The State Department of Education recently released the graduation rates for each corporation and Knox Community School Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart updated the board on the school’s statistics.
“The high school is at 94.5 percent which is the highest in the county,” said Dr. Recihhart. “The school ranks above the state average by about five percentage points.”
The three building principals told the Knox Community School Board this week that with the recent school closures, students are working well with the alternative instruction day.
Elementary School Principal Glenn Barnes said eLearning is a positive experience for his students when school is closed due to inclement weather.
The Knox Community School Board members discussed the purchase of Chrome Books for everyday student use.
Director of Technology Jim Landrum explained that the operating system will be a little different that what the students are used to with their MacBook Air devices.
The Knox Community School Board held a public hearing Monday night to gather comments on the corporation’s proposal for updates to the Knox High School and additional projects at the two other schools and corporation office.
The Knox Community School Board members will hear public comments on the proposed renovation and improvements to corporation buildings.
On Monday evening, the Knox School Board met briefly in order to adopt the school corporation’s 2018 budget. Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart said board members voted unanimously to adopt the budget as advertised.
By doing so, the Knox School Board has effectively adopted their budget prior to the November 1st adoption deadline. The last day that 2018 budgets, tax rates and tax levies can be submitted to Indiana Department of Local Government Finance through Indiana Gateway is November 3rd.
The Knox Community School Corporation has total budget estimate of $20,662,696. To view the entire budget notice posted to Indiana Gateway, follow this link.
The Knox Community School Board held a public hearing over the school corporation’s 2018 Budget when they met Tuesday night. Corporation Treasurer Sherry Fort provided the board members and the public with a synopsis of the proposed budget for next year.
The general fund is estimated at $12,760,379. The capital projects fund has approximately $1.9 million budgeted and the bus replacement plan is estimated to be $325,000. The total budget estimate is set at $20,662,696. Continue reading
Harold Welter approached the Knox School Board Tuesday night to discuss how the charitable foundation that was created in memory of his daughter could be a helpful resource to the school corporation. The Cheryl Lyn Welter Family Charitable Foundation was formed in order to assist underprivileged students in grades K-12 with expenses that are beyond what their families are able to afford.
Knox School Board members permitted the principals at each of the buildings to work with the Cheryl Lyn Foundation to process grants that would be provided to disadvantaged students at the elementary, middle and high schools.
Knox was just the first school board that Welter approached. He made plans to speak to the Eastern Pulaski School board in November and is meeting with the superintendent at North Judson-San Pierre later this week to arrange to be put on the agenda for their next board meeting. Continue reading
During their meeting Wednesday evening, Knox School Board members unanimously voted to cancel their first meeting in October. This decision was made in order to allow board members the ability to attend an Indiana School Boards Association conference in Indianapolis on October 2nd. Continue reading
The Knox Community School board approved two donations for the School Corporation in their meeting Wednesday evening. During the last school board meeting in August, board members approved a $500 donation from the Starke County Community Foundation for the purchase of a new sandbox for the pre-school program. In last night’s meeting, board members approved donations of sand and delivery costs to complete the playground addition. Continue reading
The Knox School Board will meet Wednesday evening in the administrative office to first discuss litigation matters and individual employee evaluations in a private executive session, followed by the regular session at 6:30 p.m.
The main business item on the agenda is moving the first meeting in October due to a scheduling conflict with a conference that a number of board members are set to attend. The board is anticipated to hear from administrators about how the eLearning test day went on Friday, September 1st. Continue reading
The Knox Community School Board hopes to motivate school bus drivers to take on extra-curricular driving trips with a pay increase they implemented during their meeting earlier this week. Before the pay increase, the rate of pay for field trip drivers was only about 65 cents more than minimum wage. Continue reading
The Knox Community School Corporation has a new school superintendent.
Dr. William Reichhart, who most recently was the Superintendent of Schools at Manchester Community Schools, was named the new superintendent during last night’s Knox Community School Board meeting.
The Knox Community School Board will consider a recommendation for a new superintendent when they meet tonight.
The board held a public hearing on the superintendent’s contract last week where only one comment was received concerning the lack of the action of a rollover with the contract. The board will also approve that contract tonight during their regularly scheduled meeting.
The Knox Community School Board held a public hearing Monday night to hear comments on the new superintendent’s proposed contract.
According to Interim School Superintendent Jim Dermody, one patron asked about a rollover clause for the contract. Otherwise, Dermody said there were no other public comments.
The Knox Community School Board will hear public comment on the new school superintendent’s contract tonight.
The basic salary will be $108,000 for each year beginning in 2017 and ending in 2020. The board’s cost of health, vision and dental insurance will be $23,437 and that number is dependent on renewal rates each year. The board’s cost of long-term disability insurance is $353 while the cost of term life insurance is $468. Those amounts are also dependent on renewal rates each year of the superintendent’s contract. The board’s costs for tax sheltered annuity will be $18,840 and the required cost for Social Security is $8,262.
A contract with The Crossing will allow Knox students a second chance at getting an educational experience at their pace.
The Crossing offers an alternative way of educating students who may not thrive in a traditional classroom setting.
The first round of interviews was scheduled this week in the search for a new Knox Community School Superintendent. Those interviews were conducted in executive session meetings.
Preschool children attending Knox schools will have a safer bus ride.
The Knox Community School Board approved the purchase of two mini buses that have seats with lap belts and shoulder harnesses. The state will require this proper safety equipment in buses transporting preschool children beginning in January 2018, according to Transportation Director Mark Jensen.
The Knox Community School Corporation will incorporate eLearning in the next school year. This will be an opportunity for students to be able to keep the stream of learning ongoing even if there is a day of school canceled due to inclement weather.
Director of Curriculum and Instruction Peggy Shidaker informed the board that the administrative team has put together plans for students to participate in an eLearning day.
She explained that the students will know what is expected of them on an eLearning day.
Learning targets will be posted online by 9 a.m. on a canceled day and by 10 a.m. on a delay day. Shidaker said students will be expected to cover content that would have been addressed if school had been in session for the day. Lessons will be a continuation of what’s been happening in the classroom.
