Shidaker Spotlighted During Knox School Board Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Knox Community School Corporation, Peggy Shidaker, was spotlighted during the school board’s recent meeting for taking part in HealthLinc’s Back to School Health and Wellness Fair. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said Miss Shidaker and a teacher represented the school in highest regards.

“Miss Shidaker attended the Health Fair along with third grade teacher, Shannon Pitts,” explained Gappa. “They represented the school and passed out information to families who were in attendance that would help them improve their wellness and health of not only their student, but their whole family.”

The pair handed out bus safety information, as well as information on peer pressure. Coloring books and activity books were distributed to the younger students. Approximately 80 students came through the school’s booth.

Knox Kindergarten Teachers Meet With Incoming Kindergartners

Posted on Author WKVI

The kindergarten teachers from the Knox Community School Corporation and Peggy Shidaker, the director of curriculum and instruction, recently visited all of the incoming kindergarten students and their families to welcome them into the school corporation.

Shidaker discusses those visits.

“During those visits, we met the child, we met the parents, we also took materials and distributed some activity books, an activity calendar, a book and a t-shirt donated by IU Health Starke Hospital. All of our kindergarteners are going to show up on that first day of school with a brand-new t-shirt,” said Shidaker.

Continue reading →

Work Session Tonight Regarding Knox Elementary Palmer Wing

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board will hold a work session tonight to discuss the possible Palmer Wing Elementary School construction project.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa says tonight’s meeting is to gather more public opinion on the condition of the Palmer Wing.

“Part of the elementary school is coming up on 60 years old and there’s some work that needs to be done,” said Gappa. “The board feels that it’s time for them to make a decision. They want to go with one more public meeting to get input from the patrons of the community. So, the board has scheduled an open meeting workshop at 6 p.m. and that will be held in the Palmer Wing All-Purpose Room which is at the east end of the elementary school.”

Continue reading →

Work Session To Be Held Regarding Knox Elementary Palmer Wing

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Community School Board will hold a work session on Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 6 p.m. to discuss the possible elementary facility project.

Residents are encouraged to attend this event and give their opinion on what the board should do with the Palmer Wing of the elementary school. The board has been getting updates from the Elementary Facility Study Committee; Architects Barton, Coe, Villema and financial representatives Umbaugh and Associates, and the groups have been discussing all options available.

The Palmer Wing is deteriorating and can no longer house all of the technology and necessary needs in that section of the elementary school. The board has the options of doing nothing, tearing down the Palmer Wing and building a new structure in its place, or rehabilitating the current structure.

The board will meet in the Knox Community Elementary School All-Purpose Room and will take comments from the public. No action will be taken at this meeting.

Knox Community School Board To Meet With Architecture Firm

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board discussed the Facility Study Committee’s progress with the Palmer Wing. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the committee is still gathering information on whether to build a new wing or to rehabilitate the deteriorated structure.

“Our board has a committee that will meet this week with a representative from the Barton, Coe and Villema architecture firm in Fort Wayne,” said Gappa. “We will proceed with talk about the possibility of a renovation or replacing the Palmer Wing at the elementary school.”

After the Committee meets with the architect, Gappa says the Board will plan meetings with the public.

“We plan to have some more public meetings and invite the members of the public in and get input on which direction to go,” said Gappa.

Knox High School Graphics Department Receives Flexo Press Machine

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox High School Graphic Arts Department has received a flexo press machine to help expand the many programs in that department.

The Mark Andy 830 flexo press comes from Bettylyn Kraft from the Phoenix Challenge. Knox High School is the only school in the state to add a flexo press to the print education program, allowing students to print packaging and other labels.

Continue reading →

No Rest In Sight For The Knox Redskin Brigade

Posted on Author WKVI

The summer months usually mean a summer vacation for students, but not for the members of the Knox Redskin Brigade. Director Craige Phipps says the marching season and the regular band season is right around the corner.

“We start full-bore at the end of July and run through the end of May,” said Phipps. “We really do try and give them as much time as we can, but even with that, there’s things that need to be done through the summer.”

Phipps said the staff talked about what type of show to do this year and the music from “Cirque du Soleil”came up in conversation. He explains the show’s concept from there.

Continue reading →

Knox School Officials Learn About New Superintendent Evaluation Model

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Superintendent A.J. Gappa and three members of the Knox Community School Board recently attended a training session in Gary concerning the new superintendent evaluation model.

“According to the new law, it has to be implemented during the 2012 to 2013 school year,” said Gappa. “By the middle of September, we have to have an evaluation tool submitted to the State. We thought it was a valuable information session. It was information that we will need to proceed in that area.”

The session was facilitated by members of the Indiana School Boards Association.

The administration evaluation is a lot like the new RISE teacher evaluation which looks at a teacher’s professional practice and measures student learning.

Knox School Lunch Prices To Increase Slightly

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board approved an increase in breakfast and lunch prices for the 2012-2013 school year. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says a nickel increase will be incurred across the board.

“Breakfast at all schools will be $1.15 this coming school year,” explained Gappa. “Elementary lunch will be $1.75 and the middle and high school lunches will be $2. Those have all increased a nickel from last year.”

Knox School Board Receives Update Regarding Possible Palmer Wing Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa gave an update on the Facility Study Committee during the school board’s recent meeting. The committee will be looking at financing options and which direction to go with a possible project at the Palmer Wing of the Knox Elementary School.

