“The enrollment in the preschool program is now up to thirteen students in each class – one class in the morning and one class in the afternoon. Three of those students are new students who entered the class as the result of the recent Kindergarten Roundup,” said Gappa.
Those students will be entering kindergarten this August with the rest of the kindergarten students.
The Knox Community School Board this week recognized High School Assistant Principal Mike Bendicsen for a notable education achievement. Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that Mike Bendicsen finished his educational doctorate through Oakland City University.
“This was a time for the board to bring him in and give him the credit he deserves for going through that process and obtaining that degree,” stated Gappa.
The Whatever it Takes Committee held an Open House Tuesday night at the Knox Community Elementary School in order to inform those attending of the proposed construction project on the May 7 ballot. Superintendent A.J. Gappa went over the specific problem areas in the 60-year-old Palmer Wing and how the project would be funded.
“I showed them the highlights of the problems with the HVAC units and the electrical system that’s maxed out,” said Gappa. “Door number seven fell in last year into a tunnel beneath it and we had to have that fixed. We also talked about wall separation in certain areas where the foundation is separating from the walls and the boiler system is outdated and in constant need of repair.”
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said a 14-passenger mini-bus will be purchased.
“This bus will be wheelchair-equipped,” explained Gappa. “The reason we wanted to move now was because the price of mini-buses will increase next month so we did beat the price increase. The recommendation was for a Collins mini-bus.”
The bus will be delivered this summer.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said some of the students were nationally certified in using the flexograph machine.
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa brought the school board up to speed on the progress of the preschool class that will begin April 2.
“We have 23 students that have been tested and found to be eligible,” stated Gappa. “We have 12 signed up for the morning session and 11 in the afternoon session. We are providing transportation for the morning session. We will reevaluate that later to see if that could be added also for the afternoon session.”
New furniture will be installed this week during spring break.
“Supplies have been ordered and everybody’s been positive so far. The kids seem eager to go to school and the parents are all behind it 100 percent,” Gappa explained.
“Teachers will return Aug. 12 and students will return on Aug. 13 which is a Tuesday,” explained Gappa. “The last day of school, if everything goes according to plan, would be May 29 with the records day on May 30. Commencement would be Friday, June 6, 2014. There would be two weeks off at Christmastime and three days off for Thanksgiving break. Good Friday next year will fall on April 18 so that is not part of spring break. We also have three contingency days built into the calendar for snow days.”
“Mr. Ryan Marsh, a second grade teacher, and two of his students came to the board meeting and talked about the success they’re having with reading incentives that are going on in Mr. Marsh’s class,” explained Gappa. “A clip was played from the newscast that afternoon from WSBT that showed all of the elementary students in the gym being read to by one of their newscasters. They also watched a follow up with some of the students in the office talking with the WSBT personnel.”
Some of the board members had not seen the clip and they enjoyed the review the students gave during the meeting.
The board also received board policies for review.
“The board received a set of NEOLA policies and guideline recommendations for updates and revisions. The board will bring those back to discuss them at the next board meeting and we probably will adopt revisions and updates at the first board meeting in April,” stated Gappa.
In light of Todd Boldry’s permanent surrender of his teaching license, Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the Knox Community School Board Monday night approved his resignation as an educator at the Knox Middle School.
“Todd Boldry’s resignation had been submitted by his lawyer and the board did accept it,” said Gappa. “His position had been filled by a teacher on a temporary contract from the time he was suspended earlier this school year,” said Gappa.
“It’s funded by our Title 1 funds, which is a federal grant program for schools that have a high percentage of free and reduced lunch students,” explained Gappa. “We’re presently screening students so if parents have children that they think might fit the program they can contact Jana Hazelton at the Knox Elementary School and set up a screening appointment.”
Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that the issue surrounded the public question that will be offered to voters in the Knox school district in May.
A Knox High School Junior was recognized by the school board during the Spotlight on Success portion of their meeting.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that Emily Burton received a high academic honor.
“Emily won the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) award for Aspirations in Computing,” said Gappa. “Emily was among 20 students who won the Aspirations in Computing award in the Indiana affiliate membership. There were 1800 applications nationwide and only three national award winners. Emily was also runner-up for the national award.”
Burton recently attended a dinner and awards banquet in Indianapolis where she received a $250 cash award, trophies and other items for her accomplishment.
“We’re creating a Title One Preschool program at the Knox Elementary School, so the board did approve the transfer of kindergarten teacher, Jana Hazelton, to become the preschool teacher. They also approved the hire of Robyn Griffith to be the preschool paraprofessional in that classroom. Marla Krulik was hired to be the kindergarten teacher to replace Jana Hazelton for the rest of the current school year,” stated Gappa.
We’ll have more on the upcoming preschool program in a future newscast.
The Knox Community School Board was updated on the public question that will be presented to voters in the school district on May 7. Superintendent A.J. Gappa gave this status to the school board members.
“The DLGF did approve the ballot language to be placed on the referendum ballot so that information now goes to the local county election board who will have a meeting to adopt that resolution and move forward from there,” said Gappa.
“Mrs. Hazelton brought in five of her cheerleaders who talked about the efforts that they made for the American Cancer Society last fall,” said Gappa. “They made over $1,800 to donate to the cancer fund.”
Gappa added that most of the money was collected in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The Knox Community School Corporation’s School Messenger program is now up and running. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the program will be helpful in alerting students, staff and parents about school emergencies.
“That’s the service that will report, by text message and email, school messages such as school delays or closings or other important information that would come from the school,” said Gappa.
The Knox Community School Board approved a motion to place a public question on the ballot in May for voters in the school district regarding the proposed elementary school project.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said no community member spoke out against the project in a public hearing held on Dec. 3 regarding the proposed project, so the issue now goes to the voters.
The Knox Community School Corporation will soon be implementing a new program that will enhance communications between the three schools, parents, guardians and patrons.
School Messenger will be utilized to help get the message out to subscribed patrons about important school events such as closings or delays or school emergencies. Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that a mass text message will be sent out on Monday, Jan. 14.
