By Carol Anders Correspondent
LAKEVILLE — The Union-North School Board approved payment of billing from vendors involved in a proposed $19.6 million dollar building project.
Payments were approved during last night’s meeting  for The Skillman Corporation, project managers, in the amounts of $25,969 for basic service fees and $23.76 for reimbursable expenses for travel. Also approved was payment of billing from Hebard & Hebard, architects for the project, in the amount of $23,946. At this point, there is $248,809 remaining of the $1,311,055 band anticipation loan taken out to keep the project moving.

The proposed project includes a new middle school building and renovations or additions to the LaVille Elementary School and LaVille Jr.-Sr. High School Building.
The Skillman Corporation will be opening bids on the project June 16. According to Larry Ort, school board president, the bids do not have to be opened in a public meeting.
The bids will in effective for a 90-day period.
In a related matter, June 1, Union-North School patron George Moffett requested a 60-day extension to prepare oral arguments for a hearing that is scheduled for July 9. At that hearing, oral arguments will be heard on a pro se petition by Moffett against the Department of Local Government Finan-cing (DLGF). The DLGF has filed their objection to the 60-day delay.
Moffett contends that the DLGF received misleading and inaccurate information that ultimately led to a ruling that the Union-North School Corporation could proceed with the project.
The Union-North School Board believes the action of Moffett and others cost the school $864,000 when they were not able to proceed with the sale of bonds due to Moffett’s lawsuit.
It could take up to 60 days after the hearing for a ruling on the matter.
In other matters:
• The board approved a change only for the incoming superintendent, Dr. Terry Barker, from current policy of allowing administrators to have three weeks of vacation to four weeks. Audience member Kelvin Fluckey raised his objection to the increase saying, ”He is a new hire.”
Ort repsnded saying, "This was part of the negotiation. He (Barker) has been in these positions for 16 years.”
Fluckey then questioned why the matter had to be voted on at the board meeting if it was part of the contract, but the response by Ort was the same.
The approval vote by board members was unanimous.
• Acting Superintendent John Arnett asked for the approval from the board for a memorandum of understanding between the school corporation and the teach-er’s association concerning calendar days for the 2009-10 school year.
Arnett referred to a ruling by the new State of Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Tony Ben-nett.
In that ruling, schools must have 180 days for students and no non-student days are allowed for parent-teacher conferences.
Arnett said teachers are allowed to work three days per year without students present.
According to Arnett, there is one in the beginning of the school year and one at the end of the school year. The third is in the middle of the year. Plans are to have teachers come in for two nights instead of using the day for other purposes to meet with parents without any extra pay.
Arnett said graduation will be put back one week from the original date scheduled so that seniors can have 180 days of instruction. The revised graduation date in June 5, 2010. Ort seemed to be pleased with the new date. He said, “I’ve had constant phone calls from people wanting to go to or watch Memorial Day races. I’ve been listening to that for ten years. This will take care of that”

Board member Mark Dickson, who had chaired a committee of three concerning the awarding of bus contracts for the 2009-1010 school year, presented their recommendations for awarding only part of the contracts. Dickson said he negotiated with the lowest bidders for the routes and would be negotiating with the remainder of the bidders for the rest of the routes. Dickson said they plan to hold a meeting on Monday night to award the remaining routes.
Dickson said they would have been $40,000 over-budget without the negotiations. He said, “We had a bottom number and we had to fit under.”

Arnett also asked the board to approve the first reading of Policy 5111, Eligibility of Resident /Non-Resident students. Arnett said, “When we looked at the polices, we found they were not up to date. We don’t have anything saying a student can’t be expelled in a South Bend School and then enroll at LaVille.” The policy contains strict guidelines for accepting students. He added, “This is for the protection of our students at LaVille.” “Attendance, grades and discipline come into play. What they (students) do academically and discipline wise reflects on LaVille.” Ort read the complete list of requirements including the passage stating that no transfer for athletic reasons alone would be accepted.
Technology Director, Mike Sumptner, informed the board that Union-North Schools are only one of two school corporations in the state to be involved in a pilot project from Resara.  The project involves the implementation and training of Open Source computer software. The use of Open Source is free and saves school corporation thousands of dollars that has been paid for the use of Microsoft software in the past.
Sumptner also said that they have applied for a Title II D grant. He said, “the downside is the grant is competitive. that’s the challenging part.” He added, “There is not much leeway for mistakes. We feel pretty confident.”
Book fees for the 2009-1010 school year for grades K-6 have decreased with the exception of grades two and three. Principal John Farthing said, “In almost every case fees went down.” Fees are as follows: Kindergarten, $57 down from $64; first grade, $104 down from $116; second grade, $124 up from $122; third grade, $139 up from $131; fourth grade, $103 from $125; fifth grade, $104 from $116; and sixth grade, $113 down from  $119.
Fees for the high school students varies according to what classes are taken. Arnett said parents can call or come into the school to review individual class fees.