On the recommendation of District 348 Director of Instruction Shelley Richardson, the board of education approved Mt. Carmel Middle School as a Title I Schoolwide facility at its regular monthly meeting Monday.

MCMS currently operates as a Targeted Assistance Program. As such, the school receives Title I, Part A funds, yet is ineligible or has chosen not to operate a schoolwide program, and provides supplemental educational services to eligible children identified as having the greatest need for special assistance.

She said the school is eligible to operate as such since the facility's free and reduced lunch count has reached the 40 percent mark.

The Title I schoolwide program is a reform model used to upgrade the entire educational program in a Title I school. It has the primary goal of ensuring that all students, particularly those who are low-achieving, demonstrate at least proficient levels of achievement of the Illinois Learning Standards, according to information Richardson gave the board.

The program also permits a school to consolidate funds from Title I, Part A and other federal education program funds and resources administered by the U.S. Department of Education to improve the entire educational program of the school with the intended purpose of raising academic achievement for all student.

And the schoolwide program uses Title I funds to meet the needs of all students in the school, as determined through a comprehensive needs assessment. Individual students are not identified as eligible to participate.

No distinctions are made between staff members paid with Title I funds and staffers who are not, according to Richardson's request.

NEW TEXTBOOKS

PURCHASED

Richardson also asked the board to adopt five new textbooks for the 2009-2010 school year Monday.

The board approved a pre-algebra textbook for 8th-grade students, a chemistry book for Mt. Carmel High School sophomores and juniors, an elementary statistics book for MCHS seniors, a U.S. government book for MCHS seniors, and a media design book for sophomores, junior and seniors.

Richardson also reported the school year's final Teacher Institute would be March 27, with Regional Office of Education 20 staff providing a workshop for all teachers about re-certification via the Illinois State Board's ECS.

South School will also be participating in a crisis scenario drill with first responders.

The Safe Schools Healthy Students Grant and the Carol White Physical Fitness Grant applications have both been submitted. The Mental Health Support Grant and the Early Childhood Grant applications will be submitted by the end of March, she added.

Director of Special Education Susan Harrison reported that annual review meetings had been completed in March for 58 students, and four new students are eligible for Special Education services at South School. Annual reviews at MCHS have also been completed, and those for MCMS will be completed prior to Spring Break.

Cathy Witsman, the director of outreach, submitted a report of the activities planned for the Wabash County Choose Respect, Not Abuse Week, scheduled for April 6-17.

Some activities are being planned through The Guardian Center for grades K-3. Other activities will be by various faculty. A Parent University Night is planned for North Intermediate Center of Education on April 7.

Superintendent Tim Buss reported cash deposits of $55,701.83 and investments of $3,318,864.94. He also reported the Four Fund (Education, Building/Tort, Transportation and Working Cash) to be $2,656,010. With the IMRF/Social Security Fund added, the balance increases for $3,025,371.

Buss also reported the Lunch and Breakfast Program has a positive balance of $3,284.89.

The board approved declaring several items at South School as surplus. Included are six TV stands, one magazine stand, three computer carts, two book racks, five bookshelves, two tables, two TVs, one filmstrip projector, one VCR, three storage cabinets, three file cabinets, 30-35 student desks and one coat rack.

Those items will be made available to the other District 348 schools, and if none are needed, the South School principal is authorized to dispose of them as she wishes. Individuals may inquire at South if they would like one, or more, of the items.