Adams Central School Board Discusses Athletic Program and New Staff
Aug. 12th, 2008
By Nathan Hartman
It was business as usual for the Adams Central school board as they met for the last time before regular school sessions begin.
To start the evening, Rick Minnich presented an update on the health and progress of the A.C. athletic department. He said that, financially speaking, the department was very capable of using the funds they have without needing any more. This being Minnich’s fourteenth year in his position, he explained that, when he first started, revenue from athletics were in the negatives but now, thanks to local support, everything is running smoothly.
He also mentioned some of the new purchases the department has made, which will benefit this years incoming students. For one, a new baseball batting cage has been bought to replace a worn-out older version and new vinyl banners have been brought in to replace their fading felt counterparts. Minnich said that, in the future, the older felt banners will be put up for a public blind bidding and more information on that would be coming soon. Also, by this fall, Minnich hopes to have all new wall padding for the wrestlers, as the current padding is falling apart.
In conclusion, Minnich thanked Dan Michaels and his team for keeping the athletic facilities in good condition and made note that 98% of the school’s coaching positions have been filled. He also reminded the board that A.C. will host a football scrimmage Friday night at six with a one dollar admission.
After the update, the board welcomed the recommendation of 1979 A.C. grad Jana Taylor for the position of High School and Middle School Business Teacher. Ms. Taylor will be teaching courses in business and computer applications for the high school and keyboarding and computers for both buildings.
The board then went on to converse about new school policy including changes in the transfer students and early graduation rules. For transfer students, the board changed their policy from not allowing incoming students to join, if they have been suspended or expelled from their current school, to dealing with each situation on a case-by-case basis. For early graduation, the board now states that requests must be presented to the superintendent at least one semester prior to the expected graduation instead of the earlier policy that stated that the superintendent must be notified a year in advance.
To conclude the meeting, A.C. superintendent Michael Pettibone went over the results of a survey given during registration on whether or not the school system should change their start time to 8:30 and provide a breakfast for interested students. Considering the later start time, 305 voters were for the plan while 156 were against and the breakfast survey results concluded that 170 parents would use the service while 283 believed they would not.
Pettibone also gave the registration enrollment for Adams Central for the upcoming year. He stated that the elementary would be housing 489 students, 14 more than last year, the Middle School, 300 and the High School, 384. The total attendance for Adams Central would then come to roughly 1173 students for the 08/09 year.
A.C. Board Considers 2009 Budget
Aug. 4, 2008
By Nathan Hartman
“It’s going to be an interesting budget year,” Michael Pettibone, superintendent of Adam Central schools, exclaimed at this years A.C. school board budget workshop. And, as the night progressed, much of the board agreed with him.
To begin, Pettibone went into detail on the recent state legislation of “HB 1001”. He explained that, because of this recent federal decision, not only would the state sales tax increase from six to seven percent, but also local taxes, which support the general funds of Indiana schools, and the Preschool tax would no longer exist.
Pettibone went on to explain that, because the Preschool and local tax for schools have been taken away, the state will now fund the money needed in these two areas. This means that, although local citizens will be paying less upfront, the money needed will be made in the one percent raise in sales tax. Simply put, as the citizen, you are still paying the piper the same amount, but just taking it to him by a different route.
At this new prospect, the board showed mixed opinions. Member Steve Maller showed concern that the money appropriated would now depend ultimately on how much sales tax the federal government will receive from Hoosier consumers. If people spend less, then the federal system must first balance their budgets and then give what is left to the school systems. “It will work if people keep buying,” Maller commented. “If they don’t, will be in trouble.”
Next, the board went on to review the five-year histories of their different funds. They looked at the general fund, consisting of employee salaries and benefits, capital projects, which is used in maintenance and repairs, debt services, used to pay off the loans put up for the 2002 addition and pool, transportation, dealing with the payment for fuel and drives, and, finally, bus replacements, which handles the twelve year plan to purchase new and up-to-date vehicles.
