MENTONE — As the school year draws to an end, the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation Board of Trustees is already looking forward to 2016-2017 and implementation of a few new programs.

The board approved the addition of LifeSkills Training at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School. This program focuses on prevention of substance abuse and violence through skills like self-management, general social skills and drug resistance. It will be incorporated into the existing health and FACS curriculum with lessons likely taking place once a week.

Funding for LifeSkills Training comes through a grant and is at no cost to the schools.

Also receiving approval was the “I Decide for Me” curriculum at Tippecanoe Valley High School. Volunteers from Heartline Pregnancy Center. The idea of the program is to reduce teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases through healthy lifestyle choices.

This can be a two-day or four-day program and is usually taught during health or FACS classes. It also comes at no additional cost to the school.

Reintroduction of peer tutoring at all grade levels also received enthusiastic approval. The program will take place under close teacher supervision and will, at first, consist of students visiting Life Skills classrooms, but will likely branch out later on.

No action was taken on a new strength and conditioning program that would be offered as an elective class and would be recommended for all student athletes. Several TVMS and TVHS coaches traveled to Center Grove High School to see the curriculum in action.

Board member Tom Craft expressed concern over some technology expenses listed under this month’s claims. This included several thousand on a new server and $20,000 on an antivirus upgrade. Craft was told it was not a server, but a core switch at TVMS, that was replaced and that the switch handles all routing for the district and was part of an overall upgrade that took place over the holidays.

The antivirus is something the school district renews every three years.

Student organizations recognized were as follows:

• Mentone Student Council, for going above and beyond in their efforts to help their fellow students.
• Spell Bowl, for representing Mentone Elementary School in the Fall Spell Bowl competition
• Math Bowl, for representing Mentone Elementary in the Spring Math Bowl competition

Tippecanoe Valley High School students also received recognition for achievements. The board commended Austin Nickerson, who was named District Star in Agriculture Placement. Student Representative Madison Miller was also recognized. Miller graduates this year.

Two retiring teachers were also present and the board thanked them for their time with the school corporation. They include Marjorie Sanders, fourth-grade teacher at Mentone Elementary, retiring after 40 years and Pamela Smith, third-grade teacher at Mentone Elementary, retiring after 37 years.

An open house is set for 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 14, for both teachers.

The school board also received recognition, having been named an Outstanding Board through the Indiana School Boards Association.

Other News

• The board accepted a $445 donation from Psi Iota Xi for new hearing and speech equipment.
• The board tabled discussion on increasing school lunch fees.
• The board approved revisions to the student, staff, athletic and coaches handbooks for the next school year.