Mark your calendars, and get your checkbooks ready. The 8th Annual Starke County Youth Club Radiothon on WKVI will take place this Friday. Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the organization has been serving youngsters with after-school, summer and recreational programs since 2001.
“It really is a wide variety of activities and projects to meet kids where they are, keep them learning, support working families and build community,” Szakonyi said. Continue reading
The North Judson-San Pierre High School principal attributes the uptick in the graduation rate at the corporation to the efforts of determined students, staff, and counselors.
The rate has only gone up slightly each year for the past few years, but Annette Zupin told the school board this week that it means a lot to see students improve. Zupin believes an 11 percent increase in the graduation rate between 2013 and 2014 is due to the determination of students to graduate. The graduation rate was at 84.7 percent in 2013 and 95.8 percent in 2014. The school board members are hoping for the same or better results this year. Continue reading
The state legislature hopes to give more funding for schools, but according to North Judson-San Pierre Schools Superintendent Lynn Johnson her corporation will still see a cut in funding.
She says the schools that are growing, or increasing in enrollment, will see an increase in funding. She explained to the North Judson-San Pierre School Board last night that the corporation’s enrollment is declining which means a cut in funding.
The House and Senate are still attempting to finalize a budget. The House has its school funding plan while the Senate plan differs in numbers. Either way, Johnson said, the school corporation will not see an increase in its budget.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will be honoring seven students for their accomplishments in the recent Academic Decathlon.
The group finished fourth in the small school division. Nick Sierzputowski finished third overall in the individual competition while Jayden Ford had with the top Math score. The board members will take the time to recognize those students along with Tyler Lee, Suleman Khan, Jarrod Jones, Jacob Dessauer and Carrie Hileman for their efforts in the Academic Decathlon.
A North Judson-San Pierre Middle School student is a semifinalist in the 2015 Indiana National Geographic State Bee. Eighth-grader Cameron Kolasa finished first in the school level competition. School bees took place at schools with 4th through 8th grade students. Winners at the school level took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. Up to 100 of the top-scoring students in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Department of Defense Dependents Schools and U.S. territories were invited to compete in the state bees. Indiana’s will take place Friday, March 27 in Indianapolis. Continue reading
Applications for the Starke County Community Foundation’s Lilly Endowment Scholarship are due next week. The application is available online at www.ncif.org and must be turned in by Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2015.
The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program offers a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to one local high school senior who will start college in the fall of 2015. The recipient must intend to be a full-time student and pursue a baccalaureate degree at any accredited public or private Indiana college or university. Prospective applicants must currently live in Starke County and be high school seniors graduating by the end of June 2015 with a diploma from an accredited Indiana high school. Continue reading
Showcase your creativity and support for the community by entering a design in the Starke County Highway Department’s logo contest. Continue reading
The North Judson-San Pierre Academic Team was given the Blue Jay Way award at the school board meeting this week for winning the annual spell bowl competition last month. The school hosted the elementary competition for 11 schools in five different classes competing against each other. Continue reading
Students at North Judson-San Pierre High School staged a sit-in today to protest the school’s decision to move the band to the auditorium and turn the music suite into a weight room. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says in a letter to choral and band parents “the intention is not to devalue music.” She says the existing second floor weight room behind the bleachers is no longer structurally sound and must be located on the ground level. Johnson adds major renovations are not possible at this time due to financial concerns.
Her letter explains physical education is a required course of study for high school students, and the curriculum includes physical conditioning. Johnson says “this means all high school students use the weight room, not just athletes”.
The North Judson-San Pierre School board approved board policies this week. Among the many policies in place, the school’s wellness policy was updated to be compliant with federal law. It incorporates guidelines into the school’s cafeteria food, vending machines and physical activity practices.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board unanimously approved tax anticipation warrants in the amount of $662,000, with an interest rate of .95 percent. Continue reading
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will vote on bids for the approval of tax anticipation warrants tonight. This is done every year to get the school through the end of December in terms of finances. Continue reading
The North Judson-San Pierre Middle School Student Council is sponsoring a Pennies for Patients drive through the Indiana chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Proceeds will help Indiana youngsters who suffer from blood diseases. Student council members hope to raise $4,000. Continue reading
Gov. Mike Pence’s education agenda for the upcoming legislative session draws mixed reviews from a local school administrator who is looking to the General Assembly for meaningful reform. North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson agrees with some of the things the governor is suggesting, such as accountability that takes into account student growth.
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation has lost millions of dollars due over the past several years due to a combination of state funding cuts, declining enrollment and unfunded mandates. During a Tuesday night public forum, Johnson said the legislature needs to increase the amount of money it pays corporations per enrolled student. That’s also among the items on Pence’s agenda. Continue reading
A school administrator who got his start in Starke County will take over as head of one of the state’s wealthiest school districts in January. The Hamilton Southeastern School Board voted Tuesday to hire Dr. Allen Bourff as superintendent. He will take over that position Jan. 1. Bourff will be paid $175,000 annually through June of 2016, with automatic annual pay raises if the board deems his performance effective or highly effective. Continue reading
A combination of declining enrollment, cuts in state funding and unfunded service mandates has North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation officials facing some difficult choices. They’ve already had to cut $800,000 from their budget this school year. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says eight staff members have been notified they will not have jobs after the school year ends. She says the corporation is looking to the Indiana General Assembly for meaningful education reform when the legislature convenes in January. Continue reading
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation is holding a public meeting tonight at the high school auditorium. The Fight for Public Education presentation headlines the evening with what the future at N.J.-S.P. could be. A combination of declining revenue and enrollment over the last several years have resulted in drastic budget cuts. Continue reading
The Knox Community School Board will consider the adoption of a balanced calendar when they meet this evening. It still features 180 instructional days. School starts the first of August and ends the first of June. Students get longer fall and spring breaks which can be used for remediation or enrichment activities. Continue reading
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board this week approved the proposed pool activities list for members of the community. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says they will offer swim lessons and have open swim times for kids and their families. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre hosted the annual elementary spell bowl competition Thursday night. A total of 11 schools in five different classes competed against each other. Continue reading
