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Read comments (26)A social worker at each of the five Greene County schools provides counseling and support groups plus a full range of substance use prevention and early intervention services.
The project was made possible by the Greene County Grant and Professional Development Consortium that wrote the grant for the Federal Grant to Reduce Alcohol Abuse.
Superintendent CG Epple reported that he attended the Southwestern Choir Fest at North Davies in which Shakamak participated and heard several positive comments about the program.
To make students more marketable, Epple announced that there would soon be a meeting with Crane contractors and personnel to learn what programs and issues they look for in employees.
Epple also announced that the school would sponsor a health program for the staff that would encourage exercise, healthy habits and provide health screenings.
"It will be a win--win situation," noted Epple.
Epple gave the board handouts with information on the Greene County Math program, the Association of School Officials and Least Restrictive Environment.
He also announced that the Indiana School Board Association would hold a special workshop on Nov. 14 for school superintendents and school board members. He suggested that those attending in the county could share transportation by car pooling in Shakamak's van.
Epple reminded the board and the community of the caboose that was donated by the Indiana Rail Road Company and placed at Hanna Field.
Junior High-Senior High Principal Vanessa Hodge announced that the end of the first grading period would be Oct. 14 and the parent-teacher conference would be from 1-7 p.m. Oct. 21 at the high school gym. Report cards will be handed to parents at the conference.
Hodge also said the National Honor initiation would be at 7 p.m., Oct 20 in the high school cafeteria, the cross country sectional is Tuesday and the volleyball sectional will be held at White River Valley High School the week of Oct. 20.
In an update on the softball field, Hodge said it is nearing completion. The bull pens, batting cage, score board and foul poles are the major construction areas to complete.
Elementary Principal Mike Mogan reported that elementary grades took the ISTEP test and the tests have been sent back. He also reported that the 10th grade took the GQE test.
Continuing his report, Mogan said Professional Development Day was Oct. 2. He also announced that a fire and safety program was scheduled for Friday.
Mogan said other future events included school-picture day, Oct. 17; parent-teacher conference, Oct. 21; and a veteran's program, Nov. 11.
During patron comments, Sherri Vandeventer said the cheerleaders were very upset over T-shirts that had derogatory remarks written about them.
She told the board that she thought the person responsible for the T-shirts should be asked to apologize.
Vandeventer also said she would like the school to bring back the basketball queen.
"I would like to get the kids interested and get them back in the gym," she said.
Rod Wilson raised the question that was discussed at September's meeting regarding the difference between the disciplinary applied to members of the basketball team and members of other sports.
A discussion continued on the subject among school board members, Vanessa Hodge and Wilson. James Yeyar, board president, said he did follow up on the complaint after last month's meeting. Hodge said she would make an appointment to meet with Wilson in her office. However, no further decisions were determined on the subject during the board meeting.
In other business, the board:
*Tabled until the November meeting a proposal that Joe Decker from Graves Plumbing presented to the board for a preventative maintenance and repair program for the school's boilers, and heating and cooling system.
*Voted to pass the resolution by Attorney John Rowe approving the sale of the Coalmont property.
*Approved the hiring of Kirk Buckley for the high school golf coach, Candra Brunson for the fifth and sixth grade cheerleader sponsor, and Kim Bell to replace Linya Rehmel in the cafeteria.
*Granted requests for two groups to take field trips to a Paris, Ill. pumpkin patch.
*Accepted a copy of the Wellness Policy from Epple to review and approve at the November meeting.
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Kudos to SL1115 and lovethoselakers!
I was unable to attend the last board meeting, but I will DEFINITELY be at the next one!
I hope to see SEVERAL parents there!
Know one needs to apologize for anything. If you would go to a cross country meet you would see Shakamak is not the only school with that on the back of their shirts. I guess some people can't read or comprehend anything. It's pretty elementary to figure out what it means. If you can't figure it out. IT MEANS: Runners don't have to wear pads, they don't have time outs or dug outs, they don't have cheerleaders their leading cheers.
READ MY LIPS! IT MEANS THEY DEFINITLY DON'T HAVE OR NEED ANY OF THESE IN THEIR SPORT!!
It was not anyone's intention to hurt any feelings. Kids are more compassionate than some adults. Get over it!! The students that run are in other sports also. There are runners that play volleyball, basketball, baseball, softball and have been cheerleaders. This should have never been brought to a school board meeting. Very petty!
Maybe the cheerleader sponsor should be questioned about a shirt she wore to practice. It wasn't very appropriate to be walking around during school time with it on.) If a student wore a shirt with words on it like that they would be sent home to change their shirt.
