ELNORA — The North Daviess school board approved several personnel appointments and gave superintendent Bob Bell permission to advertise the 2009 budget during its monthly meeting on Monday.

With all board members present, Bell requested and received permission to advertise a 2009 budget rate slightly more than $1.66. Bell explained that figure was lower than last year’s figure due to changes made during the last session of the Indiana General Assembly which transferred certain financial obligations previously placed on school corporations to the state, thus reducing property taxes.

However, an increase in the state sales tax that took affect earlier this year as a part of the plan to help offset the reductions in property taxes now makes school corporations more reliant on the health of the state’s economy and less reliant on property taxes.

The board also accepted the retirement of longtime North Daviess Junior-Senior High School science teacher Merle Callahan. Bell, however, said after advertising the job and receiving little in the way of applications for the position, he is hopeful Callahan will be rehired.

In other business

Auxiliary gym

Bell told the board that completion of the new auxiliary gym has been delayed due to the wrong size of basketball goals being made for the project. New goals will have to be made and installed, after which the gym floor can be installed, a delay which will likely push completion of the project into September.

Open house

North Daviess Elementary Principal Jodi Berry invited the board and public to an open house at her school from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday.

Dr. Suellen Reed

North Daviess Junior-Senior High School Principal Jed Jerrels said Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Suellen Reed will visit ND on Aug. 19 to look at the school’s 21st Century high school program.

Non- certified Appointments

The board approved by a 5-0 vote the following non-certified appointments: Heather Harp and Cassie Collins, Title I paraprofessional; Ronetta Bough, food service director/head cook; and Lora Bechtel, head cook at the elementary school.

Extracurricular appointments

The board approved by a 5-0 vote the following Extracurricular appointments: Ann Gainey, BETA club sponsor; John Mokris, varsity boys tennis coach; Cami Jeffers, eight grade volleyball coach; Shaya Smith, volunteer coach for the high school volleyball program; Nicole Willis and Deanna Gingrich, volunteer coaches for the junior high volleyball program; Glenna Jolliff, volunteer coach for the volleyball program; John Wood, volunteer coach for junior high football; Sarah Chapin, volunteer coach for junior high cheerleading; Alan and Deanna Callison, volunteer coaches for cross country; and Just Say No sponsor’s Cory Parsons, Laura Gress and Erin Dahl.