The Oregon-Davis School Corporation was able to put some unneeded money into its Rainy Day Fund this week. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman says a fund transfer resolution was approved by the school board Monday. “We transferred $75,000 from our Transportation Fund to our Rainy Day Fund,” he explains.
Oregon-Davis School Corporation Replacing One-to-One Devices
Oregon-Davis students will soon be getting new digital devices. The school board Monday approved a lease with Apple that will provide new iPads to students at all grade levels, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “We’re just in that rotation that we’ve had our devices for four years,” he explains, “and now the lease is up and we need to redo a lease for another three to four years.”
Oregon-Davis School Officials Look to the Future Following Results of Referendum Tax Levy
Now that the Oregon-Davis School referendum tax levy has passed, school officials are evaluating various aspects of how the corporation is run in order to ensure the additional revenue will be spent practically and proficiently.
Superintendent Dr. Don Harman said officials are assessing staffing, programs and everything about the corporation’s operations in order to prioritize needs. Continue reading
Primary Elections Tomorrow
Polls will be open tomorrow from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time for the 2018 Primary Elections. One of the items to watch in Starke County will be the Oregon-Davis school referendum. If approved, the measure would add a property tax of up to 29 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for an eight-year period. It would replace a 19-cent tax that’s currently in place.
Oregon-Davis School Board Updated on Elementary School’s Minds in Motion Program
The Oregon-Davis School Board learned about a physical education initiative taking place at the elementary school. Board members got an update Monday on the school’s Minds in Motion program, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “It really is what the title means, ‘Minds in Motion,'” Harman says. “The students do different activities before they go into their PE class. It’s how they start the PE class, is doing different activities related to balance, coordination, and things like that.”
Oregon-Davis School Board Approves State-Mandated Homeless Education Plan
Making sure homeless children have access to education is the goal of a plan adopted by the Oregon-Davis School Board this week. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman says school corporations are required to submit a homeless education plan to the state by May 21. “The state did provide a sample plan, so we utilized that sample plan, and the board approved that,” he explains. “And then we also have to have that posted on our corporation website.”
Oregon-Davis Schedules 2018 Jump Start Program
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation has finalized the dates for summer school. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman says the Jump Start program will take place from July 23 to August 3 from 8:00 a.m. to noon. “Both building principals will be getting information out to those parents very soon, so that parents get that information about Jump Start.”
Oregon-Davis School Board Adopts Five-Year Strategic Action Plan
The Oregon-Davis School Board has finalized a document that will guide the school corporation through the next five years. A strategic action plan for the years 2018 through 2023 was formally approved during Monday’s school board meeting, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “The whole idea is that we have a plan of attack, if you will, for where we want Oregon-Davis to go in the next five years plus,” he explains. “And we’ll be reviewing this strategic plan every year, to look at the academics and also our facilities for the corporation.”
Oregon-Davis Superintendent Discusses Funding Options, As Referendum Approaches
If the Oregon-Davis school referendum fails to pass, property owners may still find themselves paying higher taxes in the coming years. That’s according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. The school corporation is asking voters to consider a property tax of up to 29 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for an eight-year period, replacing a 19-cent tax that’s set to expire next year.
Oregon-Davis School Board Updated on After-School Enrichment Program for Elementary Students
Oregon-Davis Elementary School students are learning some engineering and science skills, while having fun at the same time. The school board got an update on the After-School Enrichment program Monday, from two teachers and two students.
Personality-Based Substance Abuse Prevention Program Coming to Knox, Oregon-Davis High Schools
Preventing substance abuse by identifying those who are most at risk before they develop an addiction is the goal of a program coming to two Starke County high schools. This week, the Knox and Oregon-Davis school boards learned about the PreVenture program. Indianapolis-based nonprofit Overdose Lifeline received funding from the Division of Mental Health and Addiction to offer the program in seven Indiana counties, including Starke, Pulaski, and LaPorte.
Oregon-Davis School Board Accepts Woodworking Tools from Knox Community School Corporation
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation’s wood shop class is getting some additional equipment. The school board voted Monday to accept a donation of woodworking tools from the Knox Community School Corporation, at the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “It’s just going to help our woods program as it’s expanded under Mr. Henigsmith’s leadership,” Harman said. “So again, this is a great partnership, if you will, that the two corporations are working together.”
Strategic Action Plan Presented to Oregon-Davis School Board
The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is putting the finishing touches on its plan for the next five years. A strategic action plan for the years 2018 through 2023 was presented to the school board on first reading Monday by Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “What I’ve tried to do is put a plan in place, just so we can explain to our patrons, so we as the board kind of know what our vision is for our student body and then also know where, financially, we’re going with our facilities,” he explained.
Oregon-Davis School Board Approves 2018-2019, 2019-2020 School Calendars
The Oregon-Davis School Board approved school calendars for the next two school years Monday. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman explained the 2018-2019 calendar will mostly be the same as this year’s. “First student day will be August 9,” he said. “Christmas break will be very similar, which will be a split Christmas break. Christmas break will start on Thursday, December 20; students will return on Thursday, January 3. Spring break will be the week of March 25. Scheduled right now, the last student day is May 23.”
Oregon-Davis School Board to Consider School Calendars, Equipment Donation
The Oregon-Davis School Board is scheduled to approve the 2018-2019 school calendar tonight. Superintendent Dr. Don Harman presented a few different options to board members last month. A tentative 2019-2020 calendar will also be up for consideration.
Oregon-Davis Superintendent Discusses Upcoming Referendum with Hamlet Town Council
Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Dr. Don Harman went to the Hamlet Town Council Wednesday to spread the word about the upcoming school referendum. If approved, the measure would add a property tax of up to 29 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for an eight-year period. It would replace a 19-cent tax that’s set to expire in 2019.
Knox School Board Donates Unused Woodworking Equipment to Oregon-Davis
The Knox Community School Corporation is donating several pieces of unused woodworking tools to Oregon-Davis.
Oregon-Davis School Corporation to Work with Cheryl Lyn Welter Family Charitable Foundation
The Oregon-Davis School Board has agreed to work with the Cheryl Lyn Welter Family Charitable Foundation to help with expenses for underprivileged students. Harold Welter discussed the foundation with board members Monday, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman.
Oregon-Davis School Board Gets Update on Apex Digital Learning Program
Oregon-Davis High School students are taking advantage of an online learning tool. The school board got an update Monday on the Apex program, according to Superintendent Dr. Don Harman. “We have 24 seats,” he explains. “I think 13 students have earned 17 credits.”
Updated Crisis Plan Presented to Oregon-Davis School School Board
School security continues to be addressed by local school officials, following last week’s school shooting in Florida. Oregon-Davis Superintendent Dr. Don Harman says the school corporation has been working on updating its crisis plan. “We’re looking at all different types of scenarios with crisis, whether that be a fire drill or tornado drill, or obviously intruder drill,” he explains. “But we’re also looking at death of a family member, death of a staff member, suicide.”
