Knox School Board Spotlights Porter-Starke Counseling

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members spotlighted the high school’s Porter-Starke Counseling Program at their meeting this week. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said High School Assistant Principal Michael Bendicsen is on the Porter-Starke Board and he helped initiate this program for students in need.

“Mr. Bendicsen did report that he knew of at least ten students that had taken advantage of and had been helped by this program. A number of other students might have been helped but they can go other directions besides Porter-Starke as he reported. He wanted to also point out that the services are available not just the high school but in the other buildings. So far, the high school is the only one that has been able to take advantage of the services that are being offered,” said Gappa.

Knox School Board Discusses Budget Cuts

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board held a public hearing on the budget Monday night. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said there were no comments on the budget and the board will now move to the next step.

“The board voted to have an adoption meeting at the next board meeting which will be Sept. 5,” said Gappa.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the budget is about $500,000 less than the board advertised last year in the general fund, and it’s a little over $900,000 less for the total budget.

All funds total $23,254,000.

Knox School Board To Move Forward With Palmer Wing Plans

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa gave a report to the school board this week about a work session held on Aug. 8 concerning the Palmer Wing at the Elementary School.

“There were approximately 15 to 16 outside community members and it was pretty much unanimous (of that group) that the best future for the elementary school would be to build a new wing to replace the old Palmer Wing,” Gappa said.

Gappa says the board will now move forward with plans for the construction of the new Palmer Wing.

“The board will probably want to talk to community members and get some input from some people who are supportive to form committees to work toward that end,” Gappa said.

Knox Schools Budget Cut, Says Gappa

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board approved the advertisement of the 2013 budget. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the budget has decreased.

“Our budget advertisement this year is a little bit less than less year; it’s about $500,000 less than we advertised last year in the general fund, and it’s a little over $900,000 less than we advertised last year for the total budget,” Gappa explained.

Gappa reports the total of the school’s proposed budget for 2013.

“All funds would be $23,254,000, and our general fund advertised budget for this year would be $14,966,000, which almost $500,000 last than we advertised last year,” said Gappa. “Once we have a public hearing on Aug. 20, the plan will be to adopt the budget at the Sept. 5 board meeting.”

Knox Community School Board To Meet With Architecture Firm

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board discussed the Facility Study Committee’s progress with the Palmer Wing. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the committee is still gathering information on whether to build a new wing or to rehabilitate the deteriorated structure.

“Our board has a committee that will meet this week with a representative from the Barton, Coe and Villema architecture firm in Fort Wayne,” said Gappa. “We will proceed with talk about the possibility of a renovation or replacing the Palmer Wing at the elementary school.”

After the Committee meets with the architect, Gappa says the Board will plan meetings with the public.

“We plan to have some more public meetings and invite the members of the public in and get input on which direction to go,” said Gappa.

Knox Community Schools Laptops Benefit Students, Teachers

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Knox Technology Coach Chris Ross gave a laptop usage update to the Knox Community School Board members this week. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says it has been a learning experience for teachers and students.

“We talked about how the staff has transformed from the beginning of last year where they were all entry level and how they’ve progressed throughout the school year – some more rapidly than others because they’re handier with technology,” said Gappa.

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Knox School Board Approves Library Board Improvement Plan

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members approved the Starke County Library Board’s plan for improvements that include the elementary school property. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the plan would save the library some time and money.

“They would like to tie into our sewer line, if possible,” said Gappa. “It would save them a lot of labor and probably some costs on some materials. They need to change a sidewalk that connects our elementary property with the library property. They also want to hook into the horseshoe drive at the elementary school off Culver Road so the back parking lot of the library would have an exit into the horseshoe drive.”

The plans were submitted to the board during their last meeting.

Knox School Board Receives Facilities Study Update

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent, A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members met Monday night where Superintendent A.J. Gappa gave the members a facilities study update.

“As far as the elementary school is concerned, we’re just moving forward,” stated Gappa. “I met with Dana Wanamaker, architect with Barton, Coe Vilamaa, just to give us some estimates on general figures as to what it might be for renovation versus building a new wing. We don’t have any figures on that yet. I anticipate meeting with Curt Pletcher from Umbaugh and Associates, the financial people, because we want to pin it down to be able to tell people, if we need to do something, how much it’s going to affect each individual person.”

Gappa also said the board has some high hopes for their welding program.

“We’re optimistic and moving forward with getting a welding program going, which would be located at the southwest corner of the middle school where the old wood shop used to be,” said Gappa. “I believe that will move forward even very soon. Probably within the next month, we will have work going on to convert that room.”

