Gov. Mike Pence Presents Grant Funds to Knox School Officials
“The Knox Community School Corporation has been awarded a grant for $50,000. This is the maximum allowable grant. It represents strong leadership in the corporation, and a real commitment by this community to make sure our schools are about learning and create a safe environment for our kids,” said Pence.
Knox School Board Spotlights Donation Efforts at the High School
“Mrs. Wood, one of our science club sponsors, has on her property a number of apple trees. Members of the science club went out and picked over 250 pounds of apples and donated those apples to the food pantry for distribution to those in need,” said Gappa.
Knox Community School Board Approves Last QSCB Claim
The QSCB money was used to renovate the pool at the high school and to work on water lines that were clogged and deteriorating. The money also allowed for the purchase and installation of new lockers at the high school.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that some other projects were completed at the high school within the two year span of the funding.
“We had some monies left over so we’ve been doing some other projects at the high school that were included in the project,” said Gappa. “This was the final claim. We had a deadline coming up where we had to expend all of the money from that project. We were down to the last $7,000 and so the board had approved that last claim for some repair work at the high school.”
Knox School Board Recognizes Students Involved in Manufacturer’s Day
Students from all over the county were present for the opportunity to look at the many displays put out by different manufacturers. This was a chance for the students to see what industry is available for them in the county and to ask questions about what each manufacturer specialized in and about potential employment.
Knox School Board Spotlights Boys Tennis Team
Superintendent A.J. Gappa commented that it was the first time in the team’s history the team members were the winners of the Northern State Conference.
“The tennis team was here with their coaches, Mark Krom and Dick Wagner, to be introduced to the board. They not only set a school record for the first conference championship, but they had some individual records. The team had the most wins in history and they had the most consecutive wins. They also won the tournament that Knox hosted for the first time. It was a very good year for the tennis team. It was nice to be able to give them some recognition,” stated Gappa.
Knox Community School Board Adopts Budget
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said there had been no questions asked about the proposed 2014 budget.
“At the previous meeting, we held the public hearing for the 2014 budget and there really weren’t any questions asked at that time. The board moved ahead and adopted the budget for the 2014 year,” stated Gappa.
Knox Community School Board Approves Teacher Agreement
Superintendent A.J. Gappa commented that this was the first time reviewing this contract under the new state law. The old contract had expired June 30 but came to an agreement by the deadline of Sept. 30.
Knox School Board Discusses ISTEP+ Test Results
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said Shidaker highlighted where the students needed work and where the scores stood at the elementary and middle schools.
Knox Community School Board Holds Public Hearing on Budget
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said there wasn’t any public comment on the budget.
“Nobody was here to speak up so we will advertise the budget and then have a meeting on Oct. 7 to adopt it,” explained Gappa. “From that point on, it will be sent down to the DLGF in Indianapolis and they will do their magic on the budget. They will then send us a 1782 notice later on to show what it really looks like.”
Preschool Parent Involvement Activity Spotlighted by Knox School Board
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said 70 people were involved in the effort.
ISTEP+ Results at Knox, West Central and Eastern Pulaski Schools
The ISTEP+ results have been looked at by officials at all schools in our area and Knox Community School Superintendent said there were some positive points and areas that need to be worked on.
“There were some good points and some points that need to be looked at,” explained Gappa. “In the elementary school, the average in both Language Arts and Math were in the upper nineties – the high point being the fifth grade Math with over 90 percent. The middle school had a little bit lower results and those will be checked out and we’ll report to the board at the next meeting.”
ADM Counts Vary at Local Schools
“In this particular year, the elementary was up one student compared to last year. The middle school was down 14 and the high school was down 18,” reported Gappa. “Last year the middle school was up three. It varies from year to year in the class sizes. With the money following the students and open enrollment, it has changed things a little bit more.”
Knox School Board Recognizes Retired Staff
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said it was great to give those former employees the recognition they deserve.
“We had eight teachers, a food service director, one of our school nurses, one of the teacher’s aides and a parent involvement coordinator that had all retired over the last two years,” explained Gappa. “Seven of those people were able to make the meeting and receive a commemorative clock. The others who weren’t able to be here – we will get the clocks sent to them. We wanted to honor those people for all the years of service and the support that they’ve given to the Knox Community Schools.”
Knox Community School Board Discusses School Messenger
The Knox Community School Board members received an update on School Messenger during their meeting Monday night.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said anyone can sign up to receive emails, text messages or automated calls from the system. School Messenger is the system the corporation uses to alert patrons about school delays, a closure or any emergency situation that may arise.
Knox Community School Board Discusses Personnel Changes
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said a replacement was hired after the retirement was approved.
Knox Community School Board Approves High School Textbook Fees
Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that they are in line with the middle school textbook fees.
“Most of those fees involve the computers and they’re right in line with the middle school in laptop computer fees for the one-to-one program. By individual classes at the high school, if certain classes call for extra fees, those will be added on top of the computer fees,” explained Gappa.
The middle school fees in the one-to-one computer initiative are $113.50.
Knox Community School Board Updated on Start of School
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said things are going smoothly so far.
“School in all three buildings got off to a fairly smooth start,” explained Gappa. “I reported to the board that all of our buses are in good shape and doing well. We’ve added three new buses to the fleet.
Our next bus inspection is due sometime in October.”
Knox Community School Board Passes Resolution to Advertise Budget
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the school board has reviewed the prepared budgets.
Knox Community School Board Gets Start-of-School Update
The Knox Community School Board heard an update on the progress being made to the start of school.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the administrators gave a building update and an update on the registration process.
“The teachers were in for two days of professional development on Tuesday and Wednesday of the current week in anticipation of the upcoming school year,” said Gappa. “Teachers will begin school officially on Monday and the kids will come on Tuesday, Aug. 13.”
Gappa gave an update on the maintenance projects performed at the school during the summer.
“They’ve been cleaning and taking care of all of the buildings. The parking lots were sealed and we did an area of paving between the bus parking lot and the west parking lot at the high school. All of those things that had gone on during the summer in anticipation of the upcoming school year was part of that report to the board.”
