Knox Elementary Hosting Kindergarten Countdown

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Knox Elementary School is once again offering a three-week Kindergarten Countdown to help students who have little or no preschool experience get ready to start school in the fall. Curriculum director Peggy Shidaker says it gives youngsters an idea of what to expect.
“They experience the type of class atmosphere and learning that actually happens or will happen when they enter kindergarten. They have an opportunity to ride a school bus, which the kids absolutely love. They’ll eat breakfast with their peers, and they’ll eat lunch with them as well. Since it is actually kindergarten readiness, the students will be immersed in those literacy and math skills to help those students enter kindergarten at the same academic levels as their peers, or at least close to the same academic levels as their peers who have had some preschool.” Continue reading →

Starke County Youth Club Prepares for Annual WKVI Radiothon

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Starke County Youth Club members and volunteers will take over the WKVI airwaves on Friday to raise money for the nonprofit organization. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says they provide academic support to 600 youngsters across the county at after-school sites at Knox, North Judson-San Pierre and Oregon-Davis Elementary schools and at O-D Junior/Senior High School. They give students quiet time to do homework, offer one-on-one tutoring in a specific subject and offer a variety of enrichment programs like technology classes, videography and world travel through culture centers. Services are offered each Monday through Friday for three hours after school.

“That is the time when kids are most likely to be the victims of or perpetrators of violent crime. We know that kids who don’t have proper supervision, who don’t have great role models, who aren’t engaged in something productive, make the wrong choices in their lives. So we’re there to provide a safe, engaging and positive environment for kids once the school day ends,” Szakonyi says. Continue reading →

State Education Officials Urges Schools To Try Referendums Again

Posted on Author WKVI
Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz
Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz says school districts will have to continue to conduct referendums to seek tax increases until the Indiana Legislature changes the school funding formula. She made the comments during several stops in Lake and Porter Counties. Ritz told educators at the Hammond Area Career Center that “you have to spend money to get money.” She thinks that many voters in areas where school district referendums failed may not have been aware of the issue. The state school superintendent says she encourages the school districts whose referendums did not pass, to try again during the next election. Knox was one such school. Local voters rejected a property tax increase to pay for construction of a new $16 million elementary school wing. The Knox Community School Board has not indicated whether they plan to pursue the issue again during next year’s regular election cycle. In the meantime, Ritz says she will help the schools in any way she can. Ritz addressed members of the Professional Educators Partnership at Valparaiso University.

Spring Stampede Held at Knox Elementary School

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

It was a beautiful day to be outside and the students from the JESSE Corporation and severe and profound special needs classes enjoyed participating in outdoor activities in a great event at the Knox Elementary School yesterday.

Knox teacher Jenny Fletcher said over 80 students from Argos, Plymouth, LaVille, John Glenn and Knox, plus two preschool classes that have students with special needs participated in the Spring Stampede.

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Voters Head to the Polls Today to Vote on Palmer Wing Project

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Vote yes or vote no? The Knox Elementary School Palmer Wing project is now in the hands of the voters as taxpayers in the Knox school district head to the polls today. Voters will decide whether or not to finance through property taxes the construction of a new wing and the demolition of the old Palmer Wing, which Superintendent A.J. Gappa said is antiquated, dilapidated, and overall unfit for education.

Gappa said the wing was originally built nearly 60 years ago – a different time, he said, when electricity wasn’t as advanced, heating and cooling was much less effective, and fewer kids ate in the cafeteria. He said 20 years ago when the west wing of the school was added, California and Washington township schools were closed, bringing more students to the Knox school and putting more strain on the old cafeteria.

Continue reading →

School Referendum Supporters and Foes Make Final Push

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Voters who reside in the Knox Community School Corporation have until noon to cast absentee ballots at the courthouse in advance of tomorrow’s referendum. The outcome will determine whether a new wing will be added to the elementary school to replace the 50-year-old Palmer wing. Whatever It Takes Committee Chairman David Bullock says the school isn’t asking for very much money.

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Undecided Voters Tour Knox Elementary’s Palmer Wing

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Members of the Whatever It Takes Committee hope to persuade undecided Knox Community School Corporation voters to support a property tax referendum to address problems with the school’s 60-year-old Palmer wing. Issues include an outdated heating and cooling system for which parts are no longer available, an electrical system that is inadequate to handle the load put on it by computers and other techonology and a cafeteria that’s too small to prepare food for the entire student body. They’ve held a series of open houses at the school so voters can see the problems for themselves. One lady, Gail, remains undecided. She says she wants to make sure school officials are prudent stewards of taxpayer money.

Continue reading →

Library Work Crew Hits Gas Main, Knox Elementary School Evacuated

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Knox Elementary School has been evacuated after a construction crew at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library struck a gas main. Knox Superintendent A.J. Gappa says students at the elementary school have been moved to other facilities. Students in grades kindergarten, 1 and 2 are at the high school, while students in grades 3, 4 and 5 are at the middle school. Gappa stresses the school was evacuated as a precautionary measure and says he will advise parents as to student pickup arrangements by the end of the day. The Starke County Public Library Henry F. Schricker branch is also closed as a result of the gas main break.

