Starke County Youth Club Helps Schools Help Students

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Starke County Youth Club aims to be a support system for children, families and the three county school corporations.

“We know that schools are under tremendous pressure to have kids succeed academically, and that a lot of funding for schools is tied to how kids perform on standardized tests. That’s really a lot to ask of a school community. It is part of our job to ensure we are supporting what the schools need to accomplish.”

Executive Director Irene Szakonyi says the Starke County Youth Club does that by providing after school enrichment programs for 600 youngsters at four sites across the county. All of the programs are based in local schools, so Szakonyi says the staff is in constant contact with teachers, administrators and others to make sure students are getting what they need. She says children who succeed academically have a greater likelihood of being successful adults.  Continue reading →

North Judson-San Pierre School Board Approves Contract for The Crossing

Posted on Author WKVI

The CrossingAll three Starke County schools have now approved a contract to be part of The Crossing alternative school.

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board approved the contract Tuesday night and will join Knox Community Schools and Oregon-Davis Schools in creating a Starke County Crossing school. The school helps those students who have fallen out of the traditional public school setting and helps them get a second chance at getting the education that they need.

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North Judson-San Pierre School Board Continues to Study Budget for Cuts

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board continues to find ways to cut $1.2 million from the general fund in the corporation’s budget.

Superintendent Lynn Johnson said a budget work session was held last week to tackle this issue.

“We’re still in the process of making reductions,” stated Johnson. “We did have some retirements this year and so that does help with the budget. Some of the budget reductions will be basically a half of a year because we’re just talking just half of the year in 2014. In 2015, you’ll have the whole year’s advantage. We’re looking at making final recommendations at the May 20 meeting.”

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North Judson-San Pierre School Board Members to Tackle Topics in Regular Meeting

Posted on Author WKVI
Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will meet tonight in regular session.

The board members are expected to discuss budget reduction recommendations. More than $1 million needs to be cut from the budget and it is the goal of the board to eliminate positions instead of jobs.

During the board’s last meeting in March, Superintendent Lynn Johnson said it may take some creative scheduling in order to accomplish that goal. The corporation has until May 1 to issue reduction in force notices to affected teachers if the process goes in that direction.

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N.J.-S.P. School Board Honors Retiring Administrator

Posted on Author WKVI
N.J.-S.P. Superintendent Lynn Johnson, Pam Croll and school board president Pat Goin
N.J.-S.P. Superintendent Lynn Johnson, Pam Croll and school board president Pat Goin

A longtime North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation employee is retiring from the corporation in a couple of days. Pam Croll is the assistant principal at the elementary school. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says she’s served in a number of positions during her 18 years with the corporation.

“She’s certainly made a difference. Classroom teacher, Response to Intervention, RTI coordinator, Title 1 and now assistant principal at the elementary school….Pam is leaving us at the end of next week. They want her to start April 1st, and we’re happy to accommodate that so she can begin her new position at Kankakee Valley,” said Superintendent Johnson.

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N.J.-S.P. Hopes to Cut Budget Without Layoffs

Posted on Author WKVI
Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
Michael Shireman, Jim Menis, Larry Lambert
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board could vote next month on proposed cuts to the budget necessary to slash more than $1 million from the general fund. Corporation business manager and treasurer Guy Richie says they’re trying to eliminate positions instead of jobs. “If somebody retires, we are eliminating the position if at all possible,” Richie told the school board. “That way no one has lost an income. They retired and we didn’t bring anybody back in. That was our first concern that we did not go into our employees pockets out of this. I think we’ve done a good job when you look that we’re going to cut a million dollars next year and have not yet told a single employee they do not have a job here.” Continue reading →

School Officials Meet to Discuss The Crossing Alternative School

Posted on Author WKVI

The CrossingIt’s the goal of school leaders and community members to ensure that every child has a successful chance at achieving the maximum amount of learning possible in order to make every child a productive member of society.

While a majority of students achieve that, others fall through the cracks. Home lives may be disruptive which leads to unsuccessful learning and bad life choices, or a child may not have what it takes to learn in a traditional school setting. The Crossing alternative school takes those struggling kids and helps them succeed in becoming a successful student.

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Schools May Be Able to Waive Snow Makeup Day

Posted on Author WKVI

Indiana Department of EducationSchools that canceled classes due to the extreme winter conditions may not have to make up the day of missed instruction. “The Elkhart Truth” reports that State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz has authorized schools to apply for a one-day waiver from the required 180 days of instruction. The waiver was initially offered after school districts across the state canceled classes on Monday. However, the director of the office of accreditation for the education department told the paper that the waiver will be offered to schools on Tuesday as well. He says the waiver means that schools can escape the “very severe financial penalty” they would otherwise incur by canceling one day of instruction. The waiver has only been used a few times in the past several years to offset instructional days lost due to severe weather. School districts typically build in makeup days in the event of snow, but if they miss more days than they have built into the calendar they’re forced to extend the school year into summer vacation in order to meet the state’s requirements.