In this process, a major concern was brought forth on the general fund, which, as you remember, pays the salaries of the teaching staff. Pettibone believed in advertising an appropriation of 7.3 million dollars whereas the state suggested a budget of twelve percent less, coming to around 6.5 million. This state suggestion, which most likely will rise when all figures are considered, is less then in the previous three years even though A.C. has increased its student attendance and has inflationary costs. “Our numbers are going up, gas is more, and they want to give us the lowest appropriation in three years?” Pettibone questioned. This was something that did not sit well with the board.
Finally, Pettibone projected a 2009 local school tax of 3.2 million dollars, which is over a million and a half less then in 2008. One of the factors behind this is the increase in sales tax allows for reduction of the local school tax. What few realize is that the money being paid by the local consumer in sales tax is greater than the reduction of the local property tax, causing the consumer to empty even more from their pockets.
To gain a further understanding of this issue or have your questions answered; the board will hold a public hearing on the budget August 29th at 7 a.m.
AC Board Takes First Look at Possible Building Plans
June 18th, 2008
By Nathan Hartman
One of the major events of last nights Adams Central board of education meeting centered on a presentation about possible future development plans for the A.C. school system. Amy Shimasaki and John Riley, of Martin Riley architects and engineers, began the presentation by giving the board an understanding that the material brought before them was merely a first look at a lot of ideas and concepts at what the school system could do in the future and further brainstorming would, of course, be needed.
Mrs. Shimasaki, the projects’ manager, then went on to explain a possible six-phase project that, over the next several years, could change the face of the school’s main complex and how it is effectively run. Phase one, she said, would consist of creating a bus loop on the north side of the school to help both bus and normal automobile congestion among other things. Also, this phase would build more parking spaces in the south region of the school property, where the baseball field now lies, to help during football games and track meets.
The second phase would then create a more utilized main entrance area including housing for the admissions offices, allowing them to be in the front of the school instead of on the side where they are at present. Along with the new entrance, the now empty commons area could be then given a more courtyard exterior, allowing students and staff a place for both outdoor eating and teaching.
“We would like to give the entire school more of a campus feel,” Riley said.
Phase three, Shimasaki stated, would then take out the thru-round on the East side and move the playground to the northeast corner of the football area while the fourth phase would consist of additional athletic parking on the east side.
The last two phases would then see the creation of athletic facilities in the west and space for parking and further expansion to the east on the land where the current 4-H buildings now sit. Michael Pettibone, superintendent of Adam Central schools, said that, as of this time, they had no thoughts to where the 4-H building would then be moved. “This could be a catalyst to get the whole county involved in this project,” Pettibone said.
After much discussion, the board agreed that the first phase of the project should revolve more around updating the electrical capacity of the school, for more media oriented learning tools, and providing more space for both classrooms and the students in general.
In the end, the board decided that a much more comprehensive look at the architects plan would have to be taken before even the smallest decision could be made.
“We need to have a more solid plan,” declared board president Brian Tonner. “The numbers are going up more for this project then I at first would have thought”
“This global picture was very necessary,” replied Pettibone. “It at least gets us to think about the first step.”
A.C. Board Discusses School Time and Contracts
June 11th, 2008
By Nathan Hartman
Last night, the Adams Central Schools’ board of education met to discuss everything from textbook fees to school times. One of the first items brought up was the selection of a company to help with the school’s 403 (b). Amy Cummings, of AIG, presented some background on the 403 (b), the nonprofit twin to the 4O1K, and how she believed AIG could best help the school in their choice.
“My recommendation is that we hire AIG as our single provider so we are compliant with all government financial needs come 2009,” said A.C. school superintendent Michael Pettibone. With a unanimous vote of six to zero AIG was then approved for the position.
In other business, personnel changes became another large topic of discussion for the evening. The board accepted the hiring of instructors for summer school classes and approved Mrs. Jeanne Steffen, a frequent substitute teacher, to fill a position in the fourth grade.
