By Angel Perkins Staff Writer
ARGOS — The Argos School Board put some financial issues under the spotlight and made some decisions regarding the corporation’s future.
The  board raised the cost paid to reimburse employees’ mileage for meetings and trainings to better reflect present day costs. “For years we’ve reimbursed at 32 cents per mile,” said school Superintendent Barb Flory. “It would be more fair if we raised it permanently so it is always 10 cents below the federal mileage rate.”
The school board agreed.

Presently the federal mileage reimbursement rate is 55 cents, and Argos’ 44 cents per mile will start Jan. 1, 2009.
Looking toward the future, a transfer tuition addendum was approved as a result of changes made at the state level.
All students — regardless of whether or not they were previous students or transfer students of the Argos School Corporation — must pass through a strict application process.
Flory explained she had reviewed similar sample policies from the Indiana State Board of Accounts and the Indiana Superinten-dents’ Association to put together the proposed addendum. “This way we are not showing any favoritism,” she explained.
The process requires students being considered to submit a letter of request for transfer before April 1 of the previous school year, which much be supported by documents such as transcripts, grade cards, test scores, attendance, disciplinary and academic records.
Once this compliance is met, an interview process will then be planned and the approval must be given before May 1 of the current school year.
Trying to plan to save money for the future, Flory explained that in looking at the 2009-10 school year calendar, planning for three full days off for staff development would be more cost effective than scheduling six half-days for that purpose. Flory said while she didn’t expect the Indiana Department of Education to approve a waiver to allow the three full days exemption, she still hoped to receive approval to save the difference.
And what the corporation has been doing in the past to be frugal is showing it paid off.
“Governor Daniels is pushing for cooperative purchasing,” Flory told the board members at Monday night’s meeting, “which is something Argos has been doing for years as members of the services center (Northern Indiana Educational Services Center). Our membership costs about $3,000 (per year) and we’re realizing a value of $62,000. We are already taking advantage of every opportunity to stretch our dollars as far as we can.”
The total realized for the year was $62,333.27; that’s a 2155 percent return on investment.
In other news:
• Personnel changes were approved. Amy Overmyer was officially approved as Sunshine Society Sponsor for the school year and Allison Shook was officially approved as JV girls soccer coach. Jaime Spencer, Argos Jr.-Sr. High School Science teacher, requested maternity leave which was approved and will be effective as of Feb. 13. Argos Elementary School Principal Ron Leichty’s retirement after 23 years of serving was approved.
• The 2009-10 school year calendar in full was approved by the Argos School Board. School will begin for teachers Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009 and school for students will begin Friday, Aug. 14, 2009.