Congratulations Mr. Byron Ernest!

Mr. Byron Ernest, who teaches agricultural science at LHS, is one of ten finalists for Indiana's Teacher of the Year Award! Here's a link to today's article in The Reporter: http://www.reporter.net/local/local_story_240020247.html (This is a shorter version of the story than what appears in the print version.)

Here is the announcement of the top ten candidates from the Indiana Dept. of Education web site:

http://www.doe.in.gov/news/2009/08-August/toy_finalists.html

Mr. Ernest is a teacher of tremendous energy, passion, and creativity. We're lucky to have him, and I'm delighted to see him get this sort of recognition. Best wishes to him going forward--it would be fantastic for Lebanon to have its first Teacher of the Year!

(I just edited this post for an egregious misspelling in the title. Gaaack! Sorry!)

The challenge of health insurance premiums

There's an article in today's Indy Star ( http://www.indystar.com/article/20090827/LOCAL0101/908270441/1013/NEWS04/Health+premiums+slam+Carmel+teachers) about the challenges of dramatically rising health premiums in the Carmel schools.

Schools and other public entities are caught in a real squeeze on this issue. Our general fund is completely determined by the state, and of course we want and need to pay our teachers what they're worth. But on the other side are rising premiums. Last year the LCSC received notice that employee health premiums were rising by about 45%. When the board looked at the figures (with our asst. superintendent and CFO Charles Tait) we realized the impact this would have on teachers who are on the LCSC plan. We decided to use about $330,000 from our corporation Rainy Day Fund to defray the additional costs for this year.

Teachers on the insurance still felt it--their premiums increased by about a third. But as my colleague Tom Merritt said in our meeting, "Now they're going to feel like they've been hit by a car instead of a truck."

This year the premiums are certain to go up again. We're not sure what we'll do, but the bind that faced us last year and that Carmel is grappling with right now is not going to go away. It's one of many reasons I'm keeping an eye on the national health care reform debate.

August meeting: H1N1 virus, test results, enrollment information

We got important information last night about the H1N1 virus. Dr. H. "J.R." Servies Jr., the public health officer for Boone County, gave a presentation on what is anticipated and plans for response. Keep an eye on local media as this situation develops. There should be vaccine available by the end of October, but not for everyone. Vaccines will be free, and will be available only at local health departments. Priority groups will include pregnant women and children ages 6 months to 18 years. Here's a web site where you can track this information:
http://boonecounty.in.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=130

Among the "good news," Dr. Taylor reported that Lebanon students passed the state-mandated Algebra I test (called an End of Course Assessment or ECA) at a rate much higher than the state average. The statewide pass rate was 41%; in Lebanon, 84% of LMS Alg. I students and 75% of LHS Alg. I students passed the test! LHS students also exceeded the state average in the pass rate for English 10, but fell short of the state average in Biology.

We got information about enrollment figures for the new school year. The official state count, which is crucial to determining funding, will take place Sept. 15. Dr. Taylor estimates this "ADM" count will come in at about 3320, which is down about 84 students from last year. Analysis shows most of that loss coming in the high school age students, rather than in the elementaries. Of course we're concerned about this trend, although it's not dramatic. I asked Dr. Taylor if we know how many students who had been enrolled at the Academy left the corporation. He said 11 of these students have left, along with a few more siblings of these students. George Piper told me at the end of the meeting that his count for the total with Academy ties who haven't enrolled at LCSC this year is 14.

I asked Dr. Taylor to clarify where we are with numbers of teachers. Last spring 15 teachers were notified that their positions were in jeopardy due to budget constraints. As of yesterday, all 15 of those teachers have been hired back into the LCSC. The net number of teachers is down no more than two or three from where we were last year. (Four teachers were let go for "cause," last year, that is they didn't measure up to expectations and would have been let go regardless of budget concerns.)

The corporation is in the final stages of selling the home built by the LHS building trades program last year. The house is in the Clear Vista addition, is being sold at a modest profit, and the sale should close by the end of August. The building trades students and teachers have begun another house already this school year.

If you'd like to watch the board meetings they're broadcast live on local cable channel 19; they are also rebroadcast several times during the month on channel 19.

A couple new items for the new school year

As we approach the first day of school (Monday, August 10), it's good to remind Lebanon families that there are a couple changes taking effect.

First thing is the dress code. The discussions about "standardized dress" last year resulted in changes to the LCSC dress codes. The dress code was written by teachers and administrators, and approved by the school board. Families are being notified in registration materials, and will be asked to sign either a copy of the dress code itself or the student handbook containing the code, indicating that they understand it. (Like most rules, you don't have to agree with it, but if you don't follow it there are consequences).

Here is the new dress code:


A. LCSC Dress Standards
While fashion trends may change, the reason for being in school does not. A
student’s dress should contribute to good health, cleanliness, safety, and
common decency. It should be non-disruptive and support a positive learning
environment.

Elementary and Middle School
• No open-toed footwear.
• No outdoor coats or jackets to be worn in classes or hallways during school
hours.
• Overall Apparel
o No exposed skin on any part of the midriff or back.
o No articles of clothing can be torn, ripped, or shredded.
o No inappropriately oversized or form fitting clothing. Clothing must be of
appropriate size.
o No attire that may damage school property or cause injury to others
(chains, metal decorations, etc.)
o No clothing that addresses or promotes tobacco, alcohol, drugs,
promiscuous behavior, or derogatory commentary.
o No pajamas and/or sleepwear.
o No headgear is to be worn. All headgear shall be removed at the
entrance of the school and shall not be worn until the building has been
exited.
• Shirts
o No shirts without sleeves. Sleeves must extend past shoulder and not
show underarm.
o No see-through shirts.
o No exposed undergarments.
o No exposed cleavage.
o No plunging necklines.
• Pants
o Pants must sit at or above the hip bone.
o All shorts, pants, and skirts must be knee length or longer.
o No writing on the seat of pants.
o No shorts worn during 2nd and 3rd grading periods.

