Apology

I have to apologize to the faithful Blog readers for not posting the delay and cancellation last Friday. I was struggling with my computer to get Internet and then I was struggling with a new form of technology that we were using for the first time. With click on weareclosedtoday.com all media outlets in the area, both radio and TV should be contacted. Once I got on the Internet, I spent the next 20 minutes trying to check radio on TV stations. To my dismay WSBT was the only media outlet contacted. This feature will work immediately and so will my memory. Once again, please accept my apologies.

School Board Meeting Notes - 11-20-08

The following is a summary of the Plymouth School Board of Trustees meeting’s Business Transactions held at Menominee School on Thursday, November 20, 2008, at 7:00 p.m.

1. Mr. Dunn presented the Menominee Elementary data results and growth plan.

2. Mr. Samuelson, Board President, presented certificates to school volunteers. In all 80 volunteers were honored.

3. The Board appointed Todd Samuelson to the Athletic Council.

4. An appointment to the Safety Committee was tabled until January.

5. The Board entertained the second reading of the Non-Resident Student Admissions Policy. A few changes were made. The Board will adopt this policy at their December 2nd meeting.

6. One student activity request for the high school choir was approved.

7. Donation reports were accepted for Menominee Elementary, Riverside Intermediate, and Webster Elementary.

8. Mr. Tyree updated the Board on the handicap ramp at Lincoln Junior High and several other projects in the corporation.

Blog Bits

Congratulations to Washington Elementary for being awarded a grant to provide all second grade students with a laptop computer. This $30,000 grant will benefit over 80 students at Washington Elementary this year and for years to come.

Congratulations to the Junior High Spelling Team. The team placed 6th in the State Junior High Spelling Bowl.

Thanks to the teachers and administrators at Lincoln Junior High for inducting their first group of students into the National Junior Honor Society last week. Nearly 30 students from Grade 8 were inducted. Students from Grade 7 are scheduled to be inducted in the spring.

Kudos to the Plymouth School Board of Trustees for being named an Outstanding Indiana School Board. A special congratulation also goes out to Board Member Frank Brubaker who has achieved Level 1 status as a Board Member

Condon Named Principal of the Year

Plymouth Schools is proud to announce that Jim Condon, Principal of Plymouth High School, has been named District Principal of the Year. Jim is in his second year at Plymouth after a long stint at Knox High School.

Jim’s strengths include both curriculum development and organizational management. However, what made Jim an outstanding choice for this award was the way he works with students, staff, and community members.

Jim will receive the award on November 23, 2008 in Indianapolis. He will also learn that evening if he is named Indiana Principal of the Year. Jim and eleven other principals from around the state are up for that award.

Blog Bits

Nearly 40 people attended Dr. Jerry McKibben's presentation on future demographics for Plymouth this past Monday night. From his numbers, it is obvious that the economy has put a small dent in our enrollment, but he believes our numbers will stay fairly stable. He also addressed the number of graduates who leave our community and never return and talked about the economic development role in our enrollment growth.

Our next meeting is December 1, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. in the Plymouth High School cafeteria. Remember, all stakeholders in Plymouth Schools are invited to attend.

http://www.updatesoftware.com/plymouth/attachments/Plymouth%20presentation%2010-26-08.pdf

Superintendent's Advisory Committee Meeting

The third meeting of the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee will meet tonight at Lincoln Junior High’s Cafeteria. Tonight, demographer, Jerry McKibben will present his calculations on future enrollments in light of the recent economic problems that have taken hundreds of jobs from this area.

The meeting is from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. and all are invited to attend, ask questions, and be involved.

Blog Bits

RE: THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

On Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th school will not be in session due to the Thanksgiving holiday.