North Judson School Board Approves Purchase of Three Buses

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board approved a motion this week to advertise for the purchase of three new school buses. The bids will be opened in December and they will be delivered in the summer.

The board also learned that students involved in the FFA program will be attending the National Convention next week in Indianapolis. Superintendent Lynn Johnson said the organization has grown to 40 members which is the largest it’s been in several years.

Johnson said the next school board meeting on Nov. 20 will feature a representative from AdvancED who will be discussing the corporation-wide accreditation process. The individual schools were accredited in the past and now the entire corporation will go through the process as a whole. If the corporation passes, the accreditation will be good for five years. The process is part of a school improvement initiative.

NJSP Board Undergoes Superintendent Evaluation Training

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board recently underwent superintendent evaluation training with three other school corporations. New requirements were discussed with the new evaluation. Superintendents, teachers, and principals at all corporations are all now being evaluated under a new state requirement.

The school board will hold a safety meeting on Oct. 5 to allow officials to explain crisis procedures and update current policies. The state has required the school to update the procedures and coordinate them with law enforcement and the health department.

North Judson-San Pierre Schools To Endure Hefty Budget Cuts

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board discussed the budget outlook for the next two years and Superintendent Lynn Johnson said the school will take a major budget hit in 2012 and 2013.

“Close to one million dollars,” said Johnson. “One of the things we lost was the restoration grant and the small schools grant. Those two losses did come up to about a million dollars. Of course, it depends on enrollment. If we have an increase in enrollment, of course that will help us. There’s a lot of variables we have to look at, but right now we are looking at decreased revenue and I’m sure we’re not the only school corporation.”

On top of the budget cut, Johnson says they are also suffering from a decrease in enrollment.

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NJSP School Board Discusses Summer Enrichment Program

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board met Tuesday night and Superintendent Lynn Johnson said the Board approved several items on the agenda.

“The school handbooks for the 2012-2012 school year were approved, the textbook adoption for next year for fine arts and technical arts, the Summer Enrichment Program which will run July 24 through August 2, and also the budget calendar for the 2013 budget,” said Johnson.

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North Judson Town Marshal Presents Information to School Board

Posted on Author WKVI
Doug Vessely
North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely

North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely gave a presentation to the North Judson-San Pierre School Board this week.

“We had a presentation by Police Chief Doug Vessely on substance abuse within the community and Starke County,” said Superintendent Lynn Johnson. “His information will be helpful as we are in the process of revising our policies to implement next school year. This was an informational session by Officer Vessely.”

North Judson-San Pierre School Board Learns IREAD Results

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre High School

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board got an update on how the third grade students performed on the state mandated IREAD test. This is a new test and if the students do not pass the test the first time, they will have a second chance in the summer. If the student cannot pass the test the second time, the child will be held back to retake the third grade reading class.

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North Judson-San Pierre School Board Discusses J.E.S.S.E. Reorganization

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The J.E.S.S.E. Cooperative is reorganizing to where all schools in the Cooperative will house their own services and classes for Special Education students. The North Judson-San Pierre School Board discussed that issue during their meeting and Superintendent Lynn Johnson relays that information.

“We are moving more services into our school district then we’ll have a service district comprised of Starke County – Knox, Oregon-Davis and North Judson-San Pierre,” said Mrs. Johnson. “This year is a transitional year and beginning July 1st most of our special education employees will become North Judson-San Pierre employees. Right now this is a transitional year. We are in the process of reorganizing and it’s an ongoing process this year.”

North Judson-San Pierre School Board Discusses Teacher Evaluations

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board discussed teacher evaluation requirements at their meeting this week. Superintendent Lynn Johnson said that evaluations are necessary due to state law and those evaluations will determine merit pay for the teachers. The components that will be required are still being determined.

Kelly Manning from 21st Century Scholars and Senator Ed Charbonneau recognized Suzie Matzat during the Board meeting. She has been instrumental in keeping the program alive in the Middle School where she was the Guidance Counselor for many years and in the High School where she maintains that position. She was given a plaque as a result of her positive promotion in getting the word out about the program where students can earn free tuition to an Indiana College or University if they sign a contract and remain drug and alcohol free throughout their school career.

North Judson-San Pierre School Board Submits Bus Purchase Order

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

Lynn Johnson, the Superintendent of the North Judson-San Pierre School system, talked with WKVI News this week about the highlights of the most recent School Board meeting.

“We did put in a bus purchase notice,” said Mrs. Johnson. “We’re looking at the possibility of purchasing one 72 passenger bus, one special needs bus with a lift, and one multi-purpose bus. Depending on funding, we may purchase two out of the three. We just don’t know yet.”

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North Judson-San Pierre School Board Hires Teacher for Math, Science Classes

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre High School

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board met in regular session last week.

“We have increased numbers at the high school in our Math and Science classes so we did hire a teacher who is going to do part-time Math and part-time Science at the secondary level,” said Superintendent Lynn Johnson of some of the highlights of the meeting. “The boys basketball team are going to have their annual Golf Outing on October 15th. That’s their fundraiser for the year. We also had the adoption of the 2012 budget.”

North Judson Town Board Discusses Pool Fills, Mowing Ordinance

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson Town Board: Dan Anderson, Wendy Hoppe, Jane Ellen Felchuk, Attorney Cassie Hine and Clerk-Treasurer Connie Miller

The North Judson Town Board members discussed pool fills at their recent meeting. The Board approved the action of pool fills but an ordinance will be constructed to outline the fees. The Board approved the fee of $.03 a gallon for water and $.80 a mile for fuel. A credit card will also need to be provided to ensure payment. A bill will not be sent.

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North Judson-San Pierre School Board Approves Retirements

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre High School

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board met in special session Tuesday night to discuss retirements.

Superintendent Lynn Johnson said nine retirements were approved and eight of those were due to Reductions in Force. Incentives were given to teachers to retire as part of a Reduction in Force initiative.  The Board will post a couple of those positions and hope to fill those internally but applications will be accepted. Two positions will be Elementary positions and two will be secondary English positions in the Middle and High Schools.

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Discussion Held Concerning Next Step for North Judson-San Pierre Marching Band

Posted on Author WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre marching band performs in a contest in October

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board did not make a decision concerning the future of the marching band program at its meeting this week.

Superintendent Lynn Johnson told WKVI that she gathered information on cost and number of students in other marching bands and presented that information to the Board. Several community members, parents and students attended the meeting and voiced their opinions and concerns about the marching band. The Board hopes to work with the students and the band department to keep the program alive in the future. Future meetings will entail planning and restructuring the marching band program to make it a sustainable program.

North Judson-San Pierre School Board News

Posted on Author WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board approved a field trip request from the North Judson-San Pierre Marching Band. The band will perform in the Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade on May 5th. Superintendent Lynn Johnson said the students have worked hard and are excited to perform in this parade.

The Board approved the 2011-2012 school calendar. The beginning of school for the next school year will be Tuesday, August 16th.

The Board retreat is Thursday, January 27th. The Director of the Indiana School Board Association will facilitate the meeting and he will evaluate the Superintendent and her duties since being in office.