NORTH MANCHESTER – The Manchester Community Schools School Board Tuesday heard about a collaborative art presentation between the fourth grade and high school students.
Debra Kern, the art teacher at Manchester High School, seeks to create career-based assignments for her drawing courses. Kern contacted the teachers of Manchester Intermediate School by email to see if she could find young authors for the students to practice illustrating for. Dana Clutter responded immediately to this request and asked Kern’s students to illustrate her fourth-grade class’s personal narratives.
Through the partnership the children learned how to write a story, but also the perception another can have when reading their story, the board heard. Through the collaboration process the students of each class never met to explain to their artist what to portray. The high school art students chose the story that most appealed to them to illustrate. On the night of the meeting, the authors and artists finally had their meet-and-greet to thank the other for their work.
Manchester Junior-Senior High School also are designing bison for the Bisontennial. However, these are not the main fiberglass 5-foot by 8-foot bison. The dimensions of the bison offered are about half the size and will be used as a promotion for local history and area businesses.
Laura Rager asked Kern if they would like to decorate these smaller bison. Kern said, “We jumped at the chance.”
There are 16 bison total that will be displayed around the North Manchester area. There were two at the meeting displayed to show the current progress.
A new assistant principal of Manchester High School has been selected for the 2016-17 school year. Associate Principal Dr. Jon Lippe introduced Chad Cripe with high approval. Out of 38 candidates, Cripe is the one who shined with his credentials and outstanding personality, the board heard.
“Manchester Community Schools really is the perfect fit for me and I’m excited to move forward in my career,” Cripe told the board.
A revision policy of tobacco products concerning e-cigarettes and vaping devices was discussed at great lengths by the school board. According to Indiana state law, all tobacco products are prohibited from any school’s property. The main problem that this revision is causing is whether to prohibit their use or the mere possession of an e-cigarette on school grounds.
In the parking lot and at sporting events would be the place this issue is expected to arise the most and the board would rather not have the e-cigarettes on the premises at all. But to enforce such a rule for the possession of the e-cigarette could be challenging. If the device can be put away in a vehicle, then there is no reason to remove the user if they remain cooperative.
The use of an e-smoking product on school grounds is the only sure certainty decided. The issue will continue on to the next school board meeting for another reading.
Keri Koenig
Times-Union Correspondent
