The Mail-Journal, Volume 20, Number 46, Milford, Kosciusko County, 30 November 1983 — Page 1

Phones: 658-4111 & 457-3666

VOLUME 20

Aim for classroom excellence — «. Lakeland teachers to receive 6.5% across the board salary increase

By GAIL WIDMOYER Staff Writer “This board has directed the administrative staff to place into effect by the 1984-85 school year an evaluative procedure that will insure average performance will no longer be acceptable in the Lakeland Community Schools,” stressed school board president Bill Little at Tuesday afternoon's special school board meeting. Little expressed his concerns following board ratification of teacher contracts which assures educators a 6.5 per cent salary increase as well as $270 additional towards the family health plan and $lO7 additional towards the single plan. “By passing of this salary schedule,” Little commented, “the board has made a commitment which places the teachers in the Lakeland Community School Corporation third among the 28 school corporations that compose the Northeast Indiana School Study Council. “It also places the teachers in the top 25 per cent of the school districts in the state of Indiana in career earnings," Little continued. “Inasmuch as this commitment represents above average compensation, the board of school trustees and the community now* deserve above average performance and cooperation in all aspects of the educational program from the teaching staff.” Other board members supported Little’s comments by saying they were “very well stated.” The contract was ratified by teachers Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. during a special meeting in

Former resident to be on 'Today Show' Former Milford resident Dr. Vicki DeMao will appear on NBC’s “Today Show” the morning of December 9. Dr. DeMao is the former Vicki Fuller, daughter of Inez Beiswanger of Milford. She is a graduate of Milford High School and Ball State University and received her doctorate at Indiana State University. Dr. DeMao is elementary education supervisor of the Richmond Community Schools and is the chairman and originator of the “Books for Babies” program, a community service project sponsored by the Richmond Area Reading Council. She will be talking about this project on the television program. The “Today Show” is seen locally from 6:30 until 9 a.m. on WNDU, channel 16, South Bend and WKJG, channel 33, Fort Wayne.

The purpose of the project, which will serve approximately 1,400 newborn children and their mothers each year, is to help parents understand the importance of encouraging and fostering an interest in books and reading at an early age. Each mother of a newborn child at Reid Memorial Hospital is given a number of items which encourage her to help her child develop an interest in books. Research has shown that the interest in books and reading starts as early as six months of age. Parents need to be aware of the fact that

they have a tremendous influence on their child’s readiness for formal schooling. Just reading aloud to their children each day can start an interest in books. Teachers will acknowledge the fact that the job of teaching a youngester to read is relatively easy if the child is interested in books when he or she goes to school. The task is very difficult, however, if a child has had little or no experience of being read to or of seeing others read or of having interesting reading materials in the home. “It’s important to parents to start reading to their children when they’re very young,” said Dr. DeMao. “They get the idea that reading is important and that you spend time on it.” She sets a good example as she started reading to her five-year-old son, Del, when he was one-day-old. Among the items given the mothers is a nontoxic baby’s first book which can be handled by baby and even chewed on; 10 helpful tips: 1.) Give your baby different colors and shapes to see, feel, hear and touch. 2.) Talk to your baby. 3.) Read to your baby often as he or she grows up. 4.) Repeat nursery rhymes with your baby. 5.) Help your child to learn to talk by repeating his words. 6.) Take your child places. 7.) Visit the library. 8.) Buy books for your child. 9.) Let your child see you reading. 10.) Turn your TV on and off (choose programs with care and try to watch shows with your child. Allow plenty of time for playing with the TV off.) Mothers are also given three phamphlets — “Your Home is Your Child’s First School,” “Good Books Makes Reading Fun For Your Child,” and “You Can Encourage Your Child to Read.”

