Mitchell Schools To Start Training Towards E-Learning Days

(MITCHELL) – On Monday evening, the Mitchell School Board dealt mostly with personnel matters; however, Dr. Mike Wilcox provided the board with some updates and information for the start of the school year. 

During Professional Development Days, Mitchell School teachers will start training towards E-Learning Days when school is not in session. At this time, E-Learning days may not begin until after next year.

School Board member Crystal Mikels asked whether the elementary students would be on the E-Learning program because many parents did not take out insurance. At this time, elementary school students do not take their tablets home. Officials said they will notify parents when the school is ready to go that direction, so parents can reconsider buying the insurance.

The teachers will learn how to download what is needed for that day without having access to the internet once they leave the school. Many students in rural areas do not have internet access. 

The Mitchell School System will also be looking at providing Title 1 assistance to all students, not just the students that have been identified as needing help. 

Mitchell Community Schools will also be looking at ways to help students with high ability. The Committee will be looking at ways to identify who those individuals are, and what kind of program they need to cultivate their learning.

Officials say high ability students need to be identified at the elementary school level so there are programs to support them throughout their educational experience.

Mitchell School Board members will also be looking at forming a Safety Committee which will include School Resource Officer Rob German and other stakeholders. The committee will look at improving security and safety on all school corporation properties. The committee will meet on a quarterly basis and make recommendations to the board.

One of the things they will be looking at is a safety feature called Crime Prevention By Environmental Design. This means blacking out the windows on the outside but allows those inside to have a clear vision of what is going on outside of the building.

Dr. Wilcox commented on a video that the school produced showcasing the schools. He says the video captures the school’s spirit and casts the school in a positive light. Now, the ad company has asked permission to show the video in a 30-second clip at their national meeting in Kansas City, putting Mitchell Schools in the National Spotlight.

Three Mitchell students have been named All-American after they competed in the National Qualifiers in Louisville, Kentucky. These students include Hannah Pugh, Abbie Briscoe, and Paige Miller.

The School Board approved the disposition of obsolete equipment to two educational institutions. Desks, filing cabinets, and other school supplies that are no longer useful to the school corporation will be used by these educational institutions. 

The board approved changes to the payment schedule and benefits for financial and secretary staff. Two positions have been moved to a 12-month position and a secretary has been moved to a ten-month position.

The board approved changes to the payment schedule and benefits for the school nurse. There are now two LPNs at the secondary campuses and one at the elementary school.

 The board approved the hiring of the following positions:

  • Burris Elementary Aide – Aliza Hall
  • Burris Elementary Aide – Jenna Norman
  • Mitchell Junior High ISS Monitor – Juanita Mosier
  • Mitchell High School Special Education Aide – David Crockett

The board also approved to employ staff that are needed prior to the next board meeting.

Resignations/Terminations:

  • Mark Kopsho – Custodian effective August 5, 2019
  • Melinda Craig – Burris Special Education Aide effective July 8, 2019
  • Joni Haworth – Burris One to One Aide – effective July 23, 2019
  • Adam Thomas – Terminated effective August 2, 2019

Dr. Wilcox reports a good start to the school year.

“I want to thank all of our staff for having the school ready. Our cafeteria workers were having breakfast and lunch ready for our returning students,” he added. “I also, want to thank the bus drivers and transportation department for getting are kids too and from school safely every day and all the faculty in everything they do.  So far, the back to school this year was smooth.”