KCS looks to make sure Kautz Field is safe for future, announces Head Start expansion grant

Posted: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 1:20 am | Updated: 1:28 am, Tue Oct 6, 2009.

By Peter Adelsen Perspective staff writer padelsen@kokomoperspective.com | 0 comments

To make sure Kautz Field is safe for current and future use, the Kokomo-Center Schools' board of trustees has decided to continue with a further study because of the possible arsenic contamination.

Superintendent Chris Himsel asked the board for the approval of hiring Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLP, an Indianapolis-based law firm that specializes in Indiana environmental issues.

As of now, Kautz Field is safe for current and future use.

Himsel also announced that the school district received the Head Start expansion grant in an amount more than $570,000. This grant would get 100 students off the Head Start waiting list, he said. This grant would be used for Howard, Tipton and Miami counties, he said.

In the future, more students may be added to the program, he said.

In other news

The school board approved the adoption of the budget plan for 2010.

The board approved the reallocating of extra-curricular funds that currently exist for Columbian Elementary and Darrough Chapel Elementary schools to the schools the students are now attending. In doing so, the board also eliminated the extra-curricular treasurer positions at the former schools.

Also approved was permission to apply and accept once awarded the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Title II, Part A Grant of $495,675 that would increase student academic achievement.

The board also approved to accept if awarded the Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship grant in the amount of $8,000 each to Jenny Marshall (Elementary Art) and Abbie Barnes (Elementary Music). The purpose of the fellowship is to support creative projects that are personally renewing and intellectually revitalizing to Indiana teachers. The two teachers will use the grant to travel to Italy and take part in a Smithsonian Art tour.

The board recognized Allison Schten as a semifinalist in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Competition, Melissa Wheeler for the IASC 2009 Middle Level Advisior of the Year and Sycamore Elementary School for being awarded the High Performing Grant Award, Title I. Sycamore School received $25,000 from the grant and has also earned the Four Star School Award for four consecutive years.

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