High School
• No outdoor coats or jackets to be worn in classes or hallways during school
hours.
• Overall Apparel
o No exposed skin on any part of the midriff or back.
o No articles of clothing can be torn, ripped, or shredded.
o No inappropriately oversized or form fitting clothing. Clothing must be of
appropriate size.
o No attire that may damage school property or cause injury to others
(chains, metal decorations, etc.)
o No clothing that addresses or promotes tobacco, alcohol, drugs,
promiscuous behavior, or derogatory commentary.
o No pajamas and/or sleepwear.
o No headgear is to be worn. All headgear shall be removed at the
entrance of the school and shall not be worn until the building has been
exited.
• Shirts
o No shirts without sleeves. Sleeves must extend past shoulder and not
show underarm.
o No see-through shirts.
o No exposed undergarments.
o No exposed cleavage.
o No plunging necklines.
• Pants
o Pants must sit at or above the hip bone.
o All shorts, pants, and skirts must be knee length or longer.
o No writing on the seat of pants.

B. LCSC Dress Standard Consequences
All violations of the dress standards must be referred to the administrative office for documentation and determined consequence.

Elementary
• 1st & 2nd Violation
o Letter sent to parent
o Parent contacted via phone
o Child removed from classroom until appropriate attire is provided
• 3rd Violation
o Parent contacted
o Child suspended from school for one day. Return not authorized until parent participates in on-site conference
with administration.
• Future Violations
o Parent contacted
o Child suspended from school according to Table of Consequences. Return not authorized until parent participates in on-site conference with administration.

Middle School
• 1st Violation
o Verbal warning
o Letter sent to parent
o Child removed from classroom until appropriate attire is provided
• 2nd Violation
o Friday school
o Letter sent to parent. Includes warning that next offense will result in loss of
extracurricular activity privilege.
o Parent contacted via phone
• 3rd Violation
o Saturday School
o Parent contacted by phone
o Letter sent to parent
o Suspension from participation in all extracurricular activities for remainder
of semester
• Future Violations
o Removal from school (Out-of School Suspension) assigned to the
alternative school

High School
• 1st Violation
o All School Detention assigned
o Letter sent to parent
o Child removed from classroom until appropriate attire is provided
• 2nd Violation
o Friday school
o Letter sent to parent. Includes warning that next offense will result in loss of
extracurricular activity privilege.
o Parent contacted via phone
• 3rd Violation
o Saturday School
o Parent contacted by phone
o Letter sent to parent
o Suspension from participation in all extracurricular activities for remainder
of semester
• Future Violations
o Removal from school (Out-of School Suspension) assigned to the
alternative school

Second, there is a new law in Indiana regarding anyone who uses a cell phone or other electronic device to send, or even possess, sexually explicit material (words, photographs, and videos are included). It's a very serious situation, because so many students have cell phones and a small lapse in judgement can result in a felony charge. The following is copied from page 56 of the 2009-10 LHS Student Handbook (the whole handbook is available online here: http://www.leb.k12.in.us/pdf/LHS/academics/handbook.pdf). It also appears in the elementary and LMS handbooks. You should read and understand this, and explain it very clearly to your students. What may seem to them like a harmless prank could have grave consequences, and because it's state law, school officials have little latitude when enforcing it.


Important Notice to Students and Parents Regarding Cell Phone
Content and Display

1. The Child Abuse/Neglect Law requires school personnel to report to law enforcement or child
protective services whenever there is reason to believe that any person/student is involved with
“child exploitation” or “child pornography” as defined by Indiana Criminal Statutes.

2. It is “child exploitation,” a Class C felony under I.C. 35-42-4-4(b), for any person/student (1) to exhibit,
photograph or create a digitalized image of any incident that includes “sexual conduct” by a child
under the age of 18; or (2) to disseminate, exhibit to another person, or offer to so disseminate or
exhibit, matter that depicts or describes “sexual conduct” by a child under the age of 18.

3. It is “child pornography,” a Class D felony under I.C. 35-42-4-4(c), for any person/student to possess a
photograph, motion picture, digitalized image, or any pictorial representation that depicts or describes
“sexual conduct” by a child who the person knows is less than 16 years of age or who appears less
than age 16.

4. “Sexual conduct” is defined by I.C. 35-42-4-4(a) to include sexual intercourse, exhibition of the
uncovered genitals intended to satisfy or arouse the sexual desires of any person, or any fondling
or touching of a child by another person or of another person by a child intended to arouse or satisfy
the sexual desires of the child or other person.

5. The Indiana Sex Offender Registration Statute at I.C. 11-8-8-7 and the Sex Offender Registry
Offense Statute at I.C. 35-42-4-11, as of May 2009, require persons convicted of or adjudicated as
a juvenile delinquent for violating the Child Exploitation Statute at I.C. 35-42-4-4(b) to register as a
sex offender.

6. Because student cell phones have been found in a number of Indiana school districts to have
contained evidence of “sexual conduct” as defined above, it is important for parents and students
to be aware of the legal consequences should this occur in our school system.


I know this is a lot of detailed information (and I'm sorry some of the formatting is such a mess!), but it impacts many LCSC families, so I thought I'd post the chapter and verse here. Thank you for reading! I hope the start of the school year is a time of excitement and anticipation for all.