Transfers also saw Mrs. Jeremi Schortgen leaving the Title One program to fill in a third grade teaching spot, Shelby Dalrymple moving back to kindergarten, where she began her teaching career, and Steve Mugg filling in the open Title One math position.
The board also recognized the resignation of Seth Sprunger from A.C. as he takes up a position with the neighboring South Adams school district and the retirement of Mary K. Gerber from third grade, Janice Grogg from Title One, and, after forty years of teaching, Margaret Sprunger from kindergarten.
Also on the schedule was the renewal of contracts. The board unanimously extended the contracts of both the elementary and middle school principles till 2010 and lengthened superintendent Pettibone’s contract to 2011.
A promising overview of the upcoming school year’s textbook fees was then given, showing that, for the elementary school, first grade had gone up only seven dollars while all the other grades went down in price. In the middle school, fees varied more depending on what classes a student would take but overall sixth grade prices dropped while seventh and eighth went up moderately from last year.
The last big issue of the night came from discussion on if Adams Central schools should start a half an hour later because of daylight savings time. Pettibone asked if it would truly benefit the school to start at 8:30 and end at 3:30 if it helped stop the bus and vocational routes from having to drive or pick up students in the dark. Many on the board were divide on this issue.
“My daughter already gets home from sports at ten o’clock in the evening,” said member Dave Fox. “If we move it back more it would only get her home later.” But the board’s vice president John Sipe exclaimed that the biggest issue for him was safety. “I think there will be times where this extra half an hour could keep student drivers and buses safer. Especially during foggy mornings.” The board decided that the people of the community would be the best to help decide on a solution for this problem and that it could be easily resolved through a survey during the coming registration
I Love You Man
I think it can be easily said that, throughout the years of cinema, the genre of “bromance” hasn’t truly been given its even shake. In fact, while the bond found between women has been explored in everything from “Steel Magnolias” to “Thelma and Louise,” the friendship of men is usually placed into three specific categories- crime, sports, or military. Usually the male characters make a connection when pulling off an impossible heist (Ocean’s Eleven), taking down an evil crime lord (Bad Boys), winning the “big game,” (Remember the Titans) or making it passed enemy lines (Saving Private Ryan).
Then there’s “I Love You Man.” Defying all the male bonding stereotypes, John Hamburg’s latest film is another addition to the rated-R “Apatowian” comedy genre, which I’ve begun to label “honest comedies.” Like what “Knocked Up” did for modern parenting and “Superbad” for the coming-of-age tale, “I Love You Man” gives a transparent depiction of what it’s like when middle-aged men try to make friends.
The story revolves around Peter Klaven, a successful real estate agent who, after asking his girlfriend Zooey (The Offices Rashida Jones) to marry him, painfully realizes his lack of male companionship. With only a few months before the wedding, Peter must begin the search for a real “guy-friend” to serve as best man at his wedding. After several awkward “man-dates,” Peter finally meets Sydney Fife (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall’s Jason Segel), a guitar playing, shorts wearing, bohemian who spends his time walking his dog, listening to Rush, and crashing fancy real estate open houses, which, oddly enough, is how our two everymen meet. From this point on, the testosterone filled twosome are inseparable and Peter’s frequent escapades begin getting in the way of quality time with his fiancée. Before you can say “wedding day jitters,” Peter must make a choice between the love of his life and his newfound friend before he loses both in the process.
First and foremost, this film might be the epitome of “it’s funny because it’s true,” humor. I found myself chuckling not because the characters or situations tried to be funny but because they naturally were. As a man I could identify with the struggle of fostering a good one-on-one male relationship and as I person I could understand the trouble of balancing time between friends and loved ones. But the heart of this film can be found in its actors. With the likes of Rudd and Segel manning (no pun indented) the helm and people like Jon Favreau, Jaime Pressly, and, the Incredible Hulk himself Lou Ferrigno playing the supporting cast, you know you’re in for both a good time and an honest performance.
