By Carol Anders Staff Writer
PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth School Board held its final meeting for 2007.
It was also the final board meeting for retiring Superintendent Dr. John Hill. Dr. Hill will assume the position as executive director of the Rural Education Association when the organization relocates its national headquarters to Purdue University in 2008.
The board presented Hill with tokens of appreciation for his 12 years of service to the Plymouth Schools. A commemorative plaque depicting the various locations within Indiana that Dr. Hill was part of the teaching or administrative staff was just one of the parting gifts. He was also given two life-time passes to Plymouth Schools athletic events.

Hill reflected on his time here saying, “We have champions in each of our buildings.” He added, “The entire staff is really focused on kids.”
Hill said, “It’s been a pleasure. It hasn’t been a job.”
The board will reconvene on Jan. 3, 2008. The agenda of that meeting will include the reorganization of the board positions. They will also determine the dates and topics of each meeting through the end of the year.
Dr. Hill advised the board of the discussions that took place at the last JESSE (Joint Education in Special Services Education) board meeting. The JESSE board is made of superintendents from 10 different school corporations. Last month, the Plymouth Board reviewed the results of  a study that was conducted by consultants concerning the JESSE programming and operations.
Hill said the JESSE Board has decided to hold an additional study with a new consultant. He said Dr. Robert Boyd of Indiana State would be conducting the study that would include interviewing each of the JESSE board members individually and help to draft a mission statement.
Several Plymouth Board members expressed their concern of how slowly the process was moving. Board member Ron Gifford said, “I’m less concerning about a mission statement than taking us to point B.”
When asked how other superintendents felt about the previous JESSE study, Hill said, “They have differing opinions on the future of JESSE.” He explained that some of the opinions were philosophical differences. He also expressed his opinion on the matter saying, “My advice to the board (Plymouth Board) is that we should explore options out there.” Hill also said, “We cannot afford to go alone.”
The Plymouth School board asked Dr. Hill and Assistant Superintendent Dan Tyree to prepare a list of options for providing services that are currently handled through JESSE for consideration as well as a time table for making decisions.
The current director of JESSE, Mary Kay Davis, has also announced her intention to retire in June of 2008. According to Hill, the JESSE Board has had no discussions as to looking for a new director.
Assistant Superintendent, Dan Tyree presented an overview of the Correction Action Plan (CAP) for the Plymouth School system.
According to Tyree, they failed to meet AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) at Lincoln Junior High for the 3rd year in a row.
The state of Indiana had to approve the CAP plan.
He said they will identify specific sub-groups to focus on as well as create specific and measurable goals. The plan proposed also includes promoting parental involvement as educational partners and extended learning opportunities. The schools will be working on vocabulary skills using the Isabel Beck methods.
Beck is a professor of education and senior scientist at the University of Pittsburgh. Her work includes extensive research on the topics of decoding, vocabulary, and comprehension as they pertain to reading.
The board discussed a change in the duties of the staff at the Administration Office.
With the changing of specific job duties, salary changes were also made. The overall budgeting for employee compensations will remain the same.