The southern Rush County community of Milroy, which recently hosted a large celebration, has yet another reason to be proud.

Carol Holzback, a fifth- and sixth-grade history teacher at Milroy Elementary, has been named the 2009 Gilder-Lehrman Preserve America Indiana History Teacher of the Year. She is now in the running for national recognition.

Rush County Schools Superintendent Dr. John Williams recognized and praised Holzback at this week’s meeting of the local school board.

“We congratulate you and are very proud of this accomplishment,” Dr. Williams said.

Holzback was nominated for the honor by long-time Milroy teacher Nancy Mitchell. She thanked Mitchell as well as the school corporation and Milroy principal Sue Lebo for supporting the history program at Milroy Elementary.

Arlington Elementary principal Julie Innis presented information about a new approach to kindergartners’ report cards throughout the local school system.

Working with RCS kindergarten teachers and with input from throughout the state Innis has drafted an updated, more comprehensive, curriculum- and standards-based report card which she said does a better job of assessing a student’s comprehension of lessons and mastery of skills.

Dr. Williams commended Innis and the teachers she worked with for their time and effort.

In other news, the board

n learned that progress is being made with respect to construction of new elementary schools in Arlington and Milroy;

n learned that a $54,000 grant is in the works to help with arsenic remediation at Mays Elementary;

n heard from RCHS principal Matt Vance that efforts to establish a radio station at the local high school continue, but that it doesn’t appear students will be broadcasting until sometime next year;

n were reminded that Sept. 18 is “count day,” the day the state counts the number of students at each school, information which is used to when computing funding for local schools;

n approved advertising for technology bids at the new elementary schools;

n approved an athletic trainer agreement with Rush Memorial Hospital, the terms of which are the same as last year;