As Rich Ballard, North Dearborn Elementary School principal, described the March 7 Empowering Young Women Conference held at the school, he announced a celebrity would be speaking at next year’s event.

He told Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corp. trustees March 12 the goal of this third annual program was to “give young girls tools to cope with growing up .... It was a wonderful event,” with 120 attendees.

He added, “My niece, who is Miss America (Katie Stam), is committed to being there next year.”

Refer-ring to a petition signed by 1,058 teachers, parents and/or taxpayers asking trustees to drop a lawsuit recently filed against teachers who called in sick Nov. 14, 2008, that was presented at the Feb. 19 meeting, Larry Sandman, husband of an SDCSC educator, asked, “Is the board going to respond to those people in one way or another?”

President Kim Weber said she couldn’t talk about it in this public forum, but there will be a mediation meeting between the board and Sunman-Dearborn Education Association officials Monday, March 30.

Sandman emphasized, “I hope the board is taking the petition seriously.”

Jim Singer, Indiana State Teachers Association UniServ director, stated, “We do appreciate the opportunity to meet one on one with the board on March 30 .... We hope we will at least have an open dialogue (with them).” He noted that the lawsuit, unresolved contract negotiations and other issues will be discussed at that time.

Diane Raver can be contacted at 812-934-4343, Ext. 114; or diane.raver@ batesvilleheraldtribune.com.