“The whole point of it was to get kids to find more activities to keep them active,” Eaton said.

Eaton also contacted bowling alleys in Warsaw and Rochester about the possibility of collaborating on things like field trips and community involvement.

TVMS Principal Scott Backus recognized several students for outstanding performance, including Triston Neust, who won the TVMS spelling bee and then the Kosciusko County Scripps Spelling Bee, earning a $2,500 scholarship. He will progress on to the state level in Fort Wayne for a chance to represent Indiana in the Scripps National Spelling Bee later this year.

Backus also recognized Olivia Taylor, who has been instrumental the school’s ceiling tile project.

The project began about four years ago when students approached the schools about decorating ceiling tiles throughout the buildings. Taylor collaborated with science teacher Larry DuBose to create a series of science-based tiles.

TVMS athletic, academic, band and choir teams also received recognition for various accomplishments this school year.

TVSC Superintendent Brett Boggs announced the College Board has named TVSC to the 2015 Gaston Caperton Honor Roll. Valley is one of 132 school corporations nationwide recognized for the number of low-income and otherwise underrepresented students taking college-level courses.

TVSC is one of six schools in Indiana that made the 2015 honor roll.

Heather Shriver brought concerns before the board pertaining to the condition of the Tippecanoe Valley High School pool. She noted the pool is in a state of deterioration and attempts to approach the high school administration have, thus far, been unfruitful.

Shriver added that public swim has been unsuccessful this year, with only a handful of people from the community showing up to participate. The $2 fee, she said, is intended to go toward paying for a certified lifeguard to supervise, however in order to garner interest in the program, some public swim nights have been offered for free.

Among concerns include loose tiles in the pool, incorrectly numbered lanes, outdated first-aid supplies and moldy life jackets. She also noted she typically ends up being the one to clean and mop up the pool area.

Funding for the swim club is a major concern, she added.

The board agreed to meet with Shriver to further address her concerns. Several have already been addressed, including new tiles on the outside of the pool, new striping and a new heating system. A new diving board will also soon be on its way.

Former TVHS FFA teacher Lisa Paxton brought concerns about the school corporation’s ending cash balance, which in 2014 exceeded $21 million.

“I want to know as a taxpayer, why are we hoarding our funds?” she asked.

Board member Dave O’Brien replied that the information is public and he does not believe it constitutes hoarding.

Paxton continued. “Why are people leaving and why does our cash balance keep growing by about a million and a half each year?” she asked. “If we are paying our tax dollars we want programs for our kids. It’s just that simple.”

She also pointed out that six people were being approved that evening to supervise the FFA program.

“Congratulations, you have used the children as collateral damage for the choices you guys have made,” Paxton said.

Other News

• Advertising for bids will soon begin for the Akron Elementary School building project. The project is just under its allotted budget. Bids will be opened after 3 p.m. Thursday, March 3.
• The board approved school improvement plans for both elementary schools, the middle school and the high school.
• The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 14, at Tippecanoe Valley High School.