The Knox School Board reviewed building plans and proposed budget figures for the elementary school addition project with a representative of the architectural firm of Barton-Coe-Vilamaa when it met Monday night. Bids will be considered on March 24th, Construction is expected to start at the end of April. Continue reading
Longtime Knox School Board Attorney Retires
The Knox School Board’s attorney for the past decade, William Satterlee, of Valparaiso, Monday night attended his last meeting in that role. In an emotion filled statement, Satterlee expressed his gratitude for the opportunity of working with the Knox School Board. Each of the board members and the administrators responded with complimentary remarks about the legal work done for them. Continue reading
Knox School Board Approves Bus Purchase
North Judson-San Pierre Board Questions Balanced Calendar Alignment
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
North Judson-San Pierre School Board members raised a question about the balanced calendar during their meeting last night. The proposed calendar moves the start of school to the first of August, adds longer breaks in the fall and spring that can be used for remediation if necessary and ends the school year the first of June. The first semester would still end in December before the two week Christmas break as it presently does.
Board members wondered what the earlier start to the school year would do to high school students who work for Pioneer detassling corn during their summer vacations. Continue reading
Knox School Board Considering Elementary School Renovation, Expansion
A public hearing was held by the Knox School Board Monday evening for the renovation and addition being planned for Knox Elementary School. The project is designed to expand the kitchen and cafeteria areas by about 5,500 square feet. A final hearing is scheduled for November 3rd.
Superintendent A.J. Gappa presented a detailed summary the 2015 budget, expressing a concern about the effect of reduced revenues on operations. The board will hold the final hearing on that budget on October 20th.
The purchase of a 78 passenger bus was approved, as was the hire of four substitute teachers and substitute personnel for food service and custodial work.
Raelyn Binkley was approved for the position of Middle School Treasurer, effective October 20th, subject to the customary criminal history report.
In the “Spotlight on Success” portion of the agenda, Middle School Principal Josh Pugh and three students made presentations on the successful Manufacturer’s Day event, attended by 7th grade students from Knox, North Judson and Oregon-Davis schools last week.
Knox School Board Approves Budget, Discusses Balanced Calendar
Superintendent A.J. Gappa reported that balanced calendar discussions for the 2015-16 school year continue with other area schools, many of whom have expressed interest in a coordinated calendar. That schedule would feature four nine week sessions and
two-week breaks at Christmas and in the Spring, with the school year ending around Memorial Day. Continue reading
Enrollment Down at Knox Schools
The first tally of the fall 2014 student enrollment at the Knox schools shows a drop of some 50 students from the previous year at the same time. Superintendent A.J. Gappa reported to last night’s meeting of the school board the loss of student attendance was across all grade levels. An officiall tally is scheduled later this month which will determine the state’s financial reimbursement to the schools.
Indiana Schools Keeping Redskins Nickname
The Knox Redskins have no plans to change their nickname any time soon. The school corporation has used the nickname since the 1890s. Superintendent A.J. Gappa is quoted in a Network Indiana story as saying “at this point, there has been no conversation about changing it at all.” Continue reading
Knox School Board Sets School Meal Prices
The meal prices for the Knox Community Schools’ 2014-15 school year have been officially set by the school board. The breakfast price will remain the same at $1.15. Lunch prices will increase by 10-cents. That brings the elementary school lunch price to $1.85. The middle and high school lunches will be $2.10. Knox Community School Corporation Superintendent A.J. Gappa says even with the 10-cent increase, Knox Elementary School still has the lowest lunch price in the area.
Area Schools Present Balanced Calendar Information
Area school corporations continue to present information about a balanced calendar school schedule. Argos, Culver, John Glenn, Knox, North Judson-San Pierre, Oregon-Davis, Plymouth and Triton are all considering the approach. During a meeting last night at the high school cafeteria, Knox Superintendent A.J. Gappa stressed the balanced calendar is not year-round school. It still provides the state-mandated 180 days of classroom instruction. School would start about a week or a week-and-a-half earlier than it does now and end at the beginning of June. The schedule would also feature two-week breaks for remediation and vacation in the fall and spring. Research indicates student grades improve and discipline problems decrease when schools go to the balanced calendar approach. Additionally, students retain more knowledge from one school year to the next. Continue reading
Knox Community Schools Undergo Bus Inspection
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa gave a report to the school board about the recent bus inspection. He says the state police have changed the procedure in inspecting buses.
“In the past, they used to do in the summer and we had weeks to prepare our buses. Now, because the state has cut back on the number of troopers that do the inspections, they have to do them throughout the year,” said Gappa.
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