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School board holds elections, discusses new algebra teaching concept

The annual election of the Huntington County Community School Corporation Board of Trustees officers was held at the beginning of the Monday, July 20, meeting.

Serving as president again for the next year is Kevin Patrick. He was voted in 6-0, with board member Rick Brubaker absent.

Serving as vice president again for the next year is Brubaker, Rex Baxter was appointed secretary and Shelia Howe will be treasurer with David McKee serving as deputy treasurer, all by unanimous votes.

The stipend for board members was kept the same, $2,000 annually.

Replacing Scott Hoffman as legislative liaison will be Dr. Jennifer Goff.

The bid opening committee was kept the same, made up of Troy Smart and Goff.

The common wage committee member is McKee.

During the meeting, Patrick read a letter about the Huntington North girls' cross country team's Run/Walk for a Reason that took place July 10 to benefit Huntington North student trainer Valerie Stout. He applauded the community's efforts as well as those of the students.

The benefit raised more than $5,300 for the Stout family, Patrick added.

A presentation made by Huntington North High School Principal Jeremy Gulley and Assistant Principal Micah Thomas was titled "Algebra That Works."

The presentation was an overview of how to get students to better grasp Algebra I concepts. It is being used by a school in Danville, which now has a better success rate in algebra, said Gulley.

Huntington North administrators have visited the school to observe how the program works.

Thomas said Danville's main motto is "Success breeds success for students and teachers alike." He said their grading system is made of A, B, C and NY (not yet graded) so students are not allowed to fail.

He also says the school has more regrouping time than Huntington North, so learning is based on achievement, not ability.

The way to begin the program is to get rid of all lower level math classes under Algebra I except, Thomas said, some lab classes that will be necessary for at-risk students. Once a student is placed in Algebra I, he or she does not move on until each concept is understood. This better prepares the students for geometry and Algebra II, Thomas adds.
He says National Honor Society students will be available to tutor students during homeroom.

"We're trying to provide extra support for students," Gulley said.

Research is still being done to incorporate "Algebra That Works" into the school for this coming school year, which Thomas and Gulley said is the goal.