Valley Adopts Budget, Accepts $26K Donation To Bib’s Billfold
By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews
MENTONE — The Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation’s board adopted the 2023 budget during an Oct. 10 meeting.
Valley’s 2023 budget totals $26,118,125, with $13,158,529 in the education fund; $3,839,232 in the debt service fund; and $9,120,364 in the operations fund.
Budget adoption included acceptance of TVSC’s capital projects fund and school bus replacement plans.
A blanket resolution to reduce appropriations, as well as a resolution to transfer monies from TVSC’s education fund to its operation fund, were both approved by the board.
In other business, the board accepted several donations, including a $26,000 donation to Bib’s Billfold. The money was raised via the Sweet Sassy Golf Classic, which is annually held in memory of late Tippecanoe Valley High School football coach, counselor and educator Scott Bibler.
“We had the biggest line of teams we’ve ever had, with 64 teams,” said Stephanie Bibler, Scott’s wife. “Every year we think we can’t get bigger and yet we seem to do it.”
Stephanie said that extra funds given this year to the Sweet Sassy Golf Classic helped with cost increases the organization saw. Those extra funds were from memorials in honor of Scott’s brother, who passed away this year; and a donation from Scott’s high school class, which recently celebrated its 40th reunion.
Funds from Sweet Sassy Golf Classic are used to meet any type of student need, as well as teacher grants and staff recognition.
The board also accepted a donation of apples from Creation Celebration, which was used in a cooking class; and a $1,000 donation from Allowing Christ To Shrine to help disadvantaged students purchase books at the book fair.
TVHS Principal Brandon Kresca provided the board with updates on a new format for student report cards and the 2023 senior trip to Washington D.C.
The report card focuses on employability skills such as time management/organization; communication/collaboration; discipline/professionalism; and adaptability/regulation.
Kresca and Inga Omondi, instructional coach at TVSC, both worked together to put strategic language within the card to show examples of employability skills.
“It looks very similar to the middle school report card and we’re very happy with this,” said Kresca.
Prior to approving the new report card format, the board commended Kresca and Omondi for their work and focus on preparing students for the workforce.
Kresca said plans are also in motion to bring back the annual senior trip to Washington D.C. Trips to the East Coast have been on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hunter Ackerman, ninth grade world history teacher; and Sonia Roche, Spanish teacher, will be this year’s trip sponsors. The tentative trip dates are April 27 to May 1, 2023; currently, the approximate cost per student is $1,200 to $1,500.
“Cost, the gas, the bussing is way up,” said Kresca.
Kresca said students have been surveyed about the trip, with many still showing interest in going to Washington D.C., even with the higher cost.
Ackerman and Roche will attend the school board’s November meeting to provide further information on the trip.
TVSC’s board also:
- Approved hiring Keenan Deniston as an instructional assistant at Akron Elementary School.
- Approved a personnel change of Jason Goldsmith as TVSC’s network administrator.
- Approved Gary Scacco as a dive coach at TVHS.
- Accepted the resignations of Kim Heltzel, Akron Elementary instructional assistant; and Vernell Wilson, fifth grade girls’ basketball coach.
The board’s next public work session is at 6 p.m. Nov. 17, at TVHS. The next regular meeting is at 6 p.m. Nov. 21, at Mentone Elementary School.
Approval of bids for the upcoming high school renovations will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 17, at the Jeff Shriver Viking Room in TVHS.