as a special education paraeducator. Mileage paid for the use of private cars by staff was raised from 320 to 400. And Mark McDermott, high school math, goes from 5 / 8 time to full-time.
Chris Arganbright of Bryton Insurance gave a property insurance update. The buildings are insured for $19.3 million, contents for $2,171,000 and outside items at $502,000. The school received a $9,298 dividend this year.
Elementary principal Cory Heiman reported preschool and summer school (K-5) has ended and he and faculty members will evaluate the sessions. Two teachers attended a workshop on co-teaching while a teacher and a paraeducator attended autism training. A representative and consultant from the firm supplying the new reading program will be here. Open house is August 19. Panorama Elementary T-shirts will go on sale to staff, students and the public.
Mark Johnston, middle school principal, noted orientation for incoming sixth graders is this evening. With a large sixth grade class and move-ins, he expects a jump in enrollment. Staff members have been conducting CRISS training for local faculty and those from other schools. Teachers return Friday and will work on consistency in rules. He showed board members the new supplemental math curriculum notebook.
High school principal Dean Schnoes in his written report gave the results of Panorama ACT scores for five years. The school was slightly above the state average. Board member Thomberry said it appears some students hurt themselves by not preparing enough in the areas of science and math. Mill- hollin said with the emphasis now on core curriculum, three instead of two years are required in these areas.
Schnoes in his report noted Debbie Menning and Amy Ruhland will be long term substitute teachers in English. He cited FFA members for their restoration of tractors and athletes for winning the West Central Conference allaround sports crown. Teachers will receive technology training Friday, open house is Tuesday and school begins August 20.
The next regular school board meeting is Monday, Sept. 15, 6:30 p.m.
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©Guthrie Center Times 2010
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