By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

INDIAN LAKE — Brian Wells has resigned from his position on the Indian Lake Central School Board of Education. His resignation was accepted when the board met on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

The resignation was required because of Wells having been elected Supervisor of the Town of Indian Lake and is due to assume his duties as supervisor starting Jan. 1.

Reacting to Wells resignation, the board decided to encourage anyone interested in being appointed to fill the vacancy created by Wells’ resignation to contact either Board President Jon Voorhees or District Clerk Dianna Wilder.

The board will then interview candidates and make a choice. The person chosen will then have the opportunity to run for the position in May to complete the remaining 3 years left on Wells’ position as a member of the BOE.

At last month’s meeting, Transportation Director George Virgil questioned the board on the wisdom of allowing teachers to transport children on field trips, using the school bus van and asked, “Do you want to continue this practice or not? But if something happens, I’m not at fault. I’m very uncomfortable with this but I will abide by your decision.”

At the December meeting, Virgil was informed the school had checked with its attorney and learned its insurance will cover the teachers.

Voorhees said, “We will continue to use the teachers for smaller events.”

Board Vice President Dave Harrington said “It will depend on circumstances with the final decision up to Mark (Superintendent Brand).”

Principal Dave Snide reported principals from Potsdam, Malone and Cobleskill central schools recently completed a two day visit to Indian Lake as part of the review process which could result in ILCS being selected by the NYS Education Department and the NYS Middle School Association as a Schools To Watch.

“Schools to Watch” are those who have distinguished themselves in academic excellence, developmental responsiveness, social equity, organization and structure.

Snide said, “We won’t know the results until March.”

Members of the Travel Club and the club’s advisor, Stephanie Bennett, came before the board seeking some direction on the type of trips they could take and the rules that might apply.

The club was particularly interested to know if taking a cruise would be allowed.

Brand said the board has the right to approve or disapprove any trip and set conditions.

Members of the board agreed cruises would be considered on a case by case basis and the club should use the school code of conduct as its guide for conditions.

Bennet said she hopes to have details of a possible trip by the spring.

Members of the French Club provided a Power Point slide show with photos of its November trip to the City of Quebec.

The following were approved as substitute teachers, pending fingerprint clearance: Nick Ameden, Thomas Fuller, Elizabeth Cannan, Theresa Low and Jessica Lashway-Bruso.

Work on the 2012/13 budget has started with some very tentative figures provided by Business Manager Louann Tetrault.

Tetrault told the board she believes they can keep the budget under the 2 percent tax levy increase if they set a goal of keeping the budget under a $90,000 increase.

The board will next meet on Tuesday, Jan. 17, starting at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.