Bobbie Washburn Ruhnow Correspondent   
Veteran administrators of the Culver Community School Corp. will retire effective June 20, 2008 but will be rehired by the board of trustees on August 4, 2008. Due to newly enacted Indiana SB 51, Brad Schuldt, superintendent, and Jerry Hollenbaugh, vocational director can retire for a 30 day period. They can then be rehired in the same position but the corporation will no longer be responsible for contributions to the Teacher Retirement Fund (TRF). Schuldt estimated it would save the corporation $3,100 per year for his contribution. Both contracts will end on June 30, 2011 after the rehiring.

Schuldt explained that due to so many qualified teacher’s reaching retirement age, the previous requirement of a 90 day waiting period to be rehired has been waived. The TRF account for these teachers will be capped at the date of retirement and no further contributions will be made.
Schuldt also announced the resignation of Brett Berndt, basketball coach. Berndt will continue as a teacher with the corporation. Chris Kline, board member, expressed his appreciation for Berndt’s comments and demeanor as coach of the successful Sectional team.
Schuldt announced that the appeal of the AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) report  for Culver Elementary School was successful. The Indiana Board of Education has approved the appeal and although CES will remain in a year one status, if AYP is made next year, all sanctions will be removed. The year one status means that students must be given a choice of schools in the corporation.
Approximately six students chose to go to Monterey Elementary for this school year. Although Math and Science scores were satisfactory, lack of attendance due to illness caused CES not to make AYP. Schuldt congratulated the hard work of Chuck Kitchell, principal, and the school improvement team.
The circuit breaker law enacted by the Indiana legislature will have small impact on the financial well-being of the Culver School Corp. Schuldt announced. The shortfall for Culver will be approximately $1,627 due to the high tax base of the corporation. Other area schools will not fare as well with Plymouth facing a shortfall of $115,375, Argos - $30,677, Bremen - $45,031 and Triton - $28,074.
The BPA have done it again with eight members going to Reno in May for Nationals. Students Kasi Browning, Kylie Gunder, Ben Haut, Lyndsey Fisher, Myles Pinder and Brianna Wilson have qualified while  Fisher and Shannon Dunfee will join Gunder as representatives of Indiana state officers. Joining the group also, will be Justine Hoesel who received a 4th in Desktop Publishing. Also reaching the second stage was Ashley Jones, Linley Master, Dunfee, Alex Hnatusko and Ashley Zehner.
The Culver Middle School band under the direction of Jason Crittendon, received a Gold Rating plaque with high marks from all three judges  at the recent Indiana State School Music Association Organizational Contest. This is the first gold rating since 2003.
Board members also congratulated Carin Clifton, CCHS food director, on her receipt of the 2007 Friend of Extension from the Marshall County Extension Board at their Purdue Extension meeting. Clifton has been active in the 4H program for 25 years.