“I Love You Man” may have issues with plot originality and a slight overabundance of product placement, but all in all, it depicts normal life and brotherly love as it honestly should be—awkward, bizarre, and rather funny.
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
The International
What do you get when you combine Clive Own, Naomi Watts, a couple of assassins, and a plot about a crooked international bank? Yawning. Making two hours feel like two days, “The International” features Owen and Watts as Interpol Agent Louis Salinger and Manhattan Assistant D.A. Eleanor Whitman, who are a mere witness away from taking down the IBBC, “The International Bank of Business and Credit.” As the plot turns like molasses, we find our two heroes chasing down the assassin who killed Salinger’s partner as well as several witnesses to the IBBC’s many crooked dealings. If Salinger and Whitman are going to convict the bank’s president Jonas Skarssen (played by Ulrich Thomsen), they’ll have to move fast, but sadly not fast enough for my liking.
“The International” tries desperately to be a mixed cocktail of globe trotting adventure, “Bourne” like action, and dry but sharp politically infused dialogue. What we get instead is more along the lines of a rated R version of “Where in the World is Carman Santiago?” with one really cool action scene featuring the Guggenheim Museum. Not only has the formula of this film been done before but it’s been done better and that’s really the rub.
Then of course we have the actors. While I enjoy Clive Owen most of the time, I feel like this flick simply gave him two hours to make grumpy faces. Also, is it just me or does he always had a scruffy five o’clock shadow in all his recent films? While Owen spends the film brooding, Naomi Watts just seems to be hanging around waiting for him to lead the way. I’d almost say that with a half an hour rewrite you could completely take her out of the picture and never notice a difference.
Lets also not forget what the film is all about—banks…powerful unstoppable banks. In the current economic climate, where financial Goliaths are dropping like flies and their stock market shares cost as much as a bottle of water, I really don’t think the majority of movie viewing audiences feel like paying ten dollars to watch what they read about everyday in the paper, if they can even afford to go to a movie…or buy a paper for that matter.
2 ½ out of 5 stars
Burn After Reading
In the new film “Burn After Reading,” there is a moment where George Clooney turns to actress Francis McDormand and asks, “Ya like surprises?” With a nod, McDormand cheerful replies, “Well, I’m always open to new experiences.” If anything, that is exactly what this film is – a new experience.
As the complex plot unfolds, Osbourne Cox, played by the always versatile John Malkovich, is a recently demoted CIA agent, who discovers that a disk containing his memoirs has been misplaced and then stolen by two gym instructors, Brad Pitt and McDormand. The plot thickens when a number of other characters enter the picture. In fact, this movie is so full of stars you might think you’re in a planetarium.
There’s Tilda Swinton as Osbourne’s wife, George Clooney as her lover, Richard Jenkins as the gyms manager and finally J.K. Simmons as a CIA bigwig.
Fresh from their best picture Oscar in “No Country for Old Men,” directors Ethan and Joel Coen have now created one of their most emotionally polarizing films. In its short ninety-six minute run, the film straps in its audience, leaving them to fend for themselves against each twisted tonal shift the story has to throw at them. One minute you’re laughing, the next your mouth drops in silent shock. Although this could have come off as sloppy in the hands of lesser filmmakers, the changes in story attitude are literally meant to put the audience in the same confusing state as the characters experiencing them, which is a tactic that can either be embraced or hated.
The main issue the film faces is giving rich characters room to breath. Yes they are funny and well played, but imagine what they could have done if let out of the “Cohan Brother Ranch” to graze in greener pastures. As is, every character seems to live with the same level of cynicism, no matter where they stand in the movies grand scheme of things, and none ever deviate from the jungle path the directors have already macheted through in such films as “Fargo” and “The Big Lebowski.”
