Sparta School Board approves volunteers

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ At the Monday, January 12th meeting of the Sparta Board of Education meeting, the board approved numerous individuals to serve as volunteers for the district.

Mary Wirth was approved as a volunteer assistant cheerleading sponsor at Sparta High School.

Ann Albers was approved as a volunteer assistant volleyball coach at Evansville Attendance Center.

Gary Klein was approved as a volunteer assistant track coach at Sparta High School.

David Page and David Lerch were approved as volunteer assistant track coaches at Evansville Attendance Center.

The Board then approved the three-year contract for Scott Beckley through the 2010-2011 school year as presented.

The Board also approved the resignation of Jennifer Etling as Supervisor at Tilden Attendance Center effective January 23, 2009.

In other board news:

The administrative salaries were increased by 5.85% as presented.

Jerenda Aitken received an $800 grant from Target to take the students from Tilden Attendance Center to Powell Symphony Hall.

Brenda Barber received a $21,000 lab renovation grant from Pfizer.

Principal Greg Jones reported that the Reading Across Curriculum has begun. There will be weekly ACT & PSAE reading prompts and testing. Each week the teachers teach a strategy to use and students are given a similar reading prompt. Afterwards they discuss and explain answers and talk about the reading strategy. The students will have 16 prompts before taking the Prairie State and ACT. Next year, the high school should meet state standards.

Principal Jones also reported on Think Link Explorer Testing. The schools are working on a district-wide assessment to show individual strengths and weaknesses. The data will be evaluated to see where the teachers need to focus. It will help improve on testing in the future.

Policy #4:150 Facility Management and Building Programs and Policy #4:70 Resource Conservation were approved.

A special calendar waiver hearing will be held Wednesday, January 28, 2009, at 10 a.m. in the District Office.

The next regular board meeting will be held February 9, 2009, at Lincoln Middle School, at 7 p.m.