The West Central Valley School Board met in regular session Wednesday.

The FFA Chapter presented their recent trip to the National Convention in Indianapolis last month. Along with Convention events and activities, the students had the opportunity to visit a cow and pig farm and complete service activities at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The students took away new outlooks on career paths, leadership skills, and other lifelong memorable experiences.

Then Spanish teacher Jessica Taylor presented her proposed Spanish trip to the Board. The Board approved the 2019 trip, even though the agricultural department already has a trip scheduled that year. Taylor gave her reason for creating the trip. “In my professional opinion these students were not given the education they deserved, specifically my Spanish III students. They are falling behind and they were also promised a Peru trip that did not happen. So these students are lacking experience that would change their world forever.”

Taylor and her students will allow the ag department time to fundraise for their trip before conducting large fundraisers for the Spanish trip. The two-week trip will cost just under $4,500 per student. The middle and high school principals then presented their respective academic status reports. Board member Jenyse Belden discussed the possibility of easing the academic transition between eighth and ninth grade, as she currently sees a large performance disparity between the two grade levels.

The Board also discussed the following items: modified allowable growth funding requests, the possibility of auctioning off an old tractor, confidentiality in regards to the superintendent search, and Middle School HVAC controls. The meeting concluded with a presentation from attorney Brian Gruhn on Board meeting rules in regulations in response to a complaint filed against the Board.