DANVILLE — The Danville Board of Education on Monday issued formal commendations to bus driver David Workman and students Megan Iverson and Josh Beachy for helping to save another student’s life. Transportation supervisor Chuck Rex said a bad situation which occurred in March could have been worse without their intervention.
According to Rex, one student in the back of Workman’s bus was having trouble breathing due to a severe allergic reaction. Workman reported the medical emergency on the radio, helped the student off the bus and tried to ease his breathing. Iverson stayed with the student until the emergency squad arrived, and Rex said Beachy helped to maintain order and to keep the other bus riders calm.
“It was a job well done,” board president Andrea Inverso said. “You are all an inspiration to your peers and to us all.”
Band director Christie Cochran commended the band members who recently performed at Disney World. She said their behavior was very appropriate. A pair of students and parent chaperones highlighted some of the features of the trip, and thanked the board for the opportunity to take the trip.
Middle school/high school principal Linda Rex announced the middle school mock trial team did well in competition Friday, and received outstanding witness and outstanding attorney awards.
In addition to the principals’ and technology coordinator’s reports, the board heard from athletic booster president Mitch Durbin, who discussed the group’s annual fundraisers and described how the funds have been spent. The board acknowledged the importance of the boosters to the overall athletic program.
The traffic flow pattern and parking at the elementary middle school were discussed at some length by the board. Since the fire lanes have to be kept clear, parents waiting to drop off children sometimes are backed up onto the streets, and it isn’t safe for children exiting the vehicles. Superintendent Dan Harper said further study of the situation will be done in cooperation with the Danville police and fire departments, in hopes that a more workable plan can be in place before the start of the next school year. For now, Harper reminds everyone to slow down.
Regarding personnel, the board added Mary Styers and Carrie Ackert to the classified substitute list, and granted certified contracts for the 2008-09 school year.
Concerning senior students, the board approved the list of seniors for graduation pending the completion of a school requirements and obligations, and end-of-the year graduation and senior activities for the Class of 2008. The board also confirmed that the graduation policy will be adhered to. The policy prohibits students from participating in the graduation ceremony if they have not completed all necessary requirements.
Eighth-grade Career Shadowing Day, May 22, was approved by the board, as was summer academy for students in kindergarten through grade six. The academy will be held July 7through July 18 and July 28 through Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. The 2008-09 elementary school handbook was approved by the board, and post secondary enrollment was approved for Robin Alden and Janella Mickely.
In addition to approving routine fiscal actions, the board approved service agreements with the Knox County Educational Service Center and authorized raising ala carte milk prices to 50 cents.
