Salem School Board

There was plenty to think about and consider at the Salem School Board meeting Monday night. The board opened their meeting by presenting ROAR Awards to the Disney Club at Salem High School, BSE Math Bowl Team, National History Day State Qualifiers, Math Counts, and John Hopkins.

APPROVED: minutes of the Executive and Regular Session of the April 15, 2024 School Board Meeting, agenda, claims to date.

APPROVED: the personnel and ECA recommendations

Amy Abner as the 6th grade digital citizenship teacher, Angela Snelling as the SMS health teacher beginning 2024-25 school year, Mallory Myers as the SMS health teacher beginning 2024-25 school year.

APPROVED: the new hires of Whitney Bowers as BSE corporation nurse and Kaleb Ravellette as vehicle maintenance assistant

APPROVED: the resignations of Adam Brock as IT specialist, Michele Burton as BSE teacher, Jerry Hickey as SHS assistant principal; last day June 1, 2024, Christine Mahuron as SHS counselor, Janine Terrell from full time cafe position to sub position, Rebecca Braid as cafe worker and bus monitor, Danielle Schocke as BSE instructional assistant, Gina Wientjes from BSE cafe, Autumn Gray as SMS teacher, Felicity Jones as SHS custodian.

APPROVED: the retirement of Troy Albert as SHS principal and Martha S. Deisch as SCS Bus Driver, but will remain a sub driver

APPROVED: Caitlin Ellis and Gwen Dowling for maternity leave

APPROVED: SHS summer school teachers: Frank Myszak, John Heavin, Todd Alexander and Brian Glesing

APPROVED: SHS, SMS, BSE high ability summer school teachers: Crystal Mikels, Emily Johnson, Jessica Morgan, John Calhoun and Lisa Nice

APPROVED: Emily Johnson and Crystal Mikels for stipends from K-12 Robotics Grant, Jamie Malloy for High Ability stipend, Savannah Goss for McKinney Vento Stipend

DONATIONS: Consider Approval of the following donations:

$1,000 mini grant donation from Washington County Substance Abuse Council to SADD

$250.00 donation to BPA from the Law Office of Church, Langdon, Lopp & Banet LLC for BPA National Conference

$100.00 from Dwayne Guenther Farm Bureau Insurance for BPA National Conference

$250.00 from Eddie Gilstrap Motors to Salem Golf Team

ACTION ITEMS: Consider appointments to the Washington County Community Foundation Board, Approved Steve Hunt

Consider approval of a gift from the 50 Year Class 1974

Consider approval to add Salem High School to the CEP Program

Consider approval of the Handbooks for BSE, SMS, SHS for the 2024-2025 school year

Consider approval of revising the Volunteer Policy #8120

Consider approval of the LifeSpring Health System Agency for 24-25

Consider approval of the LifeSpring Health Care Clinic for 24-25

First reading of the Wireless Communication Policy #5136, Therapy Dog Policy #8390, Proof of Residency Policy #5111, Metal Detector Policy #5517

Consider approval of an affidavit for payment

Consider approval of an overnight and out of state trip to Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida on March 19-25, 2025 for the Disney Club

Consider approval of a resolution to transfer funds to the Education Fund

Consider approval of the SHS 2024/25 textbook adoptions and orders

Consider approval of the BSE science adoption

Consider approval of the SMS book adoption

FUNDRAISERS: Salem HS Boys Soccer- Summer 2024 for new equipment

Disney Club-Car Wash June 15, 2024 to raise money for Disney trip

Disney Club Calendar Fundraiser September 2024 to raise money for Disney trip

Disney Club Halloween Party for elementary students. Date TBD

The next school board meeting is June 10, 2024

Congratulations to East Washington School Corporation's Michael Gilliam on being recognized as a 2024 Armstrong Teacher Educator Award recipient by the Indiana University School of Education.

The Armstrong Teacher Educator Award is more than a "Teacher of the Year" award. In addition to recognizing educator excellence, the award provides financial support for top Indiana educators to work with current IU faculty and undergraduates in the classroom and early field experiences. 

The school system expresses their pride in Gilliam's honor.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

The State of Indiana wants to change high school diplomas that are offered; two choices instead of the present four.

The new diplomas are GPS Diploma and the GPS Diploma Plus. Indiana will also continue to offer the federally required alternate diploma, which is designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

The GPS stands for Graduate Prepared to Succeed.

