From left are Burket Educational Center Teacher Micah Lukens, TVSC Board President Dave O’Brien and TVSC Head Bus Mechanic Lyle Butt. (Photos by Amanda McFarland)

TVSC Board President David O’Brien, left, and the board presented a gift to retiring middle-school math teacher, Wayne Landis.

AKRON — New employees and honorees were the main focus of the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation Board of Trustees regular meeting, held Monday evening, July 11.

Tippecanoe Valley Middle School Attendance Secretary Cheryl Simons and TVSC Head Bus Mechanic Lyle Butt received the TVSC Pillar Award for Outstanding Support Staff. Due to a family commitment, Simons was unable to attend the meeting, however Butt was present for the honor. Butt reflected on his 20 years as the head bus mechanic.

“We’ve been really lucky over the 20 years,” he said. “We’ve never had any real problems, we’ve never had any major hangups with the busses.”

Buret Educational Center Alternative Education Program Teacher Micah Lukens received the TVSC World-Class Teacher Award. Lukens was quick to spread the credit around.

“It takes a whole community, really, to put together a program like we have at Burket,” he said. “I’ve seen several former graduates who are doing very well for themselves.”

The board also gave special recognition to retiring TVMS seventh- and eighth-grade math teacher Wayne Landis, who plans to stick around as a substitute teacher and sports announcer.

Landis, who was present at the meeting, submitted a statement to the board about his retirement. He reflected on some highlights of his career, including seeing students finally understand concepts they have been struggling with and learn to enjoy math.

He also looked back on an accident he had 22 years ago. The injuries he sustained required him to use a wheelchair.

“There are not many places that would welcome back to their workforce a guy in a wheelchair like Tippecanoe Valley did,” he said. “For that, I can never thank this corporation enough. It has been a wonderful ride.”

Chris Muvceski, Skillman Corporation, gave an update on the Akron Elementary School project. While things are moving along as planned, workers ran into unsuitable soil beneath part of the building. Muvceski noted the soil contained organic material, which rots away over time. The poor soil is being removed one section at a time and replaced.

Rather than discarding the soil, Muvceski noted the town plans to put it to use in the future, possibly as a sledding hill.

The water table beneath part of the construction site is also plaguing workers. A nearby detention pond remains full, even after recent dry weather and water continues to trickle in. This, Muvceski said, is a sign that the water table is high in that spot. The company plans to consult with an engineer to see what the options are.

Other News

• The board approved the materiality threshold policy introduced at the previous meeting.
• The board also approved the debt collection and forgiveness policy introduced at the last meeting.
• Akron Elementary School received a Dekko Foundation Makerspace Grant for $5,078. Superintendent Brett Boggs explained this will allow the school to add a “DIY space.” Andrea Mikel wrote the grant.
• The board reviewed a revision to the corporation’s pest control policy, which is up for approval at the August meeting.
• Initial consideration was also given to an additional policy that free and reduced lunch applicants undergo a second audit. This is at the suggestion of the State Board of Accounts. This will also be up for approval in August.
• The next regular TVSC board meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8, at Mentone Elementary School.