NJ-SP School Board Honors Two Teachers

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent Lynn Johnson
Superintendent Lynn Johnson
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board recognized the efforts of two teachers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. Superintendent Lynn Johnson said Leslie Hampton and Chrystal Ingram received the Bluejay Way awards in light of their dedication to the success of the corporation.

Johnson said Leslie not only teaches the course for Family Consumer Science but she has also been managing the PowerSchool system for the corporation.

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NJ-SP to Purchase Two New 72-Passenger Buses

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent Lynn Johnson
Superintendent Lynn Johnson
The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation will soon be toting kids around in style, after the approval for the purchase of two new 72-passenger buses. Superintendent Lynn Johnson told WKVI that the school board approved the bus bids to purchase the new buses after they received three bids, but only two of the bids came back with trade-ins.

Johnson said allowing the trade-ins was vital, as two buses were ready to be cycled out and the extra money would go a long way financially – especially since the buses will cost a total of $157,000.

Midwest Transit submitted the lowest bid, which the board accepted.

NJ-SP Prepares to Purchase Two New Buses

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will have prices for two new, 72-passenger school buses when they meet next month. Corporation business manager Guy Richie is using the state’s new online purchasing system to obtain that information.

“The bids have already been done and submitted to the state,” Richie told the board. “You simply put in the type of bus you want, your specs, your additional equipment and such.” The website then calculates the price of the bus, subtracts the school corporation’s trade-in value and returns a price within 30 minutes or so.

The school board will still need to approve the purchases. This is the first year N.J.-S.P. is using this system to purchase buses. In the past the corporation had to publish legal notices with detailed information about the kind of buses they wanted to buy and make a purchasing decision after bids were received.

NJ-SP Superintendent Responds to Bomb Threat

Posted on Author WKVI

NJ-SP High SchoolPolice and school officials are following up leads as to who left a written bomb threat at North Judson-San Pierre High School last night. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says the perpetrator will be dealt with swiftly and severely both by the school and the authorities. The school handbook outlines punishment up to expulsion. If the person who left the note is over 18, he or she could be prosecuted as an adult. Continue reading →

NJ-SP Steps Up Security Following Bomb Threat

Posted on Author WKVI

Expect a police presence this morning at North Judson-San Pierre schools. Corporation officials confirm a bomb threat was written at the high school. Police, fire and school officials and a K9 unit thoroughly searched the building and found no evidence of a bomb. This morning’s two-hour delay will allow administrators and law enforcement to meet with staff and review security procedures. School officials stress that the safety of students is their number one priority.

 

 

Area School Musicians Perform Well in Competitions

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre High School Band participated in the annual Indiana State School Music Association Organizational Contest on Friday, April 19th at Northridge High School in Middlebury. They earned a Gold Rating.

The Knox High School Band performed this Saturday, April 13 at Kankakee Valley High School in ISSMA High School Organizational Contest. The band was among 19 bands all with hopes of Gold ratings in both performance and sight reading. Knox received Gold ratings in both performance and sight reading. This caps an amazing winter season for the Instrumental Music and Dance Department where all winter ensembles provided stellar performances at their respective State competitions.

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NJ-SP Academic Super Bowl Team Places Third at Lowell Invitational

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre High School Academic Super Bowl Team placed third at the Lowell Invitational Academic Super Bowl Competition on Thursday, March 7. Answering questions about “The Glory That Was Greece,” the Bluejays placed second in Mathematics and Fine Arts and third in Interdisciplinary and Science. The total score for all NJ-SP teams earned them a third place finish behind Lowell and Munster. They will travel to River Forest High School tomorrow for the Conference Super Bowl Competition. NJ-SP will host the area competition on Tuesday, April 16. It will see 16 area schools competing for a chance to go to the state competition on May 4.

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.

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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Free Lunch Available At North Judson-San Pierre Schools

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

The USDA Summer Food Service Program is in full force at the North Judson-San Pierre Schools. Superintendent Lynn Johnson encourages you to eat at the school – for free.

“Any student under the age of 18 can come and eat and there is no cost at all,” said Johnson. “I would encourage families, whether or not they fall under the guidelines of free and reduced lunch, it is open to every student, or every child, under the age of 18.”

The USDA Summer Food Service program continues through July 22. Breakfast is served from 7:45-8:15 a.m. CT and lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT in the North Judson-San Pierre Elementary School. Meals are free for those aged 18 years and younger. Adults may eat lunch for $2.

Most of the schools in our listening area are participating in this program. Free breakfast and lunch are available at most sites.