Reflection of GHS Board Meeting

The board meeting started promptly at 6 pm, on Monday, April 30th as was the listed start time. It took place in a court style room with the board members and the administration of the school sitting behind a bench at the front of the room and the rest of the room filled with seats for the public. There were a few tables at the back of the room reserved for the press and two projection screens at opposite sides of the room of viewing convenience of those present. The public wore a casual dress and the board/administrators wore casual to business attire. It was in no way a dress up function and was conducted in a very informal manner with jokes and personal stories being told throughout. The meeting did not run too long and the business that was discussed was done so for the purpose of getting though the schedule. I think that there could have been more debate but the items up for vote were general items that the boards agreed upon unanimously. This also has a lot to do with who the board members are and their affiliations, opinions and other ties to the community.

I thought the overall the meeting went well and was a success. My favorite part was the student and staff recognition. I enjoyed it and thought it cute that they did it in the beginning because the board knew that most of the people filling the room were only there for that. The fact that the board had the students say their name, school and who they brought with them that night in support was interesting because whether they meant to or not they were offing information to the public about the type of students they were recognizing and from which schools. Though this information should not be taken out of context it would be very possible to receive only this bit of knowledge and draw bias conclusions about the type of students who succeed at Goshen and the students who are allowed to fall though the cracks, so to speak. The recognition also allowed a bit for the board and the public to see who happens in the classrooms and what is the point of school.

I see the board as having the power to regulate staffing, appoint positions, head committees, appoint committees and control funding. I have always thought of school boards as a mini congress, the president is the speaker of the house and the members are just that, members of congress. They vote and have the power to control the happenings of the school as a whole thought not too much on the day to day level or the individual classroom level, thought they do have a hand in the curriculum, school policies and amount of funding that goes to trips, resources and activities.

The Schedule of the Meeting was as follows:

1. Pledge of allegiance
2. Opening remarks
3. Approval of minutes of April 9
4. Superintendent report
   1. Student & staff recognition
   2. Android apps for Goshen schools
   3. IB reports for 2010 and 2011
   4. Energy star leader award
   5. TAP implementation
   6. 2012 performance grant winner
5. Kindergarten enrollment numbers for 2012-13
6. Music together program
7. Reading adoption
8. 2012 first quarter financial statement
9. Board reports
   1. Parks & recreation
   2. Music
   3. Athletics
   4. Building trades
   5. Child care
10. Negotiations
11. Legislation
12. Goshen redevelopment commission
13. Public comment on non-agenda items
14. Conceit agenda items
15. Claims numbered 1508-1786
    1. Emotional disabilities & functional skills extended year program
    2. 8th grade overnight trip to Washington dc
    3. July annual cruise in staging at GMS
    4. GHS rocket club overnight field trip
    5. Agreements with Elkhart county scholarships
    6. Renewal agreement with Oaklawn
    7. Late arrival ace dual
    8. Personnel approvals
16. Action items ---- approval of student activities and award of funds for trips and building modification.
    1. Sale of farmland located off Birkey ave
    2. Administrative pay
17. Miscellaneous board items
    1. Spring dates of interest
    2. Schedule board policy committee meeting
    3. Open house for Dr Stahly
    4. End of yr staff recognition
    5. NSBA national conference report
    6. Retirement party planning
18. Miscellaneous administrative items
    1. GMS and GHS student handbooks
19. Adjournment
    
    Board Members and Administrators Present were:
    Diane Woolworth
    Barry Younghans
    Tamra Ummel
    Judy Beard
    Jane Troup
    Maynard Hartsough
    Jon Jesse
    Perry Haines
    Marceil Roger
    Bruce Stahly