At the end of the film, J.K Simmons’s CIA operative asks an associate what was learned from the films events. The associate gives a blank stare and mutters, “Um…I don’t know.” Simmons then shakes his head, sighs, and exclaims, “I don’t (expletive) know either.” Where other films are considered weak if plot resolution is not made completely clear, this one revels in the concept of not giving the audience what they want. “Burn After Reading” is certainly one sugary piece of candy that can’t be missed. Just be mindful of its sour center.
4 out of 5 stars
The Top Ten Films of 2008
10. The Incredible Hulk
Yeah, I’m going to get flack for this but I honestly enjoyed “The Incredible Hulk” more than the audience favored “Iron Man.” Maybe it was Edward Norton’s great portrayal of Bruce Banner or possibly because I really really hated the original “Hulk,” but either way, I found it to be a successful adaptation of a great comic book series.
9. Wall-E
Who thought you could feel so much sympathy for a little metal robot? Wall-E not only told a great tale of science fiction but also created some of the most beautiful animation I have ever seen.
8. Tropic Thunder
Rarely do I consider a vulgar, violent, and gross out comedy worth any top ten list, but Tropic Thunder made me laugh till I fell over. Robert Downey Jr. stole the show with the most politically uncorrected role in ages.
7. Slumdog Millionaire
Slumdog is one of few films to weave such a solid plot mostly through flashbacks. With an unknown cast to Americans, the film vibrates with new talent that I can only hope to see more out of.
6. Doubt
Talk about a powerhouse cast. Subtle sparks fly between Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams for the entire 104 minutes of the film and all they ever do is talk. While the story is fantastic, future acting students will treat this like a textbook.
5. Frost/Nixon
The best biopic of the year, Frost/Nixon is able to show both the political prowess and rarely seen humanity of the infamous Richard Nixon. While Michael Sheen does a creditable job as Frost, kudos goes mainly to Frank Langella for making Nixon more than just a slim caricature of the real man. Rarely have I seen such a great depiction of a publicly shamed individual doing his best to save the last amount of honor he has left.
4. In Bruges
Easily the best “under the radar” comedy/drama in a long time. Yeah, you’ve probably never heard of it, but the surprisingly funny Colin Farrall leads a cast through a laugh out loud, smash bang, and poignant story of hitman, midgets, and standards with fatal consequences.
3. The Dark Knight
I’ve got to show some love for this little gem. Though wrought with a somewhat irregular plotline and a Batman who could use a lozenge, “The Dark Knight” is still the best comic book movie there ever has been. And before you tar and father me for not mentioning it, Heath Ledger’s performance not only stole the show, but was the show. If somebody would have told me ten years ago that Patrick from “10 Thing I Hate About You” would make a great Joker, I would have laughed in their face. Boy, was I wrong.
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Loosely based on the short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” stands on it’s own as a great piece of storytelling. Rich with both interesting characters and gorgeous locations, this film plays to the gentlest spirits in all of us and shows how a life can really be lived to it’s fullest, even if lived backwards.
1. Synecdoche New York
Though not the most obvious choice for best film of 2008, Synecdoche New York, starring the always amazing Philip Seymour Hoffman, did something which is almost unheard of in today’s cinema—it made me think…for days. A mix of jumbled thought and events, Synecdoche New York tells the story of Caden Cotard, a theater director struggling with both work and woman as he attempts to create a life-size replica of New York for his newest play. If there is one thing I can promise, you will leave the theatre feeling numb with mixed emotions. Some will find this experience frustrating, others refreshing, but one thing is for sure, it certainly is unique.
Role Models
A few years ago, I spent a summer as the games director for my local “Boys and Girls Club” and, every so often, I’d find myself standing in a puddle of “only God knows what” starring at some unremorseful pipsqueak who deserved a good smack in the head. With that background, it’s easy to say that I, not only enjoyed “Role Models,” but also related to the awkward situations brought on when looking after someone half your age with twice your energy.
“Role Models” tells the story of salesmen Danny and Wheeler, who spend their days encouraging school kids to stay off drugs and drink their companies energy drink instead. When Danny, sardonically played by the always funny Paul Rudd, is dumped by his girlfriend, he and Wheeler (Seann Williams Scott) go on a energy drink bender, ending with Danny crashing the company truck into a city monument.
