London Academy: Alder named board member
By Dean Shipley
Staff Writer
The Board of the London Academy on Monday filled its final remaining vacancy. Following an interview in executive session with Phyllis Alder, the board voted unanimously to accept Alder as its fifth board member.
Alder has resided in Madison County for approximately 20 years. Alder, who has a BSN in nursing from the Ohio State University and is certified in utilization and quality review. She said with her experience in business and management and medical records review, Alder feels she brings “a different slant to things.”
She currently performs utilization and quality review for Medicaid and Medicare contracts.
“I am very impressed with her background,” said Pat Cooper, president of the Board of London Academy. “She brings to the board something that no one else has: a health education background. She’ll be able to teach our students good health habits.”
Cooper added that she is excited about Alder’s wealth of experience from other boards she has served on in the London area.
“I’m looking forward to picking her brain for ideas from all that knowledge,” Cooper said optimistically.
In her report, principal Adelle Faulkner said at present the academy has 72 students who stand within “five or six hours of graduation.” Those students must also pass the OGT test to be eligible for graduation. She said of those 72, 14 students are working on diplomas from American Schools, a curriculum based in Illinois. The board approved them for diplomas upon successful completion of credit requirements as set forth by the state.
Graduation date has been set for May 24, 2012.
In her report to the BOE, treasurer Christine Blind, said she has been able to separate “as much as possible” accounting for London Academy from London City Schools. She said that is “as it should be.” She admits some areas, when she first began her analysis were “very gray,” which she found “frustrating.”
She said in presenting her five-year forecast the “budget looks solid.” Her estimate for a cash balance at the end of fiscal year 2012 is $316,622.
In other business, the London Academy BOE:
• Approved the student handbook for the year. It will be printed in booklet form by Wilson Printing and Graphics.
• Re-hired Kevin Caserta as academy physical education teacher. He has been in the position since 2006 and is paid a per diem rate of $260/day. Faulkner said the academy is required to have a physical education teacher on the staff. Faulkner said Caserta has devised a rubric for his students, which she finds acceptable. Students are required to have a half-credit of physical education in order to graduate.
• Approved putting unneeded furniture up for auction. Faulkner said a date has to be set by the board for the auction to take place. She is also awaiting information from London city Safety Service Director Steve Hume about an online auction, which could be an option.
