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Fulton County Retired Teachers met at Jarrety's on February 18, 2010 for their February meeting.
President Jeri Good called the meeting to order by welcoming retired teachers and guests Mayor Mark Smiley and Mike Clair of the Alternative School Classroom.
Kay Horn read the minutes of the September meeting in the absence of Barb Berdine, secretary. They were approved.
Treasurer's report was given by Kay Horn. She reported a balance of $398.23. She stated the old account at First Financial Bank was closed out on October 15, 2009 and the account transferred to First Federal Savings Bank which has free checking, interest will be added and 50 free checks. The old check book was started in 1988 and Kay stated she thought it was time to start a new era with checks not from Farmers and Merchants Bank.
A check for $150 was sent to the IRTA Scholarship Foundation on October 29, 2009. There was $54 collected for the scholarship fund at the meeting and two members paid dues of $10. The scholarship money will be sent to the IRTA Foundation.
President Jeri read Katie McCarter's Volunteer Report. She then presented Mayor Smiley with a framed certificate that showed volunteers had volunteered 6,859 ½ hours. This computed by $19.51 per hour comes to $133,828.85 the teachers had saved the taxpayers of Fulton County. Top volunteers named were Marge Zartman, Kaleen Krom, Phyllis Whitmore, Kay Horn, Ann Dielman, Carol Calloway, Mary Anne Heishman, Karmin Reeves, John Howkinson, and Phil McCarter.
Jeri reported she had heard from Andy Thomas the IRTA director and his work with obtaining a COLA. Check the website for further information at www.fcrta.com
Mayor Smiley was introduced and thanked the teachers for their efforts volunteering throughout the county. He said in April the Wynn brothers
Mayor Smiley was introduced and thanked the teachers for their efforts volunteering throughout the county. He said in April the Wynn brothers will be retiring and in keeping with his policy to run the mayor's office with a business approach, he plans on appointing one person instead of three department heads. He stated the water meters are now computerized and instead of taking three people five days to read them, it now only takes one day to check them.
He also spoke of an inter local agreement with the county. The county enforces the city codes, EMS has been moved from the hospital. Public safety or ambulance moved to the fire station which is co-ed; two full-time paramedics can live in the fire station.
There are 22,000 plus people in the county. We can do more together with co-commissioners.
Mayor Smiley spoke of Blacketor Field and a possible industrial park in the area of the airport and the bonding, sewer, drainage ditches needed for it to be shovel-ready. Rochester gets by-passed as do small rural areas. Roger Rose, has been going to meetings on 911 Homeland Security. Mayor Smiley says he is trying to be pro-active, but INDOT is hard to change. He has no information yet. As to ordinances, Casi Cramer would be the person to call with questions for that.
He concluded by thanking the teachers for their volunteering and support.
President Jeri next introduced Mike Clair, the facilitator of the Alternative School used by Rochester Schools. He said it is the best there is. When a student is sent to the program there is paper work, orientation with parents and the student. Strict behavior goals such as saying please, thank you, asking permission by raising a hand to go to restroom or asking for help. Parents will sign them in and parents will sign them out.
Trinity Lease is his assistant and does the computer work while he works with the students. If there are problems the student is talked with and dealt with quickly and immediately according to the philosophy of Clair. No cell phones are allowed. The student is warned during his/her orientation. Some students go to the high school part of the day and then come to the alternative school for the rest.
There are 14 students at this time. Mr. Clair is an employee of Four-County and is paid for 35 hours per week, but he works 45 hours normally. He has a B.S. and a Master's degree.
Eleven students have graduated from the program with a diploma. He says the students have his home phone number and he does tutoring. He won't turn any kid down. In fact, he is an honorary deputy and does go to the jail to see kids who may get into trouble.
Phyllis Whitmore handed out notices about the Antique Show to be held March 12-13 at the Fulton County Historical Museum. On Thursday night there will be an early-bird opening. Everyone is invited.
There will be a retirement workshop scheduled for late April and notices will be sent to each school in the county. If you are nearing retirement watch for that announcement.
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