There has been no change in the diplomas in the state of Indiana since 1980. According to a press release dated March 27, Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Department of Education, had this to say,” In talking to stakeholders across the state, one thing I have heard on repeat is that, ‘if’ high school looked different for students, then we could better connect them to what’s next. The reality is, the structure of the American high school experience has not changed for most students in over one hundred years”.

The two diplomas offer a more flexible approach and prepare the student for success after they graduate. 

The first GPS Diploma is close to the old Core 40 diploma.

For the GPS Diploma Plus, the student must complete their foundation courses, plus they must complete additional course work necessary to earn their chosen credential of value, as well as complete a high-quality work-based learning experience. Ninth and ten grade students will strategically focus on essential knowledge and skills. This was be accomplished through a set of foundational courses. 

Both diplomas require the student to fulfill three components; foundational knowledge and competencies, employment skills and post-secondary-ready competencies. These foundational and competencies will be obtained in the ninth and tenth grades. Students must master English, Math and Science. Career and post-secondary readiness, communication and collaboration, work ethics, and civil, financial and digital literacy.  Learning these things allows for more flexibility in eleventh and twelveth grades. The student must also engage in something outside of school--this could be volunteer group or a student run enterprise. In the higher grades, students will acquire work-based skills or postsecondary skills.

Something not required are credits in physical education or health credits.

These changes will go through public comments and must be made final by the State Board of Education. Feedback can be through an on line form through Indiana Department of Education.

If successful these changes will go into effect in 2029, and this class will be the first to receive these diplomas.

By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

There are several groups that assist with high school exchange students in the United States. Participating students come from countries all over the world. Information on three agencies that arrange for exchange students in the southern Indiana region follows.

Anne Garner Offutt, coordinator for C.I.E.E., is excited to provide information. C.I.E.E. stands for Council on International Education Exchange. Offutt lives in New Albany. She has placed students in several local high schools in the greater Louisville area. Presently Offutt’s seventeen-year-old daughter is in Japan.
In Washington County, she has placed a sixteen-year-old female from Brazil in West Washington High School. Offutt says small schools are usually better.

Many come with the image the students see on TV shows like “High School.”

Offutt hosted one student and felt badly when she placed the student in the smallest bedroom. She was surprised when the student said, “I get this whole room to myself.”  

Before coming to the U.S., the students must past a minimum English test.

There are approximately four hundred students waiting for a host home. Many apply, but only 3% are able to participate. The foreign students are eager to learn and come fully prepared. The students get $125 from the American Council and must have medical insurance.

Senator Richard Lugar started a fully funded program for foreign exchange students from Muslin countries.  

Offutt also said there are two types of visas in the student program that they deal with.  A J-1 visa is for participation in an exchange program, including high school and universities. It is usually good for one year. The other is a F-1 Visa which allows the student to study at an accredited college or to study English at an English language institute for a longer period.

Offutt would love to place more foreign students in the Salem area. She can be reached on Facebook or call 502-592-3204. The exchange program is ideal for the student and host to learn about the other countries.

The second group is I.E. This stands for International Experience. The coordinator is Veronica Lindley, a teacher at East Washington High School and a Salem resident.

She has placed Anna Krimm from Mainz, Germany with a family in Pekin. Anna is 16 years old and in the 10th grade at East Washington High School. I spoke with her on the phone, and she can speak very good English. When asked how she learned it, she said in school, and her friends speak English together.  Her favorite subject is math.

Exchange students experience all of the events an American student has including prom, team sports and band. In fact, Anna recently won a silver award at a state band solo and ensemble contest. She won with a solo performance on the flute. She plans to have a career in mathematics or science research.

The third group is CETUSA, this stands for Council for Educational Travel U.S.A. The coordinator for this group is Diane Yows of Fishers, IN. She is in charge of the state of Indiana. Presently she has no students in Washington County, but has placed a student in Jeffersonville who goes to Jeffersonville High School.

All three groups have energetic coordinators, who are ready to talk with local residents about being a host family. Students come with insurance and spending money. All must pass a minimum English test. All a host does is provide a nice home and extra plate at the table. The students are usually here for one year on the J1 visa.

Being a host is pretty simple. You do not have to have children in high school, can be single parent etc. The requirement is providing a room, bed and a caring spirit. The agencies can place students anywhere that there is a willing host. These students tend to be outgoing over-achievers.

The best way to contact the agencies is on their Facebook pages, where you can also take a look at the students who are interested in residing in another country.

As a host you and your student will learn customs of another country and build lasting friendships.