The revised food allergy policy Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. Assistant Superintendent Blaine Conley presented to the board Monday night was less narrow than the policy that ended up being approved.
Conley first presented a food allergy policy at the board’s August meeting. The one presented last night stated TVSC is not serving peanut butter products.
Under the policy approved Monday – again after much discussion between the board and parents who have children with allergies – only Akron Elementary kindergarten will be peanut butter-free but kids can bring their own lunches to school with peanut butter sandwiches. The lunch packers will have their own table at lunch, and kids with packed lunches will wash their hands after eating. The tables used by kindergarteners will be sanitized after each use.
Currently, only one kindergarten student at Akron has a peanut butter allergy. As that child progresses up in each grade, the policy will follow with that student. If a new student comes into Akron – or at any TVSC school – the policy will apply to that school in that child’s grade.
The policy can be viewed on TVSC’s website at http://tippecanoevalleyschools.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Food-Allergy-Policy.pdf
Also during the meeting, Akron Adult Education Program Director Brenda Utter gave a presentation on the program.
She said she is actually employed by Warsaw Community Schools, running WCS’s adult education for 18 years.
Five years ago, adult education was moved out of the Indiana Department of Education and into Workforce Development. She took over Fulton County’s adult education program around that time, and TVSC Superintendent Brett Boggs said he wanted to do something different.
The adult education program didn’t fly well when tried at Burket and Mentone, but did better when moved to Akron. Since 2010, Utter said the program has had 23 people graduate with a high school equivalency degree.
The program meets on Monday and Wednesday evenings.
“Our biggest hurdle is to get people to know we’re there,” she said.
Instructor Debbie Johnston said she sits down with each student and form their goals. She also brought two men with her who are pursuing their degrees. Both said they returned to school so they could get better jobs and make a better life for themselves and their families.
“I decided to get my general education because I decided I wanted to provide for me and my family better. I want to be a physical therapist one day,” Justin Smith said.
Currently, there are eight adults in the class, Johnston said.
Utter said registration for the class is short and there is a pretest to see where each student is in their learning. The reason the education system for many of the adult students failed them is because they learn in a different manner, and the adult education program can work with the students to meet their needs, she said.
In other business, the board:
• Heard an update on the Akron School Project by architectural and engineering firm Barton Coe Vilamaa, including different ideas for drainage, all of which is still being worked out.
Upcoming dates on the timeline include: Thursday and Friday, Akron staff review meetings; Sept. 22, detailed site design; Oct. 12, board update; Oct. 16, Barton Coe Vilamaa completes schematic design; and Oct. 30, Skillman Corp. completes the schematic cost estimate.
Murphy said it looked good and that “we’re right on schedule where we need to be.”
• Heard Tippecanoe Valley High School will host an early college awareness program from ISM College Planning at 7 p.m. Sept. 22 in the TVHS lecture room. Points of interest will include college admissions, financial planning and free college and career readiness. Refreshments will be served.
• Approved the debt management and investment policies as presented at the August meeting.
• Approved the tentative agreement with the Tippecanoe Valley Classroom Teachers Association, which will vote on it tonight.
• Heard from Conley that the Indiana Department of School Nutrition Programs offers an after-school snack program, which started at Akron and Mentone elementaries Monday. It is fully reimbursed by the state due to the schools’ high percentage of free and reduced lunch students.
• Also heard from Conley that the supervised weight room with the cardio equipment provided last year by the K21 Health Foundation is open to the public on select dates and times during the school year. The hours are 6:30 to 8 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; and 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Conley said Valley wants to see as many people in the community take advantage of it as possible.
• Approved the minutes of previous meetings, hirings, extracurricular assignments, resignations, an out-of-state conference, the fall 2015 driver education session, claims and payroll as presented.
• Announced upcoming board meetings are: Sept. 21, budget public hearing, administration office, 7 p.m.; Oct. 12, regular meeting and budget adoption, Mentone Elementary, 6 p.m.; and Nov. 9, regular meeting, Mentone Elementary, 6 p.m.
(Story By The Times Union)