Let's back ALL of our students, athletes, and cheerleaders. Don't try to tear them down.
Im not so sure anyone have all the facts strait. People may seem wiser if they have all the facts before they spout off. But that is asking alot for around these parts.
I AM worrying about MY OWN. My children had items stolen and/or vandalized. So, yes, this does concern me. Things that wouldn't fit in a locker were stolen and things that couldn't be locked up due to being at a rival school were stolen (last year), and it has started again...maybe Barney Fife's advice should be considered---NIP IT IN THE BUD!!!
It's not whining---it is stating opinion and facts...
Since when is theft NOT a big deal? Maybe that is why so many thefts are happening in the community. The thefts were NOT committed BY a member of the CC team---they were the ones who had items stolen. The thief was from another sport.
The administration did not "catch" the thief---the students did. The admin is now dealing with the issue; however, I can't help but wonder if the appropriate punishment had been given when the person was caught the first two times instead of a slap on the wrist had been given, would the thefts still be happening?
As for respecting "those in charge", respect is a two way street. Maybe they should show more respect to those students who ARE good kids instead of "coddling" those students who think they can get away with anything they want. If students see the punishments being given, maybe they will think twice before they commit a crime---see that stealing isn't worth the punishment.
Two students at a different county school were caught "stealing" a volleyball from a rival team recently. The athletes were suspended for a few games in addition to after school detentions. I am sure suspension from the sport they love will make more of an impact than suspension from school---PLUS, they still receive their education--which should be the main focus of school.
There is no shortage of whinners here. If they would worry about there own as much as others these posts wouldnt be here.
Character- One of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual. All of these STUDENT athletes have great character. Most of them are more enjoyable to be around than many adults that I have encountered. Why make it a bigger deal than it is? We can say that the administration is to blame for doing nothing? Well it sounds like they did. They chose it wasn't a big deal. So maybe there are alot of ties to the cross country runners. I'm guessing that there are ties to all of the sports at Shakamak. Hello??? It's Jasonville. Maybe we should quit complaining about what the adminstration do and don't do and "respect" the people in charge. This in return will teach our kids a thing or two and then maybe we won't have as many discipline problems.
Theft is Theft whether or not someone's property is locked up or not! With the "it should have been locked up policy", do you think all store items should be locked up? By leaving them out in public, aren't they just "asking" for the items to be stolen? Does the cafeteria need to place ALL items behind the counter? If they hand them out then the student hides things in their pockets, who is at fault then?
Good Character should be the norm not the exception! IHSAA demands good character---read the by-laws! This INCLUDES THE OFFSEASON! I do believe a federal offense constitutes a lack of good character...
Also, some players on the B-team last year had items stolen during the away games. The items were in their bags in the locker room. Host schools do not provide locks for the players. At halftime their items were still there; however, after the B-team game, items, mainly money, was gone. The only ones in the locker room were the varsity players who went in during the third quarter. When one player complained that his money was stolen, the next away game, someone placed nacho cheese all over his clean clothes...NOTHING WAS DONE!!! I doubt that the coach even pursued it.
I understand that their are dishonest people out there, but this time the person was caught---red handed!!!(for a THIRD time!!!) Evidently the punishment given by the school AND the parents DID NOT WORK!!!
This is a "comment" page and my comments were interpreted by some of you as "sad" and "dumb", and all that you are talking about is worthy of comment. I also agree that there are "bigger" issues to deal with and if you understood anything that I said at all, you would realize that everything that you are talking about goes back to administration taking care of business, not for a few, but for all. I've got a "life" and 99% of my time is not spent on a comment page wasting it! Remember the word "Character"? That was actually one main point of my "comment".
ISTEP scores might be a bigger concern for me, but athletics is a lot more important than silly old ISTEP.
im not saying that but im sure if it was a nice car and someone who didnt care came along and saw that im sure someone would take it, this could all have just been avoided if they dont leave their stuff sitting around where alot of people go in and out of unsupervised. iv had stuff stolen and iv learned to lock it up now!!
OK when the mail box bashing happened school wasn't even in session sooo that's like if your on a summer vacation some where and you get in trouble with the law where ever you are the school shouldn't even be involved with it, it should only be with the county or state. And about the stealing if i found two bucks laying on the ground who wouldn't take it i would, but if it was in his wallet why wasn't it locked up stuff gets taken all the time and all they usually say is lock it up, and the locker room is usually open where people can get in from the outside or from the gym so really anyone who wanted to get in its not hard so that's why they say keep ur stuff locked up!! About the shirts i don't wanna waste time talking about it cause that's how dumb it is!!