Library Expansion Project To Include Driveway Connection To Elementary School

Posted on Author WKVI
Henry F. Schricker Library

Representatives from the Starke County Public Library approached the Knox Community School Board members Monday night to discuss their upcoming expansion project. Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that the library’s property is just north of the Knox Elementary School property and part of their project involves the school.

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Knox School Board Spotlights Graphic Arts Department

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board spotlights one positive event going on within the school corporation during the school board meetings. On Monday, Mr. Sullivan from the Graphic Arts program at the High School talked about his program and the equipment the students get to utilize while in class. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said Mr. Sullivan talked about some of the upgrades and additions to the program.

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Knox Community School Board Approves New Data Systems Coordinator

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board approved the addition of a new Data Systems Coordinator position Monday night.

There are so many tests that need to be dissected every year from the ISTEP, End of Course Assessment Tests and to the NWEA testing at the lower grade levels, one person needs to be in charge of assessing the data being brought into the corporation.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa says that data is helpful to figure out lesson plans and unit plans and much more.

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Knox Community School Board Suspends Corbin

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert "Ryan" Corbin

The Knox Community School Board has taken action against a teacher accused of inappropriate behavior with a 16-year-old student.

“The Board did approve a letter of suspension with pay for Mr. Ryan Corbin, teacher at Knox High School,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “Beyond that, I’m not at liberty to discuss personnel matters so I have no further comment.”

The Board approved the letter during their regular Board meeting last night.

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Preschool Program Spotlighted during Knox Community School Board Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Spotlight on Success feature of the recent Knox Community School Board meeting included the preschool program. Superintendent A.J. Gappa talks about the presentation.

“We host a preschool program that is part of J.E.S.S.E. Mrs. Suseland invited in four students, two from the morning class and two from the afternoon class, and they showed the Board a beaver lodge that they had built in class as a replica in their study of wild animals. They also showed the Board some of the drawings that they had done, talked about what they do in class, and just gave an overview of how the class operates.”

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Proposed Library Construction Plans Presented to Knox School Board

Posted on Author WKVI
Sheila Urwiler

Knox Library Director Sheila Urwiler and Library Board members Dave Bullock and Amie Flora discussed the library’s proposed construction plans with the Knox Community School Board Monday night. Superintendent A.J. Gappa talks about their presentation.

“Since three sides of their property borders the Knox school property, they wanted to give an update on what they want to do and also ask for some cooperation with the board on movement of a sidewalk and tying some sanitation lines into the lines that come through our property which could be a money saver for everyone because if it’s cheaper to tie into these lines and it’s feasible, it makes perfect sense. As they expand their parking lot on the south side of the library, they may tie an entrance or exit into the horseshoe drive of the Elementary School, that is located off of Culver Road, to help with the traffic flow.”

Gappa said the project may be a win-win for both the Corporation and the Library.

Knox Community School Board Approves J.E.S.S.E. Reorganization

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

During the last Knox Community School Board meeting, Superintendent A.J. Gappa and Bob Wise from the J.E.S.S.E. Co-op presented the board with the J.E.S.S.E. reorganization recommendation that moves the organization from a Co-op to a Localized Educational Agency, or LEA. Gappa tells us what that information entails.

“That information includes students being where they’re going to be with as little transport as possible. Next year, most of the teachers will become employees of the local corporations instead of J.E.S.S.E. employees. The Board did approve, on their part, the reorganization. It also has to go to the other eight boards of the corporation members and we will move forward with that reorganization,” stated Gappa.

Plymouth School Corporation will remain the fiscal agent while Knox will be the main site for the Starke County schools. North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis will be in a group with Knox and can share services, if needed. The North Judson-San Pierre School Board has also approved the proposed recommendations.

Knox Community School Board Approves Band Trip

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox Band Director, Craige Phipps, requested permission from the School Board for a band trip in 2013. Superintendent A.J. Gappa talks about the proposed trip.

“The band would like to take a trip to Orlando, Florida, to visit all of the Disney World theme parks,” said Gappa. “They will do performances at different times, both marching and on-stage performances. It looks like an educational and fun trip combined. The Board did give permission for the music department to take that trip so they can start making arrangements and start saving up their money.”

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Knox School Board Discusses J.E.S.S.E. Reorganization

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members discussed the J.E.S.S.E. reorganization at their meeting Monday night.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa explains the reasoning behind the reorganization of the special education cooperative.

“Some people thinks it’s to save money, but that’s not the case,” said Gappa. “It’s for the best interest of the students. We wanted students to travel less so we’ve tried to keep the students in their home schools as much as possible. If they do have to go to a different site, then we will make that travel as little as possible.”

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