The Oregon-Davis School Corporation’s 2019 budget was officially adopted by the school board Monday, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. The total estimated budget adds up to about $8.4 million.
Matthys Replaces Pletcher as Oregon-Davis High School Principal
Oregon-Davis Junior/Senior High School has a new principal. The school board formally accepted the resignation of Tim Pletcher Monday and appointed Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Chris Matthys to take his place, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “So Mr. Matthys will now become our new junior/senior high school principal,” Harman explains. “We are in the process of interviewing for a new junior/senior high school assistant principal and athletic director.”
Oregon-Davis School Board Accepts Donation for FFA and National Honor Society
A couple student organizations at Oregon-Davis Junior/Senior High School got a financial boost this week. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman says the school board accepted a donation from the Oregon-Davis Young Farmers organization. “That donation was $700 to the Oregon-Davis Junior/Senior High School FFA and another $700 to the Oregon-Davis Junior/Senior High School National Honor Society,” Harman says.
Oregon-Davis School Board Gets Report on this Year’s Jump Start Program
Oregon-Davis Schools continue to see success with their Jump Start program. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman says this was the second year for the Jump Start approach to summer school. “Obviously, academics were a focal point,” he says, “but also, a focal point was just talking about life skills and soft skills and getting students acclimated to getting up and brushing their teeth and coming to school.”
Insurance Change Should Result in Cost Savings for Oregon-Davis Schools
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation expects a significant cost savings following an insurance switch. The school board voted Monday to change the corporation’s property and casualty insurance provider, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman.
Oregon-Davis School Board Approves New Parent Teacher Association
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation now has its own Parent Teacher Association. The school board Monday agreed to let Indiana PTA work with community members to set up a group at O-D, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “The focus of the group will be to create funds and raise funds that we can incorporate back into the classroom to help our student achievement,” Harman explains.
Oregon-Davis School Board Approves 2018-2019 Student Handbooks, Wellness Policy
The Oregon-Davis School Board finalized the 2018-2019 student handbooks last week. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman says the only major change was the removal of the language on eLearning. The school board decided to do away with eLearning last month, due to the desire to have students in school for every available instruction day.
School Safety Programs Discussed During Oregon-Davis School Board Meeting
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation continues its efforts to step up school safety, with some help from the State of Indiana. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman says the corporation’s two schools will each be getting a handheld metal detector, as part of Governor Eric Holcomb’s program to provide them free of charge to schools around the state.
Oregon-Davis School Board Approves Lunch Price Increase, Updated Instructional Fees
Lunch prices are going up for Oregon-Davis students. Last week, the school board approved a state-recommended 10-cent increase, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “Our kindergarten to fifth grade will go from $2.35 to $2.45,” he says. “Six through eighth grade will go from $2.45 to $2.55, and our ninth grade through 12th grade will go from $2.55 to $2.65.”
Oregon-Davis School Board Finalizes Plans for Jump Start Program, Accepts Donation
Local Schools See Success with Recruitment Efforts at Starke County Fair
Last week’s Starke County Fair turned out to be a successful recruitment event for local schools. Area school corporations set up booths, to try to attract some out-of-district students.
Two Oregon-Davis Teachers Take Retirement Incentive
Two Oregon-Davis teachers are accepting the school corporation’s retirement incentive, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “We had in our master teacher agreement that if a teacher retired and was qualified for this incentive, then the corporation would pay their single insurance until they turn 65,” he explains. “We had two teachers who retired and have qualified for the retirement incentive.”
O-D School Board Hires Assistant Principal/Athletic Director for Junior/Senior High School
Oregon-Davis High School has a new administrator. Chris Matthys has officially been hired as the junior/senior high school’s athletic director and assistant principal, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman.
Oregon-Davis Superintendent Reviews Professional Development Plans
Oregon-Davis teachers will be brushing up on their skills, when it comes to technology and school safety, among other topics. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman says he updated the school board last week on the corporation’s plans for professional development over the next year.
Oregon-Davis Plans to Adopt ALICE Procedure, As Part of Revised Crisis Plan
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is moving forward with updates to its crisis plan. The revised plan was presented on first reading during last week’s school board meeting, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “We’ve been working the past year, revising and updating our crisis plan, and we have really put safety at the forefront at our corporation,” he says. Continue reading
Donations to Help Update Restrooms, Offset Cost of Caps and Gowns at Oregon-Davis
Some athletic facilities at Oregon-Davis will get a fresh coat of paint, thanks to some local community members. “We had two ladies from our community that are going to donate paint and their time to paint the two restrooms that are at the track,” says Superintendent Dr. Don Harman.
Oregon-Davis School Board Adopts Handbook for Administrative, Classified Staff
Oregon-Davis School Corporation staff members will soon have a clearer idea of what their positions entail. Handbooks for administrative and classified staff were approved by the school board last week.
Oregon-Davis School Board Approves Bus Purchase
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is getting a new school bus. Last week, the school board approved the purchase of a 72-passenger Bluebird bus for just under $92,000, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman.
Oregon-Davis School Board Removes eLearning Days from School Calendar
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is doing away with eLearning days. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman says the decision was made after talking to teachers, parents, and community members. “We firmly believe we want students here at school to get direct instruction, and there’s really no research out there that supports students’ achievement will increase with eLearning days,” he says. Continue reading
Oregon-Davis School Board Cuts One Teaching Position, Accepts Athletic Director’s Resignation
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is cutting one teaching position. A reduction in force was approved during Monday’s school board meeting, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “Due to projected enrollments and due to projected revenue and expenditure concerns, we did reduce one position in our corporation,” he says.