Hailß'Joumiil

Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL tEst. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 1907)

the Wawasee High School auditorium and will be retroactive to July 1, 1983, since the previous contract expired June 30.1983. The newly signed agreement will be effective until June 30.1984, when the entire teachers’ contracts will be up for review. “It is now time to get on with the prime job of taking care of the students,” concluded Little. Administrative Salaries Administrative salaries for the 1984 calendar year were also approved by the board and represented an average increase of 5.9 per cent. Respective salaries are as follows: Don Arnold, superintendent — $45,350 George Gilbert, assistant superintendent — $38,850 Howard Hull, Wawasee High School principal — $38,350 Donn Kesler, assistant WHS principal — $33,950 Wendell Bryant, North Webster Junior High principal — $31,950 Marion Acton, Milford Junior High principal — $31,950 John Naab, Syracuse Elementary principal and corporation coordinator — $30,950 Richard Long, North Webster Elementary — $29,600 Ned Speicher, Milford Elementary principal — $28,600 Myron Dickerson, WHS dean of students — $27,585 Carl Hadley, building, grounds and transportation supervisor — $26,190 Charles Haffner, Syracuse Junior High principal — $17,344 Because of a previous request to be transferred to a math instructor position as soon as a vacancy was available, Haffner’s

VICKI De MAO

salary represents the remaining 114 days in this school year. His request for a transfer will be honored in the 1984-85 school year. Support Staff Salaries A 6.5 per cent average pay increase was also approved by the board for supportive personnel. The board will provide $266 additional for family health plans and $lO7 additional for the single membership. Respective salaries are: Corporation bookkeeper — $22,208 Corporation assistant bookkeeper — $12,248 Business and transportation secretary — $14,008 Food service director — SII,OOO Custodians — range from $5 to $8.24 per hour with $.lO additional for night custodians Food service personnel — range from $3.95 to $5.45 per hour Bus mechanic — $9.32 per hour School nurse — $8.67 per hour Secretaries — range from $4 to

S'" - ARRANGING CONTRACT — Mr. and Mrs. Phil Campbell, Milford, met with school attorney Robert Reed following their tentative purchase of the old Milford Junior High School property located on SR 15 for $65,000. Campbell's purchase pends on rezoning and if the zoning request is granted, the Campbells will begin construction on a new 10,000 square foot grocery store. (Photo by Gail Widmoyer)

Final bid: $65,000 — Phil Campbell successful bidder on Milford school property

By GAILWIDMOYER Staff Writer If he receives zoning approval, Phil Campbell of Campbell’s Market will begin construction of a 10,000 square foot grocery store on the site of the old Milford Junior High School — property he purchased at a special meeting of the Lakeland Community Schools Board of Trustees for $65,000, contingent on the zoning change. The 3.32 acres will house Campbell’s new store which will include a bakery, delicatessen and the same type of service meats. The entire project, including ground price and construction expenses will cost Campbell approximately $750,000 to complete. Campbell, Robert Rassi and Tom McClain, representing John Augsburger, were the three official bidders who waived the written requirement and agreed to exchange bids verbally. Furnace short causes fire at Shrimpboat Lou Yoder, owner of The Shrimpboat, Kale Island, Syracuse, called the Syracuse Fire Department at 9:31 p.m. Tuesday evening, when smoke was found in the business. The fire department found a short in the furnace wiring. When the firemen arrived the smoke was gone and the shorted furnace wiring fire was out. The firemen turned off the power to the furnace and shut off the gas. Damage was set at S2OO.

WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 39.1983

$6.14 per hour with $.20 additional for bookkeepers Aides — range from $3.95 to $5.99 per hour A $20.64 base rate per day was approved for bus drivers’ pay schedule which will go into effect January 1. For each additional mile from two to 38, $.15 per mile will be added and for each additional mile from 39 miles on up, $.16 will be added. Express runs per day on a onehalf base will be $10.32; late runs per day on a one-third baseUriil be $6.88; second routes per aay will be paid $10.32; and second routes per day, a m. or p.m. only, on a one-fourth base will receive $5.16. Extra curricular driving without a substitute will pay $4 per hour while extra curricular driving using a sub will receive $3 per hour. A $lO minimum will be paid for extra curricular driving during school hours or outside school hours. While the support staff salary

