Saturday, April 20, 2024
SCS Board Discusses Proposed Cell Phone Policy Changes
Shelbyville Central Education Foundation director Andy Snow, left, delivers a $20,000 donation at Wednesday’s board meeting to SCS board president Troy Merrick to help jumpstart the daycare program for children of staff members. Six children are registered so far for the program, which begins next school year. “That is a huge help to us to get this program started,” Superintendent Dr. Matt Vance said. | photo by ANNA TUNGATE
The Shelbyville Central Schools board held a work session Wednesday to discuss proposed changes to student handbooks for next academic year. While some proposed revisions were technical in nature, middle school and high school administrators are looking to further restrict cell phone use in class. The team of principals and assistant principals recently visited with a consultant to better understand the effects of social media and phones.
“What role does a phone have in school? It’s hard to answer that it’s anything academic,” SMS principal Wes Hall said in a presentation to the board.
Students currently are not permitted to use their phones in class, so the school already meets new state legislative guidelines, but administrators are proposing students now place phones in clear caddies at the front of the classroom before each class and retrieve them afterward to remove the temptation. In a recent internal study at the school, advanced math students collectively received 492 notifications and eight calls to their devices during just two class periods.
“It was everything from Snapchat, TikTok, ESPN and Discord, which is like a message board,” Hall said. “Having the phone on their person is distracting.” He added that some sixth grade students have had active Facebook accounts for up to five years.
SMS has piloted the caddy system in two classes over the past two months with success, administrators said.
“We want to return the focus to academics. We also want a balance,” Hall said.
The proposal allows phones to continue to be used during passing periods. While SHS students would still be allowed to use their phones at lunch, SMS students would not. Use of school iPads would still be permitted at lunch, but eliminating phones will help ensure students use their lunch time to socialize and eat rather than just play games.
The approach mirrors several other schools’ recent adjustments to cell phone policies.
“I’ve not talked to a single school that said they really regretted taking (away) cell phones,” Hall said, noting that the assistant principals’ days are often filled with resolving conflicts between students that arise over social media.
Other than the lunchtime policy, cell phone policies for students in grades 6 to 12 would be the same.
“I think the key to remember here is that the high school is following the law; the middle school is taking it one step further,” Superintendent Dr. Matt Vance said.
While the elementary schools will formalize existing guidelines regarding cell phones in next year’s handbook, Loper Elementary Principal Adam Harpring said phones are not a major problem for elementary students during school hours.
Board members asked several clarifying questions, including concerns about placing enforcement on teachers.
After marking sections for further review, administrators will revise the policy before submitting for board consideration next month.
During the regular meeting, the SCS board approved adding wifi access on five buses, with the possibility of expanding to 30. The initial installation will focus on activity buses and those that make extracurricular trips. The idea is to provide students with access for the purpose of completing homework on longer bus rides.
The board also approved a retirement and several staffing changes, noted in Thursday’s edition. Board member David Finkel said that retiring SMS science teacher Paul Ashbrook would be missed. “Had it not been for him, my daughter would not have entered the sciences,” Finkel said.
NOTEBOOK:
The Blue River Highland Games will be held Saturday, May 18 at the Shelby County Fairgrounds. The deadline for athletes to register is next week. Some of the events include heavy weight for distance, light weight for distance, open stone and many more. Entrance for spectators will be $5. See more information here…
NATIONAL NEWS: A proposed class-action suit has been filed in Texas against movie theater chain Cinemark, lodging the allegation that Cinemark’s 24-ounce cups are, upon inspection, only capable of holding 22 ounces of liquid. While the movie industry has struggled, Cinemark did post their highest level of concession sales of all time last year, as concessions are where theaters are able to get the highest margin, as seen by the $8.80 price paid by the plaintiff for the supposedly 24 ounces of liquid. (The Hollywood Reporter/Numlock)
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This Day in Shelby County History
2014: The Shelbyville High School Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2014 was announced, which included Phil Brown, Harry Larrabee and Charles O’Connor. Brown was a 1954 graduate of SHS and had been practicing law for 54 years, even though a recent abrupt onset of pulmonary fibrosis that sidelined him. Brown’s father, Warren, hadn’t been able to afford law school back in the early 1930s, so he became a legal secretary, then took and passed the bar exam. The father-son team worked together for 25 years before Warren retired in 1987. Phil’s son, Doug, worked with him for a while after graduating from law school. Brown and his wife, high school sweetheart Nancy, raised their sons, Doug and Matt, here. (More on Larrabee and O’Connor in upcoming editions.)