Yes, I'm for real.
Yes, I have made mistakes.
But stealing is a very serious offense. One punishable by law. First time I can write it off to a dumb mistake, but 3 times shows a pattern.
Also, playing sports is a priviledge. Althletes should be held to a high standard and if it as you say and this "keeps them off the streets" the previous punishment hasn't worked. He's off the streets and made his way into the cafeteria and the locker room.
Again I say, If he wasn't any good what would the punushment be?
The "cheerleader" statement was made with the intention that the team does not have cheerleaders---NOT that cheerleaders don't participate! I think there are "bigger" issues to deal with than a sponsor's misinterpretation...moral conduct of players comes to mind...mailbox bashing???theft???
I agree that there are worse things than T-shirts. Especially when it wasn't made to harm or offend anyone. It is basically stating that "cross country" is an individual sport.
I think Mr Wilson should be a little more concerned about the way his child/children spend "their" free time rather than the activites of others that don't concern him.....this always seems to be a problem at Shakamak! Again, read your handbook!
instigator474, are you for real.. Have you never got caught up in a situation that was Wrong? Are you PERFECT? Do you think that kids are not going to make a wrong decision. And when they do make the wrong decision, they shouldn't have to suffer with un-realistic punishments.. What about these kids that aren't in sports, what's their punishment? NOTHING! so your saying just because they play sports, they should be suspended from the one thing that may keep them off the streets?
People kids are going to make mistakes!!!
This is pretty sad.. We have someone that is more worried about what a T-shirt says than A LOT more important situations!!! Come on..Get a life.
If an athlete gets caught stealing shoundn't he be suspended from extra curricular activities for a period of time? And if it's not his first offense, shouldn't it be a severe punishment? 5-10 games. If the coach won't do it,then administration should step in. If this kid averaged 3 points a game would he get so many chances?
Sherry cares about these girls and the ONLY mistake that she made was to believe that everyone with authority at Shakamak would care,only some do. There are too many board members with ties to the cross country team to make an unbiased decision. The person responsible for the shirts will probably not apologize for them because if it doesn't affect you or yours it is 'OK'. "Mentality of a runner" is something that many people do understand. It is demanding both physically and mentally, which is not unlike all of the other sports, just different. Whether we use the words distasteful, derogatory,or discrimination, that depends on who has the opinion. Character is a word that comes to mind. Let's support all of our young people whether they are athletes or not, in the end it is their character that really matters anyway.
Eliminate sports and solve all the problems mentioned in the story.
I think that Sherri needs to quit blaming everything about those t-shirts on the cheerleaders. I talked to some of the girls myself and said they had no problem what so ever with them; not to metion that the signs put up around the school were done by Sherri also. Some of the cheerleaders, past and present, just happen to be part of the cross country team.
No, I am not a cheerleader and nor do I run. However, Sherri seems to be the only one with a problem with the shirts. Also, there just happened to be more talked about on the shirts than cheerleading! Softball, the sport of which I play, was not directly talked about but the "warm dugouts" we sit in, was. No one from the softball team nor the baseball team had a problem.
These young adults who play on these teams came up with the idea for the shirts. Many, I'll say it again, MANY of them play on the sports mentioned on the shirts. None of them had a problem, even those who don't play.
Sherri, you need to grow up! Everyone who has one of the cross country shirts, wear it proudly! I'd take one too, sign me up!
Drug and alcohol use to be curbed? Why not stop the THEFT problem in the school as well? One student is caught with another's tennis shoes ON HIS FEET---this was "dealt" with...The same student has gone on to steal from the cafeteria (last year) and NOW (this year) is stealing from students again...Maybe if the school would take away his privileges that are important to HIM, the thefts will be "curbed" as well...
The t-shirts may have been a tad distasteful, but they weren't derogatory.
They should all take a look at their school handbook!
"Rod Wilson raised the question that was discussed at September's meeting regarding the difference between the disciplinary applied to members of the basketball team and members of other sports.
A discussion continued on the subject among school board members, Vanessa Hodge and Wilson. James Yeyar, board president, said he did follow up on the complaint after last month's meeting. Hodge said she would make an appointment to meet with Wilson in her office. However, no further decisions were determined on the subject during the board meeting."
*****If James Yeryar, board president "did" follow up on the complaint...then what did he find out about it? Why doesn't the board tell us what the differences are in disciplinary actions between basketball and other sports, and why that there is differences between the sports? Sounds like a closed door meeting will take care of this, but it should be open to the public.