Knox High School Renovation Project Nearing Completion

Posted on Author WKVI
New lockers were installed as part of the QSCB project at the high school

The Knox Community High School has been under construction this past summer. The Corporation received a Qualified School Construction Bond and Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the money was used to fix several issues at the High School:

“The main part of the project was to replace the water pipes throughout the building,” said Gappa. “The building is a little over 35 years old and many of the pipes had become clogged, water pressure at the east end of the building was pretty weak and in some places hot water was just trickling out of the pipes instead of streaming. It was due to be finished this week before school started and the majority of the work will be finished. The last part of the project in the main part of the building are the sinks and the restrooms. They are due to arrive today and will be installed this week and so everything will be ready to go for school.”

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Knox Kindergarten Teachers Conduct Home Visits

Posted on Author WKVI

The Director of Curriculum and Instruction at the Knox Community School Corporation, Peggy Shidaker, and seven teachers visited 120 incoming Kindergarten students at their homes to make sure the students and the parents are prepared for the new school year.

“When we arrived, we were greeted warmly by every parent in our school corporation of our incoming Kindergarteners and that was fantastic,” said Miss Shidaker. “We were able to take them a little Dr. Suess bag and in that Dr. Suess bag each student received a coloring activity book, an activity calendar that gets them ready for school and they received a book. The parents received a pamphlet called Making the Move to Kindergarten.”

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Washington Township Fire Department Proposes New Training Facility

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

Washington Township Trustee, Shelly Kemble, and Washington Township firefighters Joe Short and David Pearman made a presentation to the Knox Community School Board about building a training tower at the old Washington Township School. Superintendent, A.J. Gappa explains why they had to seek the permission of the Board to pursue this project:

“Because the land that the old Washington Township school sits on was at one time donated to the school and given back to the Township and because of the structure of the Indiana laws, before anybody can do anything with that property, they have to get School Board approval. It’s supposed to be in the form of Parks and Recreation.”

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News from the Knox Community School Board

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board approved administrator contract rollovers and a one percent pay increase for all classified and administrative staff for 2011. The pay increase is the same the teachers received for 2011.

The Board also approved the advertisement of the budget for 2012. The budget will be printed for all funds including the General Fund, Debt Service Fund, Retirement/Severance Bond Debt Service, Capital Projects Fund, School Transportation and the Bus Replacement Fund. Total of all funds to be advertised equals $24,197,043.

Knox Community School Board Study ISTEP Results

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board dissected the Corporation’s ISTEP results at their meeting Monday night.

Students in the Elementary School showed gains in the 3rd grade Math and English/Language Arts while the 4th graders were down a little in English/Language Arts and unchanged in Math. The 5th grade students had a five point gain in Math.

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Knox Redskin Brigade Prepares for Another Season

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Redskin Brigade is in the middle of its summer camp and band members have been busy preparing for the fall marching season. Director Craige Phipps invites you to a community performance of the show “By the Water’s Edge” on Thursday, August 4th at 8:45 p.m. at the High School.

This year’s show tells the story of a watering hole that has been touched by man, infiltrated by man and then creating balance between man and beast in the environment.

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Knox School Registration Begins Next Week

Posted on Author WKVI

We’re nearing the end of July already and pretty soon kids will be getting ready to go back to school. In fact, the Knox Community School Board recently reviewed the registration dates and times for students that will begin next week.

Knox Elementary, Middle and High School students will register beginning Tuesday, August 2nd through Thursday, August 4th. Superintendent A.J. Gappa highlights a couple of back-to-school events in August.

“We’re going to hold Back-to-School Night on Monday, August 15th and that will be in all three buildings from 4:00-6:00 p.m.,” said Gappa. “Freshmen Orientation will take place on Wednesday, August 10th from 8:00-11:00 a.m. and students will report for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 16th.”

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Knox Community School Board Approves Agreement with Porter/Starke Services

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members approved a memorandum of understanding with Porter/Starke Services at their meeting last week. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the memorandum was possible due to the work of High School Assistant Principal, Mike Bendicsen, who sits on the Board of Porter/Starke Services.

“If they have a student who is receiving services from Porter/Starke and if the parents agree that they can, they would like to have permission to meet that student on school property,” said Mr. Gappa. “What that would do for our students is save travel time from possibly going to Valparaiso or meeting out of school time. We’re just trying to make it as easy as possible for our students to meet with their counselors.”

Knox School Board Approves Textbook Fees

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Community School Board approved textbook rental fees for the upcoming school year. Superintendent, A.J. Gappa said the prices have decreased at the Elementary School. The lowest textbook price is $70 at the third grade level and the highest price is $99 at the fifth grade level.

“And the difference is because of the cost of the textbooks and supplies that each grade level receives,” said Gappa. “In comparison to last year, book rental fees are slightly down. The main reason for that is that the State has dropped cursive writing as a required standard. Even though we are still going to teach cursive writing as part of the curriculum and instruction that is given by the teachers, we didn’t find it necessary to buy a consumable workbook that went with each grade level.”

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Knox Community School Students Will Dismiss Early on Fridays during School Year

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Community School Board started a discussion with the Teacher’s Union last year to try and offer more Professional Development for the teachers during the school year. The State requires that schools be in session for 180 days which doesn’t allow much extra time for Professional Development opportunities without conflicting with contract terms. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says that some neighboring schools had a plan that the Knox Schools will implement this school year.

