Superintendent A.J. GappaThe Knox Community School Board is looking into applying for a Project Lead the Way grant for a new course at the high school.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the grant would be for a bio-medical science course.
“If we were to receive this grant, then we would have to offer, over the next couple of years, four new courses that are not currently in the course description book,” said Gappa. “We had the board approve these courses: Principles of Bio-Medical Science, Human Body Systems, Medical Interventions, and Bio-Medical Innovation. The board did this just in case we were to receive the grant and then we’d be prepared to offer the courses.”
Superintendent A.J. GappaThe Knox Community School Board members heard from Elementary Principal Glenn Barnes and Middle School Principal Dave Miller who presented the NWEA analysis during the board’s recent meeting.
The Northwest Evaluation Association, or NWEA, test is a state-aligned computer-based testing system which adapts to the child in real-time as the test progresses for a pinpoint picture of learning achievement and readiness.
It’s the goal of school leaders and community members to ensure that every child has a successful chance at achieving the maximum amount of learning possible in order to make every child a productive member of society.
While a majority of students achieve that, others fall through the cracks. Home lives may be disruptive which leads to unsuccessful learning and bad life choices, or a child may not have what it takes to learn in a traditional school setting. The Crossing alternative school takes those struggling kids and helps them succeed in becoming a successful student.
Superintendent A.J. GappaThe Knox Community School Board will host an informational meeting on Thursday at 10 a.m. CT in the administrative office in the elementary school with members of The Crossing alternative school.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the purpose of the meeting is for The Crossing officials to speak to the board members in more depth about the alternative school.
The Knox Community School Board will meet tonight with a light agenda.
The board members will receive an update on the results of the NWEA test as well as a presentation on the Biomedical Science course addition at the high school.
The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT in the administrative office in the Palmer Wing of the Knox Elementary School.
Superintendent A.J. GappaKnox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa presented some information to the school board last week about The Crossing alternative school.
Gappa said that The Crossing is a second chance program to get students involved in school.
Superintendent A.J. GappaThe Knox Community School Board met on Thursday of last week which is a deviation from their regular board meeting night. The usual Monday night meeting was canceled due to severe winter weather. It was rescheduled for Thursday where the board held a public hearing to take comments on the Knox Middle School being a priority school.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said by law the categorization of the school warranted a hearing for public comment.
Superintendent A.J. GappaThe Knox Community School Board heard a presentation about the JAG program during their meeting Thursday night.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the Jobs for American Graduates organization at the high school boasts over 40 students and it has seen success in its infancy.
“The instructor, Molly Dollahan, and two of the students came in to give a report,” said Gappa. “This is the first year the program has been implemented in Knox. I believe we have 42 high school students as part of the program. It’s in conjunction with Workforce Development and it really helps students prepare for careers and jobs beyond high school. Recently, some of our JAG students participated in a career development conference and they had some different competitions. Two of the students who were at our board meeting talked about the competitions they participated in and some of the first place awards they received.”
The weather on Monday caused the postponement of several government and school board meetings. Many of those have been rescheduled.
The Starke County Board of Commissioners will meet Thursday morning at 9 a.m. in the Starke County annex building. EMA Director Ted Bombagetti will have an update for the commissioners, updates will be given on the proposed sale of property in Parkview Heights to the city of Knox, plus a report on landfill monitoring results. Commissioner Kent Danford will provide a report on the meeting of the Knox planning commission and permit fees. The automatic renewal of Kone Elevator’s service contract and a proposed amended agreement from Lawson-Fisher regarding the County Road 300 East and State Road 8 project are also on the agenda for this meeting.
Two local school boards will hold meetings tonight to discuss various items.
The Knox Community School Board will hold a public hearing tonight at 6:30 p.m. regarding the Knox Middle School being categorized a priority school. The board will also discuss weather related make-up days and the Crossing Alternative School.
The weather has had an effect on a lot of things in the Kankakee Valley, including school instruction.
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa said safety is the number one priority when making a decision to delay or close school for the day. Continue reading →
Superintendent A.J. GappaThe Knox Community School Board members held discussion about a meeting scheduled to take public input on a proposed balanced calendar for the 2015-2016 school year.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the corporation’s public meeting is set for March 6.
Superintendent A.J. GappaThe Knox Community School Board will talk about a balanced calendar proposal tonight during their regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the administrative office in the Palmer wing in the Knox Community Elementary School.
Superintendent A.J. GappaAt their recent meeting, the Knox Community School Board members discussed the school safety grant the corporation received late last year
The matching grant was presented by Governor Pence in November and Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the school board is trying to be frugal in making a decision on how to spend that money since half of the money must come from the corporation.
“We’re using our grant money for entryway security and upgrades in video surveillance systems throughout the corporation for those that need it,” explained Gappa. “We’re actually going to spend about $55,000. Our half comes to about $27,500. The board approved taking the necessary money from the Rainy Day fund. When the grant money comes in. we’ll just replace it in that fund.”
Superintendent A.J. GappaA new president has been elected to the Knox Community School Board.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said he’s served many years on the board but has never served as the head of the board.
“The president will be Mr. Kirk Bennett,” announced Gappa. “The new vice president is Gary Dulin and the new secretary will be Mary Lynn Ritchie. This will be Kirk’s first go-around as president. It’s going to be a challenging year and he wanted to challenge everybody to live up to it and accept the challenge. As we move forward, we’ll try and do whatever is best for the school corporation.”
The Knox Community School Corporation recently made a very generous donation to the Starke County Council on Aging and Community Services Food Pantry, collecting more than 2000 pounds of food. Mike Bendicsen, assistant principal at the high school, told WKVI that the elementary, middle and high schools worked together with students and staff to collect as much food as possible to donate to the community.
Superintendent A.J. GappaThe Knox Community School Board members recognized those involved in the Reality Store held recently at the Knox Middle School.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that all eighth grade students from Knox, North Judson-San Pierre, Oregon-Davis, and Culver Community students participated in this event. Business leaders and volunteers from organizations from around the area helped the students get a dose of what it is to survive out in the real world.
A special presentation was featured during the regular meeting of the Knox Community School Board Monday night. High school teacher Taylor White and students in her Family and Consumer Sciences class presented a unique school project.
Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff explained that the students in the high school adult roles class featured two technology projects related to roles that students take that are not only inherited but those they accept.
“What the students were asked to do was highlight a couple of the roles that they take in the community – some that are inherited, as a daughter, as a sister, as a family member, and some of those that are chosen. One of the projects a student reviewed was how she has chosen to work with her faith. The other one could have dealt with their role as an employee or their role in school and academics to really be able to highlight a little bit of themselves.”
The students presented their projects to the board that were completed with iMovie on their school-issued computers in the one-to-one computer initiative.