“We’re going to try and meet with Curt Pletcher from Umbaugh and Associates in the next week with our committee of three of our board members to discuss how to proceed further with a possible elementary project,” said Gappa. “We’ve been giving reports on a meeting-by-meeting basis just to keep the public and the board informed. This is our next step.”

Knox Earns Recognition As Riley School, Corporation

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Effort at all three Knox Community School buildings was highlighted during Monday night’s Knox Community School Board meeting. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said that because of the effort, the corporation is now known as a Riley Corporation.

“We highlighted all three buildings, the elementary school, middle school and the high school, for contributions made to the Riley’s Children Hospital in Indianapolis,” said Gappa. “This is a great benefit to kids throughout the State of Indiana. I know many Knox kids in the past have used the facilities at Riley and many Starke County kids also,” said Gappa.

Continue reading →

Cafeteria Prices To Increase At Knox Schools

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members discussed cafeteria prices this week, and Superintendent A.J. Gappa said a proposal was made to increase prices for the next school year.

“We are proposing a nickel increase in lunches which will keep us in the lowest price range for lunch service in the county and lower than most of the schools around,” said Gappa.

He says the increase in price is mostly caused by regulation changes at the federal level.

Continue reading →

Knox School Board Discusses Elementary Palmer Wing Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board got an update on the progress of the Facility Study Committee on Monday night. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the committee is gathering figures for the possible project on the Palmer Wing of the elementary school.

“Architect Dana Wanamaker had sent some figures over to the school and to representatives from Umbaugh finance, and we still haven’t talked to the representative from Umbaugh so we are still in that planning stage of how to move forward,” said Gappa. “We will be meeting with our board committee in the near future and getting information back out to the public.”

Continue reading →

Knox Community Schools Begin Summer Food Service Program

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Community School Corporation has started the Summer Food Service Program, and is offering free meals to any child 18 years of age and younger. Free meals are also available for any adults who are enrolled in a state-approved educational program for the mentally or physically disabled.

Breakfast and lunch will be served at the Knox Community High School Monday through Thursday until July 26, although the kitchen will be closed July 4. Breakfast is served from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT.

The USDA Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP) was created to serve nutritious meals to children when the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program meals are not available. To ensure that all children receive proper nutrition throughout the year, SFSP reimburses organizations that prepare and serve meals to eligible children during the summer.

Knox Community High School Prepares For Graduation

Posted on Author WKVI

Graduation for Knox Community High School Seniors is set for tonight at 7:00 p.m. in Weinberg Gym. Valedictorian Taylor Quella and Salutatorian Brenden Owens will be addressing the student body and a slide show of pictures will be presented.

The guest speaker will be Dr. Byron Holm, owner of the Holm Medical Clinic at Lifeplex and the Holm Medical Clinic in Walkerton. Dr. Holm is a 1965 Knox High School graduate.

Knox High School Teacher Wins Department of Education Essay Contest

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Department of Education issued a unique challenge to the teachers this spring. They presented a contest in which a staff member was asked to write a six-word essay about a colleague or about the school. Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa said one of the teachers at Knox was selected as a winner in the contest.

“Mary Kleinfehn, one of the teachers at the high school who is actually going to retire at the end of the year – she’s taught Special Ed here for many years – wrote her six-word essay about Curriculum Director Peggy Shidaker. She has worked with her for many years. Two weeks ago, the Department of Education picked six winners from around the state and Mrs. Kleinfehn’s essay was selected as the winner from the Northwest region of the state,” said Gappa.

Continue reading →

SCILL Center Announces Students of the Month

Posted on Author WKVI
Brian Fulghum
Raymond Singleton

The SCILL Center is pleased to announce the Student of the Month recipients for the month of April.

Raymond Singleton from Oregon-Davis High School and Brian Fulghum from Knox High School were the AM class recipients of the award. Thomas Carey from Knox High School and Lucas Borg from Culver Community High School were the PM class recipients of the award. Continue reading →

Graduation Services To Take Place Tomorrow Afternoon For Local Schools

Posted on Author WKVI

Graduation services were held last night for Eastern Pulaski Seniors and another graduation service is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon reports the details of graduation services for seniors.

“That’ll be on Sunday, May 27,” said Mellon. “Baccalaureate is at 2 p.m. ET with Commencement to follow.”

Knox Community High School Commencement is Friday, June 1 at 7 p.m. in the Weinberg Gymnasium, and graduation at North Judson-San Pierre High School is slated for Sunday, June 3 at 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.

Knox Community Schools Laptops Benefit Students, Teachers

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Knox Technology Coach Chris Ross gave a laptop usage update to the Knox Community School Board members this week. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says it has been a learning experience for teachers and students.

“We talked about how the staff has transformed from the beginning of last year where they were all entry level and how they’ve progressed throughout the school year – some more rapidly than others because they’re handier with technology,” said Gappa.

Continue reading →

Knox School Board Approves Library Board Improvement Plan

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members approved the Starke County Library Board’s plan for improvements that include the elementary school property. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the plan would save the library some time and money.

“They would like to tie into our sewer line, if possible,” said Gappa. “It would save them a lot of labor and probably some costs on some materials. They need to change a sidewalk that connects our elementary property with the library property. They also want to hook into the horseshoe drive at the elementary school off Culver Road so the back parking lot of the library would have an exit into the horseshoe drive.”

The plans were submitted to the board during their last meeting.