Campbell agreed to school attorney Robert Reed’s open bid for $46,500, the appraised value of the land. Increments of SSOO were the agreed lowest raise with McClain making the second bid for $47,000. Campbell topped McClain’s bid by $4,500 offering $50,000; and McClain added another SSOO for his next bid of $50,500. The bidding process followed in that manner with McClain countering Campbell’s $4,500 raises with SSOO until Campbell successfully topped out at $65,000. “We are interested in getting our grocery in and making it go,” commented Campbell following the bidding. Mrs. Reed returns from visit in lowa Mrs. Floyd Reed, Syracuse, returned home Monday, Nov. 28, after a one-week visit in Moulton and Cincinnati, lowa, with her children and grandchildren. Her children are Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Pangburn and their four children from Cincinnati, Iowa; Mr. and Mrs. AlberVFowler and four children from Moulton; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pangburn and two children from Grand Junction, Colo.; Edward Pangburn, Moulton; and granddaughter Lisa Pangburn, Centerville, lowa. This was the first time Mrs. Reed had seen seven of the 11 grandchildren; and two of her sons in four years. It is the first vacation Mrs. Reed has taken in 20 years.

raises passed board approval, Henry Smith told other board members he would like for the board to examine the “inequities in the salary ranges. Custodians, food service personnel, secretary and aides' salaries are not high enough.” In other business, board vice president Phil Payne expressed displeasure with the basketball program advertisers. According to his count, 32 advertisers are from Syracuse, five are from North Webster and seven or eight are from Milford. “This is the second year in a row 1 have registered this complaint,” Payne stressed. Saying he planned to discuss the problem with Dr. Hull and the sponsor of the project, Payne continued, “They must remember this is a three community school.” The next regular school board meeting will be held Tuesday. Dec. 13, in the administration building at 7 p.m.

If the zoning is approved, Campbell’s move to SR 15 will vacate the Main Street building which has housed the family operated business since Mr. and Mrs. Merle Campbel), Sr., bought the store from Earl Wolferman in 1951. The elder Campbell operated the grocery until 1974 when Phil resumed responsibility. Now the family operation has expanded to include Phil’s sons, Tim and Tom, meat and grocery managers respectively, and Phil’s wife, Clarann. Campbell has expressed interest in the site since the school board held it’s first discussion session on the property July 20. “We want to start as soon as possible,” Campbell commented. $2,500 damage as driver tries to find cigarette A parked auto was struck after a White Pigeon, Mich., driver suffered sharp pains and dropped a cigarette. Martin D. Hickman, 36, 68515 Lot 25 US 131 White Pigeon, Mich., was southbound on Front Street, Syracuse, when he suffered a severe pain causing him to drop a lighted cigarette on his lap. As Hickman started searching for the cigarette his vehicle struck a parked auto, owned by L. Gene Mock, 707 Front St., Syracuse. The Mock auto was parked on the west side of Front Street and sustained up to $2,500 damage. Syracuse Police Officer Corky Wong estimated damage to Hickmanh auto at up to $2,500.

r - I THIS COULD TAKE A LONG TIME SAYS MICHELLE POPENFOOSE JERRY KEZAR SMILES AS HE TELLS SANTA WHAT HE WANTS

Christmas season opens at Syracuse Saturday P.M. Christmas came to Syracuse on Saturday afternooon and the warm, almost spring-like weather drew a large crowd to Pickwick Place for the activities. Santa made his first official visit to the town and took time to listen to boys and girls who told him their Christmas wishes. Bill Beemer, president of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce, dedicated the town’s new decorations and Rev. David Maish set the spirit of the season with his comments. The community Christmas tree was lit at the close of the ceremony. Music was furnished by members of the Wawasee High School Choir. Other special events included merchant sales and a cartoon show at the theatre. I^HWMWMWIurLITr - IMBBfBBBB I 'BBi - dm.BWßf'P*' ' jSL » dfli F JRU JBB& JH WAITING FOR SANTA — — Bj| sal WHS CHOIR SANG CHRISTMAS CAROLS

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Fa REV. DAVID MAISH DEDICATES SEASON PHOTOSBy RON BAUMGARTNER And MARK WEINSTEIN BILL BEEMER DEDICATED DECORATIONS