The Eastern Pulaski School Corporation held their regular day-time meeting Monday, and Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman says one of the things they’re most proud of is the progress they’re making with their kindergarten program. Klitzman says that seven students are picked at random to showcase their reading skills to the board members by reading to them.
The Eastern Pulaski School Corporation and the Town of Winamac are working together to construct a safe route to school. Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman explains where the route would be located.
“It’s the dovetail off the pathway trail that used to be the railroad tracks that they made into very nice bicycle, running and walking path,” said Dr. Klitzman. “What they want to do is take roadways from that pathway that lead to school and do everything they can to make it safe and useable. It’s a wellness thing. That’s so students can walk, or run, or ride their bike safely to school.”
This is the last year that an instructor from Eastern Pulaski Schools will be teaching a Driver’s Education course during the regular school day. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said this was a planned move on the school board’s part.
“This was decided a couple of years ago to phase it out,” explained Dr. Klitzman. “Driver’s Ed teacher, Mr. Nick Tribby, has already signed up with an outside company and is in fact teaching Driver’s Ed in the evenings and after school. Another one of our teachers, Mr. Casey Hines, has signed up. It will not be through Winamac High School. It will be through this new company that does this, but there will still be those opportunities for the driver’s training program.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board got an update this week on teacher evaluation training from Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman.
“It’s very complex and it’s brand new,” stated Dr. Klitzman. “Before you can evaluate any teachers, you need to go through a series of training. There are four training sessions and we have now gone through two of them. It’s designed to give feedback, very specifically, with data, with evidence, on what a teacher is doing and how they can perhaps do something differently to have a greater impact on student learning, or highlight, celebrate and recognize the good things they are doing. Ultimately, these evaluations are going to be tied to their compensation.”
Several donations have been made by businesses and individuals toward the acquisition of a new grand piano for the music department at the Winamac High School. Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said the Winamac Music Boosters’ quest is moving along.
Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent, Dr. Robert Klitzman, says the school board made a decision this week concerning the number of semesters at the high school.
The Eastern Pulaski Schools, which has for a number of years has been on a tri-semester system, is considering going to a traditional two semester school year.
Eastern Pulaski School Corporation is one of only two systems in the state that are on a fiscal year budget. The rest are on calendar year.
Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said that the board received and approved the budget for the year this week. The budget will begin in July of 2012.
“Senator Charbonneau called and I talked with him and he is interested in looking at some legislation that would have all schools move towards a fiscal year budget,” said Dr. Klitzman. “When you stop and think about it, you call it a fiscal year budget, but really it’s a school year budget. We start a school year in August and our budget starts in July so there’s some benefits to it. On the other side of it, I do understand why some folks don’t want to change. It’s something they’re used to and they do it as a routine and as we all know change is difficult and quite frankly, I don’t think it’ll get changed. What I’m most interested in is that they leave us alone and we can do our projects the way we want to and so far they’ve done that. If they want to change I’m all for it.”
The Eastern Pulaski School Corporation met in regular session during the day Monday. This was one of two school board meetings held each year during the day so the school board members can tour a school. The meeting Monday was held in the Middle-High School Building.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board held a Public Hearing regarding the Corporation’s fiscal-year budget.
“At our last meeting in November, there was a work session with the Board and went through the entire budget – every account, every fund – and then asked for authorization to advertise. That’s all by statute. We did have the Public Hearing and from this point on, we will go to our January meeting and I will ask the Board to approve the budget. At that time, I’ll send it into the state,” said Superintendent, Dr. Robert Klitzman.
Eastern Pulaski School Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman compiled data that compares the tax rates of the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation and schools in the area. He gave that report to the Board.
The Winamac High School currently works on tri-semesters instead of two semesters, but Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said that may change.
“We’re on tri-semesters and that’s been a very good approach for us in scheduling classes for our high school students but the State has really put a monkey wrench into that process in that the State Assessments do not follow the tri-semester schedule very well. Our students are having to take the State Assessment which has a lot of meaning. So, we’re looking to see if the best fit now for our students and their performance would be a typical two semester program versus the three semester. I’ve been working with the high school staff through their curriculum leaders and gathering input as to what makes sense.”
The Eastern Pulaski School Board discussed its fiscal year budget at their recent meeting and gave Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman permission to advertise the budget.
The Singing Hoosiers show choir will perform in concert in Winamac at 2:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, November 13th at the Winamac Community High School Socialtorium. Several Winamac High School singers are, or have been, a member of this choir. The Singing Hoosiers have a 60 year history and the group has appeared with such legendary entertainers as Bob Hope, Alan Sherman, Red Buttons, Tony Bennett, Duke Ellington, and Indiana’s favorite son Hoagy Charmichael.
The Winamac High School Drama Department will present the comedy CONDITIONS tonight and tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. ET in the Winamac High School Socialtorium.
CONDITIONS is a comedy where Grandma Wallobee’s grandson and her secretary may inherit $10 million of her estate each, only if they agree to be married. Complications arise as the housekeeper threatens to quit her job over not receiving the inheritance, the secretary’s boyfriend wants to propose to her, add an obsessive roommate and a greedy granddaughter who tries to manipulate her way into the inheritance.
Even though we think of public education as being free, there are books, supplies, and meals that students need to fund. If a family has a number of children, those expenses can add up fast. At Eastern Pulaski schools, Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman says a Helping Hands program has been established to help those children whose families find it difficult to fund their needs.
To school systems around the state, the Average Daily Membership (ADM) figures are important because enrollment is a factor in how much money schools get in their funding.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board learned this week that only 4% of the 2011 Winamac High School graduating class are not in some type of post secondary training, or working at a job.
Industry isn’t the only thing in Pulaski County with a positive outlook; education may also be receiving a shot in the arm thanks to Ivy Tech Kokomo. Through their Logansport campus, Ivy Tech had previously conducted classes at the Winamac High School for some time, but they ran into a snag. The administrative support staff could only be at the school until the guidance offices closed at 4:00 p.m. This caused a number of issues, particularly since the classes took place at night when no support staff was present.
The Eastern Pulaski School Board placed Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman on contractual probation for the next year. The Board has agonized over what disciplinary action to take following Dr. Klitzman’s arrest for operating a vehicle with an alcohol content over the legal limit in July.
The Superintendent called the whole matter “humbling” and vowed to follow the Board’s action.