Voter Turnout Steady for Starke County Special Election

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A steady flow of voters have already cast ballots in the upcoming May 7 special election.

Absentee voting started last week at the Starke County Courthouse for the May 7 question involving whether taxes should be raised in order to fund construction at Knox Elementary School. As of Monday morning, 66 people have voted in person, according to officials with the Starke County Clerk’s office. Many of those voters are older and don’t want to worry about getting out on Election Day, but you don’t need any special reason to cast an early ballot. Absentee voting continues each weekday at the courthouse through noon on Monday, May 6.

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Knox Voters Encouraged to Tour Elementary School’s Palmer Wing

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Voters in California, Center and Washington Townships can get a firsthand look at what advocates say are long overdue and necessary repairs to the Palmer wing at Knox Elementary School this evening. The Whatever it Takes Committee is hosting another open house at the school from 5 until 6 p.m. Problems with the 60-year-old original structure include an antiquated heating and cooling system, a cramped cafeteria that is insufficient to prepare food for the entire student population and a host of other problems. The work will only be done if voters agree to support a property tax during a May 7th special election, for which absentee voting is under way at the Starke County Courthouse. Click https://gateway.ifionline.org/CalculatorsDLGF/RefCalculator.aspx to determine how much your property taxes will go up should the referendum pass.

Additional Palmer Wing Tours Scheduled at Knox Elementary

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Voters in the Knox Community School District will have several more chances to take a firsthand look at the repairs they are being asked to fund through a nominal property tax hike. The Whatever it Takes Committee has scheduled five more informational meetings at Knox Elementary School. Each will start with a brief PowerPoint presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session and tours of the building’s original Palmer wing. All meetings will start in the cafeteria/multipurpose room at the east end of the elementary school building. Continue reading →

Absentee Voting Starts, Voter Registration Ends Today

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Today is the last day to register to vote and the first day to vote absentee for the May 7 special election in Starke County.

If you have not previously registered to vote in Starke County, today is the last day you may do so. Registration is available in the Starke County Clerk’s office. If you reside in the Knox Community School voting district, you are eligible to vote in the special election on May 7.

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Whatever it Takes Committee Holds Open House at KCES

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
You have to see it to believe it.

The Whatever it Takes Committee held an Open House Tuesday night at the Knox Community Elementary School in order to inform those attending of the proposed construction project on the May 7 ballot. Superintendent A.J. Gappa went over the specific problem areas in the 60-year-old Palmer Wing and how the project would be funded.

“I showed them the highlights of the problems with the HVAC units and the electrical system that’s maxed out,” said Gappa. “Door number seven fell in last year into a tunnel beneath it and we had to have that fixed. We also talked about wall separation in certain areas where the foundation is separating from the walls and the boiler system is outdated and in constant need of repair.”

Continue reading →

Open House Tomorrow at Knox Elementary School

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

An opportunity is available for you to see what the Knox Community School Board is looking to do in terms of renovation and construction at the Knox Elementary School if the voters approve a public question that will be offered on the May 7 ballot.

You will be able to tour the Palmer Wing of the Knox Elementary School tomorrow from 6–7 p.m. CT. Your tour will begin in the old all-purpose room at the east end of the elementary building.

Continue reading →

Open House Scheduled For Knox Elementary School Palmer Wing

Posted on Author WKVI

An open house will be held Tuesday, April 2 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Palmer Wing of the Knox Elementary School so you can tour the portion of the building that is up for a proposed construction project.

The construction of the Palmer Wing is in the fate of the voters of the Knox Community School District on May 7 where a yes or no majority vote determines the future of that portion of the building.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the open house is sponsored by the “Whatever it Takes Committee” who supports the project. The event will be held in the all-purpose room in the elementary school.

“That’s kind of the heart of the old building,” explained Gappa. “It’s connected to the affected areas including the kitchen and the boiler rooms. Tours will be offered to anybody who hasn’t been through the building.”

The open house is intended to be an informational meeting to address current building concerns, overview of the project and the impact on community members.

Knox School Board Spotlights “I Love to Read” Challenge

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Elementary School recently won WSBT’s I Love to Read challenge and Superintendent A.J. Gappa said that was recognized by the school board Monday night.

“Mr. Ryan Marsh, a second grade teacher, and two of his students came to the board meeting and talked about the success they’re having with reading incentives that are going on in Mr. Marsh’s class,” explained Gappa. “A clip was played from the newscast that afternoon from WSBT that showed all of the elementary students in the gym being read to by one of their newscasters. They also watched a follow up with some of the students in the office talking with the WSBT personnel.”

Some of the board members had not seen the clip and they enjoyed the review the students gave during the meeting.