The Pilot News - Volunteers commended during meeting

Superintendent Carl Hilling read a letter written by Triton Athletic Director Mason McIntyre, which said the new batting cage “looked outstanding” and that the trio “did a tremendous job improving the facilities.”
McIntyre said he had researched what it would have cost the corporation to do work completed by the men and had the school had to purchase the net, motor and frame for the cage, it would have cost nearly $7,500.
In the letter he stated: “By doing it ourselves, we were able to save close to $4,500!”
Each of the helpers accepted a letter of commendation and Mellott said, “We didn’t do this to be recognized. There are plenty of people out there to help do things if you ask.”
He said he and Fleagle spent seven weekends working on the field and they would both hope the work done will be maintained.
“It used to be a dangerous field, but now it’s one of the best out there,” Mellott added. “There are other improvements that need done — siding and a roof on the concession stand. Some kids really need this because their home life isn’t worth going home to, so we need you guys to keep your thumb on people.”
“There are plenty of volunteers out there, but we need someone to rally around,” added Fleagle. He said he was involved with maintenance of more than three dozen athletic fields in his line of work and said other schools have full-time maintenance crews.
“Jeff (Mellott) took the time to make a cover for the (pitcher’s) mound,” he said. “That’s the most important feature of an infield. It would take thousands of dollars of work to create a new mound and he put his own money into it.”
The helpers suggested that the players and coaches be involved in maintaining the field and its improvements so that everyone could benefit, teams now and in the future, from all the hard work put into it.
Other eye-opening news involved monies that should be coming from President Obama’s stimulus plan. Superintendent Hilling announced that March showed an 8.5 percent unemployment rate with approximately 660,000 jobs lost nationwide in that 30-day period. “It looks like we (Triton) will be getting about $300,000 but the requirements are not in black and white,” he explained. “Some states didn’t want to take the money. Alaska fought it saying they would accept some, but not all. The money comes with strings attached and there is going to be accountability.”
He said that while education reform has always been around, “this time is the first time the government’s put any money toward it.” Exactly how much Triton schools will see, when, and where it will be spent is yet to be known but it’s no doubt it will be highly beneficial, especially now that the state has cut the school’s budget by approximately $100,000.
In Other News
   • Personnel changes for Triton include Mary Hayes approved as varsity volunteer softball coach, Chad Kennedy as junior high golf coach and Sam Davis, Curt Kreft and Glenn Weidner as driver’s education instructors for the 2009 class. Susie Mullin, P.J. Watkins, Jill Finley, Cara Sieber, Linda Bowdler, Brittney Slaymaker, Christine Cook and Katie Wilging were approved as teaching instructors and Pat Shearer, Denise Shafer, Becky Hooley and Jill Heet were approved as instructional assistants for Triton’s summer remediation program pending approval from the Indiana Department of Education for supplemental funding of the program.
   • PLATO instructional assistant Glenn Weidner gave a presentation about the remediation class offered to Triton high school students which has included credit recovery programs since February. Within the classroom students work on computers with programs tailored to their specific learning challenges whether it is subject credit recovery or passing all or sections of the ISTEP+. “The PLATO lab is an investment in the students in grades nine through 12,” he said. “Those that haven’t passed (a class or their state standardized tests) are channeled into this class. The PLATO program started during the 2005-06 school year.”
   Weidner said there are nine students presently working toward credit recovery and about 60 that are working toward passing ISTEP+. “For two of them it will mean walking across the stage in May (for graduation as opposed to not passing),” added Triton Jr. Sr. High School Assistant Principal Robert Ross.