AKRON — The regular meeting of the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation Board of Trustees, held Monday, Oct. 12, at Mentone Elementary School, began differently from most meetings.

Before the board officially got down to business, Superintendent Brett Boggs read a statement commemorating three individuals with TVSC ties who lost their lives in the plane crash that happened two weekends ago, including Charlie Smith, Scott Smith and Scott Bibler.

Boggs then opened the floor to school board members and anyone else who wanted to share thoughts or a memories. Pastor Amber Karksoky-Litten of Mentone United Methodist Church also spoke, then closed with prayer.

Following the meeting’s official opening, board members saw the latest renderings of what the completed Akron Elementary School building project could look like. Part of the current building will remain intact and receive upgrades, however much of the building will be torn down and new construction put up in its place.

The current plan includes more than 205 parking spaces, which Akron Elementary School Principal Chrissy Mills commented is more than triple what currently exists. One large parking lot is planned for the space where the current gym stands and another will likely go next to the building alongside SR 19and is designed to allow parents can pick up and drop off students in a safer, more organized fashion.

An important part of the design will be keeping the Henry Township School limestone archway that currently stands above the building’s entrance.The front of the building will match the archway, incorporating it visually into the new architecture.

The board also discussed roofing materials, walls and ventilation. Questions were raised about metal roofing, however the board was informed that metal roofing expands and contracts in a way that does not make it practical for a school building.

They also touched on the pros and cons of block walls and stud walls as well as types of ventilation and which would be the most cost-effective.

Designs for the building have not bee finalized.

Other News

• The school board adopted its 2016 budget, with $15,999,515 in the general fund, $2,747,469 for debt services, $2,798,484 for capital projects, $1,760,680 for the transportation fund and $333,000 for bus replacement. A public hearing took place Sept. 21, with the final adoption taking place during the Oct. 12, meeting.
• The school corporation received an $18,000 grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for Mentone Elementary’s kindergarten readiness program.
• The board approved a pay raise for substitute teachers by $10 per day. Principals present at the meeting commented that finding substitute teachers is becoming more difficult and teachers are often pulled out of classrooms during their free period.
• Student representative Madison Miller gave an update on TVSC sports, saying that fall sports are ending and girls’ basketball begins practice next week.
• Student representative Johnathan Engle noted that the first nine-week grading period is over and that he has seen many students using the school’s “Viking Success” period to their advantage, to catch up on homework.