Knox Community School Board Approves Bid for High School Renovation Project

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 base bids for the high school renovation project at its recent meeting.

“We had taken bids on the base projects which were the water pipe renovations and also the swimming pool renovation in the ceiling and lighting area,” explained Superintendent, A.J. Gappa. “The Board approved the base bids and the work in the pool. We could not accept the roofing bids because of funding.”

The approved bid went to Brown and Brown General Contractors for $1,567,000. In all, the Board received 15 bids.

Bella Vita Representatives Give Presentation to Knox Community School Board

Susanne Lange

The Knox Community School Board heard a presentation about the new Bella Vita pregnancy resource center that will be opening on U.S. 35 in Knox in March.

“David Bullock, one of our former teachers who retired a few years back, has been involved with the non-profit organization called Bella Vita,” explained Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “Mr. Bullock and Susanne Lange, also of Bella Vita, were at the Board meeting just to give an informational presentation to the Board and would like to establish a positive relationship between the schools in Starke County and Bella Vita.”

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Knox Community School Board Approves Retirement of Middle School Principal Steve Cronk

Steve Cronk

The Knox Community School Board approved the retirement of Middle School Principal, Steve Cronk, at its meeting Monday night.

“Mr. Cronk, who has worked in a number of school corporations throughout Indiana, but who has been at the Knox Middle School as Principal for the last number of years, decided it’s finally time to sit back and enjoy life a little bit,” said Superintendent A.J. Gappa. “He has submitted a letter of retirement that will take effect on June 30th. The Board regrettably accepted that resignation. It’s kind of a bittersweet personnel report when you accept the retirement of a person who has meant a lot to a lot of the kids at the Middle School here.”

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Knox Community School Board Members are Sworn into Office; Board Honors 5th Grade Students

Knox City Court Judge Charlie Hasnerl swears Gary Dulin, Mary Lynn Ritchie and Mike Yankauskas into office

Knox Community School Board members Gary Dulin, Mary Lynn Ritchie and Mike Yankauskas were sworn into office by Knox City Court Judge Charlie Hasnerl on Monday night. The three candidates were reelected into office in the November 2010 General Election.

During the Spotlight on Success portion School Board meeting, the Board commended 5th grade students, Haley Wilkinson and Cheyenne Arrendondo. They submitted Christmas ornaments and a story about their ornaments to Indiana’s First Lady, Cheri Daniels, and their submissions were selected to be hung on the Statehouse Christmas tree. Continue reading

Knox Community School Board Approves Network and Telecommunication Projects

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 upcoming network and telecommunications projects at its meeting Monday night. The School Board and Technology Director, Jim Landrum, are hoping to secure federal funding for the projects approved.

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Knox Community School Board Reorganizes

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

The Knox Community School Board reorganized at its meeting Monday night. The new President of the Board is Harold Welter who succeeds Gary Dulin. Mary Lynn Ritchie was retained as Vice President and Jerry Fletcher was retained as Secretary.

The Board also retained Sherry Fort as Corporation Treasurer, Linda Binkowski as Deputy Treasurer, Mark Jensen as Transportation Director/Head Mechanic, Kit Ream as Food Services Director, William F. Satterlee III as Corporation Attorney, Kirk Bennett as the Board’s Legislative Liaison, Alan Selge as the Starke County Historical Society representative and Ruth Bailey as the Indiana Cooperative Library Services Authority representative.

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Students and Teachers Get Ready for Winter Break

Friday, December 17th, marks the last day for students at some schools before they embark on winter break. Friday is the last day for students at the Knox Community School Corporation. Teachers will return to classrooms on Monday, January 3rd and students on Tuesday, January 4th. The Knox Community School Board canceled their meeting for Monday, December 20th and will not meet until Monday, January 3rd.

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Week in Review for December 6th-10th, 2010

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week.

Diana Jedynak, 67, died of fire related injuries after her home caught fire early Monday morning in Washington Township. Indiana State Fire Marshal, Fred Sumpter, said the investigation into the cause of the fire was postponed due to the weather conditions and the integrity of the structure.

Northwest Indiana Forum, Inc.

The Northwest Indiana Forum’s Board of Directors have voted to acknowldge the organization’s service territory to extend beyond Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke Counties to include Newton, Jasper and Pulaski Counties.

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