2004: After 25 years of providing services to at-risk youth, the Shelby County Youth Center announced it would close at the end of May. The primary reason the center would close was financial. Changes at the state level had affected the center’s funding.
1994: Tire dumping had become a major issue throughout the county. Over a two week period, about 75 tires had been dumped on one side of Sugar Creek near CR 600W, with another 15 and a couch dumped into the creek. Sixty tires had been dumped into the creek about four miles upstream. Caldwell Landfill in Morristown handled clean-up.
1984: The Shelbyville K-Mart held a grand re-opening. Updated departments included cards and party goods, kitchen, domestics center, electronics, sporting goods, automotive accessories and health and beauty aids. New layouts had been installed for fashion apparel areas. The local store had 60 employees.
1974: Over 1,100 local students went to the Shrine Circus in Indianapolis for the 18th consecutive year. The event included all sixth grade students from county schools and St. Paul to the State Fairgrounds Coliseum and Girl Scouts. The trip had been organized by Martin Luther, Lawrence McCarty, Millard Stroup, Howard Wise, Maurice Hart and Jack Pope.
1964: Four Shelbyville High School students and a student from Waldron High School received scholarships distributed by SHS principal James Sharp: John Borst, Honorary Merit Scholarship; Larry Bachman, Rose Polytechnic Institute scholarship; Thomas Trueb and John Shambach, Merit Scholarships; and John Gahimer, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Foundation scholarship. All of the boys planned to attend Rose Poly in Terre Haute.
1954: The newly installed lights at the city dog pound failed to deter someone from letting out all of the dogs at night. Mayor Banawitz stated that such “pilfering” could be a “serious catastrophe” since some of the dogs were likely infected with rabies. The mayor said rabies would lead to “the most horrible death known to medical science” for someone who had been bitten.
1944: A program was held in honor of the eight local men about to leave for service in the Navy. George Yarling, himself a Navy man from World War I, spoke at the occasion. The young men were Robert Pruitt, Harry Callahan, Albert Rayl, Walter Adams, Peter Lux Jr., Thomas Evans, Kenneth Brokering and Earl Hites Jr.
1934: The annual Forty Hours Adoration was conducted at St. Joseph church. The event was a special continued prayer of adoration, thanksgiving, reparation and petition.
1924: “Men of Shelbyville should stop gambling on baseball,” The Republican said. “It takes away the true sportsmanship, besides the gambling losses of married men cause their families to be deprived of things. The average person of Shelbyville should learn to live within his means. Housewives should not buy things which they really do not need just because they are able to purchase them on installment payments.”
1914: Sanitary Meat Dressing was taught to Shelbyville High School girls, but the class proved too much for Helen Snodgrass, who fainted. The class involved the butchering of a steer, performed by Charles Flaitz. “The High School girls lined up along the wall to watch the progress of the animal over the bridge of sighs and followed with interesting eyes the taking off of the hide, and the process of dividing the carcass until it was finally ready for the cooler.”
OBITUARIES
Drew Harlan Shrader, 19, of Shelbyville, passed away, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Johnson County, Indiana. He was born November 18, 2004, in Franklin, the son of Barry Harlan and Holly Lynn (Smelser) Shrader.
Drew is survived by his parents of Shelbyville; brothers, Shayne Robbins of Manilla, and Zach Shrader of Shelbyville; sister, Jordan Shrader (Seth Powers), of Shelbyville; maternal grandfather, Ronald Smelser of Shelbyville; paternal grandmother, Cindy Shrader of Shelbyville; uncles, James Tweedy (Beth), Scott Shrader (Sarah) and Gary Shrader; aunts, Heather Smelser and Rhonda Shrader; niece, Olivia; nephews, Noah and Sam; and a whole herd of cousins, extended family and friends (which were like family). He also leaves behind his three German Shepherds, Koda, Willow and his companion dog, Rose and his cat, Zeus. Drew was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Penny Smelser; and paternal grandfather, Wallace “Dub” Shrader.
