PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Community School Board voted unanimously to sign a contract with Behavioral Health Service at its last meeting.
Superintendent Dan Tyree explained that since the Behavioral Health facility is located in Plymouth, the students who are serviced there are considered a part of the Plymouth Schools. Tyree said the corporation receives reimbursement for the cost of care at the facility.

In other news:
• The board received information on the results of ISTEP testing for the four elementary schools in the system. Presenting were Principals Mike Dunn (Menominee), Bob Remenih (Jefferson) and Carrie McGuire (Webster). Scores were also reviewed for Washington Elementary by Remenih since Principal Michele Riise was unable to attend.
Remenih said, “What you are looking at is raw data.”
He said better data will be coming shortly (from the state) on AYP (Average Yearly Progress) and ISTEP tests are given to all children enrolled at the time of the test. “You don’t know how many move in and how many move out,” he said, adding any student who failed the ISTEP test has an individualized plan.
A comparison of scores can be reviewed at the Administration Office on Berkley Street.
Students are now taking the spring ISTEP tests, rather than in the fall as it has been given in previous years.
• Food Service Director/Head Cook Gloria Burnam gave the board members an overview of the school lunch program.
Burnham said, “The Plymouth Community School Corporation is the largest food industry in Marshall County and is self supported.”
The system has 51 employees and a total of 17 on a substitute list.
Burnam said food services will not increase the lunch prices for the 2009-10 school year: “Plymouth meals are the third lowest priced school meals in the county. The prices of $1.50 to $1.60 have not been increased for at least the last ten years.”
In the 2007-08 school year, the food service staff served 75,522 breakfasts and 446,385 lunches. From August of 2008 until January of 2009, it has served 52,391 breakfasts and 281,924 lunches. Burnam also listed a number of school related functions that her staff now caters.
She also assured the board that when an alert is sent out by the USDA, the director of food services makes sure the products in question are safe for consumption. She listed the recent peanut butter recall as an example. She said all of the peanut butter products they serve are safe.
• The board granted approval for Tyree to apply for summer school funding.
Tyree said, “The first priority for classes will be at Plymouth High School,” and that classes may be offered in two- or three-week intervals at other schools. “We will make the decision on the best available financial data,” he said.
• The next regularly scheduled school board meeting will be March 19 at 5:30 p.m. once all board members are consulted of the change in time.
Patrons may view the entire board meeting of Feb, 26 by accessing the school corporation’s Web site at www.plymouth.k12.in.us and clicking on “school board” at the top of the page.