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Knox Schools on Track to Implement One-to-One Computer Program this School Year

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox Middle School and High School are participating in a one-to-one computer program this fall where all students will receive a computer to use for the entire year. The final preparations are being made for that transition and Superintendent, A.J. Gappa gave the School Board an update on that progress this week.

“The Principals and Curriculum Director have been meeting and putting together Policy and Procedures Handbooks for the computers and the computer use guidelines,” said Mr. Gappa. “There should be a letter going out to parents later this week with some of those explanations. We will have a student agreement form for students to sign when they receive their computer and also a parent agreement form for parents to sign.”

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Knox Community School Board Appoints Assistant Middle School Principal

Posted on Author WKVI
Dave Miller and Josh Pugh

The Knox Community School Board members approved the appointment of Josh Pugh as the Middle School Assistant Principal at their meeting last night.

Pugh has been a Knox Elementary School teacher for the past 10 years. He has worked as a 2nd grade teacher and as a Reading Coach. He said that he looks forward to the challenge of the position of Assistant Principal and will do it to the best of his ability.

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USDA Summer Food Program in Place until July 28th at Knox Middle School

Posted on Author WKVI

The USDA Summer Food Program is still available at the Knox Middle School. Free breakfast and lunch is available to children ages 18 and younger. Breakfast is served from 7:30-8:30 a.m. and lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at the Knox Middle School.

Kit Ream, Food Services Director at the Knox Community School Corporation, says the Cafeteria staff has been serving between 100 to 170 students for lunch and a few less for breakfast. You are encouraged to take advantage of this free service weekdays from now until July 28th.

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Students Complete Two Week Kindergarten Countdown Program

Posted on Author WKVI
Volunteers from IU Health Starke Hospital help students with a project

Students who never had been in a school setting and who will be entering Kindergarten at the Knox Community School Corporation this Fall have been in a Kindergarten Countdown class for the past two weeks. The students have made great strides since their first day, according to Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Peggy Shidaker.

“They have been learning their numbers, their letters, their colors, their shapes and they have learned not only how to get acclimated to the school, but to their peers, to the bus, to the rules and to the cafeteria,” said Miss Shidaker. “Most importantly, they have started to learn the process of learning. We just couldn’t be more pleased.” Continue reading →

Renovation Project Continues at Knox High School

Posted on Author WKVI
Crews have been replacing water pipes throughout the High School

The renovation project is progressing at Knox High School. A Qualified School Construction Bond in the amount of $1,970,000 was approved for the replacement of water pipes, construction in the pool area, new lockers and more at the High School.

“All the water pipes throughout the High School are being replaced and that’s a major project,” explained Superintendent, A.J. Gappa. “All the ceiling tiles had to be removed to get to the water pipes. Many of the cement block walls had to be cut into and blocks taken out to replace pipes and then put back into place. We have some major work going on in the pool area because of the changing of the ceiling and the lighting in addition to the deck lining and so forth. Everything is torn up, there’s dust everywhere, but work is progressing. It appears that a couple things may be a little ahead of schedule and a couple of other things are just barely behind, but everybody thinks it will be done on time, which is mid-August.” Continue reading →

Teacher Contract Approved at Knox Community Schools

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The teacher contract has been ratified by the Knox Federation of Teachers and the Knox Community School Board and Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the Board approved the contract Monday afternoon.

“Our old contract with the teachers actually ran out December 31st, 2010, so we’ve been working as a status quo contract for the last six months,” said Gappa. “We got together with the teachers and maybe had one of the shortest negotiation that we’ve ever had, but everybody was proactive and in agreement and we worked together. The teachers had a meeting Friday morning and they ratified the contract and then we had a special board meeting Monday afternoon and the Board voted to approve the agreement between the KFT and the Knox Community School Corporation.”

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Knox Community School Board Reviews Lease Agreement with Conn-Selmer

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox Community School Board approved a lease agreement with Conn-Selmer Monday night. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the School Corporation and Conn-Selmer have had this lease agreement for band equipment for the past ten years:

“Under the terms of the agreement, we are able to purchase expensive musical equipment at a huge discount which is a benefit for us,” said Gappa. “One the other side, Conn-Selmer advertises Knox as one of their schools that they supply instruments for. Our marching band in the past has had much success around the state so they use that to their benefit and it really helps our band department with the purchase of much needed big equipment.”

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Knox School Board Anticipates Contract Agreement with Knox Federation of Teachers

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board has set a tentative meeting with the Knox Federation of Teachers on Monday, June 27th, at 4:00 p.m. CT. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the Board hopes to approve the ratification of the teacher’s contract during this meeting.

“We came to a conclusion of agreement and we’re trying to beat the July 1st deadline where many new laws take effect and it’s going to effect how schools can operate,” said Gappa. “At this point in time, we’ve come to an agreement and we hope to ratify on June 27th.”

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Knox Community School Board Approves Student Handbook Changes

Posted on Author WKVI
Gary Dulin, Jerry Fletcher, Harold Welter, Mary Lynn Ritchie, Kirk Bennett, Nathan Marcum, Mike Yankauskas, Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members approved student handbook changes at all building levels at their meeting Monday night.

Elementary Principal, Glenn Barnes, requested that the handbook reflect changes for telephone use by the students. Beginning in August, students may have cell phones with the restriction that they are kept in backpacks during class time and on bus rides.
Also, students who ride the bus on longer bus routes will now be able to use electronic devices while riding to and from school.

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