By Tim Pinkham
Washington Times-Herald
LOOGOOTEE — Mike Tippery presented a preliminary map to the Loogootee School Board Tuesday night showing the dismissal schedule and proposed traffic patterns for Loogootee Junior/Senior High School and Elementary West. Tippery, the corporation’s curriculum/technology director, said some changes may yet be made to the plan, but he anticipates the final plan will be presented to parents and students during school registration in August. The map shown to the school board includes the location of several staff members who will be directing traffic and assisting students as they leave the two schools. The final traffic flow plan will be placed on the corporation’s website before registration, Tippery said. Due to a financial squeeze caused by state budget cuts, the school board voted in April to close Elementary East, which used to teach students in grades four through six. Beginning next month, the fourth graders will go to Elementary West, while the fifth and sixth graders will be in the junior/senior high school. The fifth and sixth graders will be taught in a separate wing of the school, away from the older students. Fifth and sixth graders, being picked up by their parents, will be dismissed at 2:55 p.m. and will leave at the north end of the school wing. At the same time, parents can pick up children in kindergarten through grade four at Elementary West. Students at Elementary West who ride a school bus will be dismissed at 3 p.m. At 3:05 p.m., fifth and sixth graders who ride the bus will be dismissed from the south end of the school wing. Several events are scheduled for 3:10 p.m., including school bus dismissal for students in grades seven through 12 from the south end of the wing. Parents may pick up seventh and eighth graders near the south end of the wing, while students in grades nine through 12 may be picked up at the school’s main entrance. In addition, any students in grades five through 12 who walk to and from school will leave through the school’s main entrance. Students who drive their own vehicles to school will be released last, at 3:16 p.m. Board President Eric Ackerman said Loogootee Police Chief Kelly Rayhill has promised to have a strong police presence at both schools during the times students arrive and leave, especially for the first few days. Those who speed or drive recklessly will receive a ticket. Ackerman asked everyone involved to be patient and alert as the new traffic flow plan starts, being especially watchful for children darting out into traffic. He said no plan is perfect and adjustments will be made as needed. Superintendent Larry Weitkamp agreed, saying changes will be made if needed, depending upon what happens after school begins. In other business Personnel The board accepted the resignation of Scott Reid, assistant high school principal and athletic director. He has accepted the position of assistant principal and head baseball coach at North Posey High School. Cafeteria prices The board agreed to keep cafeteria prices the same during the upcoming school year. Meetings Regular school board meetings were set for Aug. 17 and Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. The proposed school board budget for 2010-2011 will be approved at the latter meeting. A public hearing on the advertised budget will be at 5 p.m. Sept. 8. Conflict of interest The board accepted conflict of interest statements signed by board members Ackerman, Scott Hall and Larry Craney. Hall and Craney have family members employed by the corporation, while Ackerman works with a company involved with the corporation’s insurance plan.