Given the choice between thirty days in jail or community service, the boys begin to help at Sturdy Wings, a “Big Brothers, Big Sisters” type program. There they meet their matches. Danny is teamed up with Augie Farks, “Superbad’s” Christopher Mintz-Plasse, who wears a cape, wields a foam sword, and participates in medieval fantasy role-playing, while Wheeler is given a short foul-mouthed menace named Ronnie (Bobb’e J. Thompson). As the movie pans out, the two reluctant teams begin to warm up to each other and the funny moments mix well with the poignant ones.
With the cast and the premise the way it is, you’d almost swear this film would have the name “Judd Apatow” attached to it somewhere, but that isn’t the case. In fact, this little flick is directed by David Wain, know by comedy aficionados as one of the members of “Stella,” and it follows much closer to his type of dry wit then the fouler more pop-cultured dialogue of an Apatow production. In fact, it’s this sarcastic dryness that sells the film for me.
Throughout the picture, both Danny and Wheeler have this unflinching correctivness, which is unleashed anytime someone says something stupid. Instead of berating the speaker, the characters simply repeat what was said and add the tiniest hint of sarcasm to it. Not only does this come off as funny, but also opens up the realization that much of the stuff said in life deserves an arch of the eyebrow and a quiet, “Really?”
Like some of the kids I’ve met at “Boys and Girls Club,” “Role Models” may be sometimes crass and juvenile but it does have its heart in the right place, and for that, you have to admire it.
3 out of 5 stars
Max Payne
Being a rather avid video gamer, I found myself, several years ago, sitting on my couch, X-Box controller in hand, playing Max Payne for the first time. Somewhere between the slow motion gunfights and the gravely voiceovers, I remember saying to myself, “You know, maybe this would make a good movie.” Of course, thanks to director John Moore and Marky Mark Wahlberg, I still may never know.
First and foremost, I sat down to see Max Payne already knowing it wasn’t going to meet my fanboy expectations. I had never once seen a video game adaptation that had truly satisfied my gaming heart and I didn’t expect to find the cure in this film either. In my head, I was going to see a movie, plain and simple, but, on those merits alone, I still wasn’t very impressed.
The storyline is hardly worth mentioning, since the complex video game plot has been stripped to its bare bones, making it just a rehashed plot you’ve already seen before. Basically, Max Payne loses everything when strung-out robbers kill his wife and infant. He then spends his life looking for “the man who got away,” shooting guns and looking depressed in the process. I could go on but what’s the point? The plot trips over itself too much to care if you are watching or not. And, if you are paying attention, you’re going to figure out the entire thing before our rouge detective can even put two and two together. So either the film gives too much away to its audience or Max Payne is an awful detective. I’d say it’s a little bit of both.
But the fun doesn’t stop there. For characters that have so much potential at being rich and interesting, I could have gotten the same performances out of cardboard cutouts. Wahlberg does what he can but everyone else seems to be completely out of place. There’s Mila Kunis from “That 70’s Show” pulling off her best emo assassin as Mona Sax, Beau Bridges giving off the worst “I’m old so I must be the mentor” vibe as BB Hensley and then finally rapper Ludacris playing basically…well, Ludacris as a cop.
But maybe I’m not allowed to complain much about performances when the actors had dialogue that could’ve been written by a first time screenwriter….oh wait…they did. Courtesy of newcomer Beau Thorne, the script had such classic cliché moments as the quick thinking Ludacris walking up to an office lobby desk and saying, “I need to see somebody about someone who used to work here.” Way to be general there detective Ludacris.
In the end, I am reminded of when Payne is shown sinking down into the icy ocean and his gravely voiceover comes in saying, “I don’t believe in Heaven.” Well, after watching Max Payne I might have to agree. If there were a God, this film would already be in the clearance rack.
1 ½ out of 5 stars