He was a graduate of the Excel Center in Shelbyville. Drew attended the Shelbyville First Church of the Nazarene. He was currently employed at FedEx. Drew was a motorcycle stunt rider and loved spending every free moment riding with his friends. He lived and loved life. He was very active in the Christian Outreach Group “Ride 4 Life”, a motorcycle group that travels around the country and spreads the gospel.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Shelbyville First Church of the Nazarene, 2315 S. Riley Highway, in Shelbyville. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m., Monday, at the church, with the Rev. Dr. Steve Bohall officiating. Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Memorial contributions may be made to Ride 4 Life Ministries, 4879 Kelly Avenue, Rootstown, OH 44272. Online condolences may be shared with Drew’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
Dr. Karen Ann (Nieman) Rupp, 42, of Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, formerly of Shelby County, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2024, at her home. Lieutenant Colonel Karen A. Rupp is Chief of Aerospace Medicine at the 354th Medical Group (MDG), 354th Fighter Wing (FW), Eielson Air Force Base (AFB), Alaska. Lt Col Rupp was charged with overseeing Aerospace Medicine Operations, Public Health, and Occupational Medicine at Eielson AFB. Prior to her current assignment she was the Chief of Aerospace Medicine at Shaw AFB, South Carolina.
She was born February 20, 1982, in Greensburg, the daughter of Paul A. Nieman and Mary Jo (Mauer) Nieman. On September 10, 2011, she married Joseph Abraham “Joe” Rupp, and he survives.
In addition to Joe, Karen is survived by her parents; daughters, Margaret Rose Rupp, Elizabeth Lucille Rupp and Mary Ruth Rupp, all of Alaska; sons, George Arthur Rupp and Thomas John Rupp, both of Alaska; sisters, Lynn Marie Roberts and husband, Nathan, of Greenwood and Megan Kathleen Nieman-Davis and husband, Jeremy, of Lafayette; brothers, John Paul Nieman and wife, Debbie, of St. Paul and Peter Joseph Nieman of Idaho Falls, Idaho; mother-in-law, Sharon Kay Rupp of Greensburg; brother-in-law, John Arthur Rupp and wife, Mary Elizabeth, of Columbus; sister-in-law, Nicole Lynn (Rupp) Johannigman and husband, William Carl, of Milhousen; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father-in-law, George Harold Rupp and brother-in-law, Timothy Scot Rupp.
Karen graduated from Waldron High School in 2000. Lt. Col Rupp received her commission in 2004 with a Health Professions Scholarship to study medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. She received her Doctor of Medicine in 2009 and completed a transitional internship at St Francis Hospital in Evanston, Illinois. She was awarded her flight surgeon wings in 2010 and served as a staff physician at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Lt. Col Rupp then received her master’s in public health at Wright State University and completed residencies in Aerospace Medicine at USAF School of Aerospace Medicine, Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio and Family Medicine at Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.
She was a member of Our Lady of the Skies Catholic Church in Alaska. Karen, as well as, some of her children were baptized at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Shelbyville.
Karen was the SGP at Eielson Air Force Base and was double-board certified in family medicine and aerospace medicine. She was a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Karen was an extremely knowledgeable and motivated Senior Flight Surgeon, she was willing to face the most difficult challenges with a smile. From flying operational missions in diverse aircraft to taking care of patients, Karen was always there and ready to support. She was an excellent educator and had trained three new flight surgeons this year.
She was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and Air Force Commendation Medal. Karen had also authored several medical publications.
Karen gave countless hours to the community. She was a USA Girl Scout volunteer and co-leader. She took scouts of all ages through patches, camping, science projects, and on excursions.
She was preparing to become a Squadron Commander in the summer of 2024.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. The rosary will be recited at 3:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am, Friday, April 26, 2024, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 4218 E. Michigan Road, Shelbyville, with Father Mike Keucher officiating. Interment will be at Saint Vincent de Paul Catholic Cemetery in Shelbyville.
Services have been entrusted to Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 819 S. Harrison St. in Shelbyville. Online condolences may be shared with Karen’s family at www.freemanfamilyfuneralhomes.com.
William Louis Gossett Sr., 68, of Shelbyville, passed away Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at his residence. Born July 9, 1955 in Bowling Green, Kentucky, he was the son of Carroll W. Gossett and Elizabeth Louise (Gordon) Gossett.
Survivors include a daughter, April Gossett of Shelbyville; two sons, William Gossett Jr. of Rushville and Travis Gossett of Owensboro, Kentucky; a sister, Carolyn Hahn of Shelbyville; nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother.
Mr. Gossett had lived in this area for most of his lifetime and graduated from Rushville Consolidated High School. He had been employed as a welder/fabricator with Pitt-Des Moines Inc. for several years. William loved his cowboy hat, and his beloved cats, and enjoyed talking about his work, but most of all he loved spending time with his family.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Online condolences may be shared at glennegeorgeandson.com.