An Oregon-Davis teacher will serve 18 months on probation in Michigan after pleading guilty to numerous felony offenses. Eric Christopher Baierl, 31, of South Bend, was sentenced Friday in Cass Circuit Court, according to the “South Bend Tribune.” He pleaded guilty to bringing contraband into the Cass County Jail, possession of narcotics, possession of marijuana and an open container violation. Baierl was also ordered to pay $1,046 in court costs. Continue reading
Eastern Pulaski School Corporation Still Reviewing Building Project
The Eastern Pulaski School Board did not make a decision last night on the proposed $14 million building renovation project slated to start in 2015. Superintendent Dan Foster says they do not want to hurry a project of this magnitude. He adds they want to make sure they get exactly what they want in the end. The work will be funded through a tax increase.
Knox Community School Corporation Accepting Donations for Food Baskets
Every year the Knox Community School Corporation helps families and students in need over the holidays. Area clubs, agencies and civic organizations all work with Knox Community Schools to provide food baskets to families that appreciate the extra help over Christmas break. Continue reading
Vocational Program’s Fate Hinges on Balanced Calendar Adoption
At least one of the popular trade programs offered through the North Central Vocational Educational Cooperative could be in jeopardy as participating corporations weigh the pros and cons of a balanced school calendar. Kyle Elliott is instructor for the building trades program based at Culver Community High School. He says students from Knox and North Judson-San Pierre are also enrolled in the program. If the three schools are on different schedules, Elliott says it will put kids and parents in a really tough situation. Continue reading
No Decision on Balanced Calendar from Culver Community School Board
The Culver Community School Board met after the public forum held to weigh the pros and cons of the balanced calendar. The board isn’t ready to vote but is still considering the change in schedules. Continue reading
Knox Redskin Brigade Ends Season at Semi-State
The Knox Redskin Brigade performed in the semi-state round at Decatur Central High School this past weekend. Twenty schools competed for the top ten spots to advance to state on Nov. 8th at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Their gold rating received at the Indiana State School Music Association regional competition earned the band a slot to compete at the semi-state round. Continue reading
Public Balanced Calendar Presentation Scheduled Tonight at Culver
Several area school corporations are considering the adoption of a balanced school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year. The Rochester Community School Corporation already has one in place. Officials from that corporation will present information during a community meeting this evening at 6 p.m. EDT at Culver Community High School. North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson says the proposed schedule would still provide the state-mandated 180 instructional days with more breaks during the school year. Summer vacation would be eight weeks instead of 10 due to the proposed earlier start of school. Continue reading
Culver School Board Has Decision to Make
The Culver Community School Board has a decision to make tonight on whether to switch their 2015-2016 schedule to the balanced calendar. They will meet right after the public forum being held in the Culver Community High School auditorium. Continue reading
Redskin Brigade Heads to Semi-State Competition
The Knox Redskin Brigade will compete this afternoon for a shot at a state championship. Their gold rating last Saturday at the Indiana State School Music Association regional competition earned the band a slot in today’s competition at Decatur Central High School. They must place in the top 10 among the 20 schools performing in order to advance. “It’s a pretty tall order for any band, really,” band director Craige Phipps said. “These guys have done an amazing job over the last two weeks. I’m pretty confident they can do it. They’ve just got to have ‘that show’ – that one show.”
Phipps added the Redskin Brigade is more than capable of advancing to state.
“They’ve had some amazing performances this year, and the best thing about this group is everyone keeps considering them an underdog. We don’t consider ourselves an underdog. We keep rising to the challenge every week. I tell these guys when they come off the field after a performances, ‘you guys just had a great performance, but it’s not good enough any more. Now we need to take that next step.’ They’ve really risen to that challenge all season long,” he said.
The Redskin Brigade will take the field at 4:20 p.m. CDT today at Decatur Central High School. The state finals will take place Saturday, Nov. 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Redskin Brigade Schedules Community Performance
Members of the public are invited to see the Knox Redskin Brigade perform in advance of Saturday’s semi-state marching band competition at Decatur Central High School. The band’s final dress rehearsal will take place tonight at 8:30 p.m. on the high school football field. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre School Board Celebrates Improved Test Scores
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
The effort teachers at North Judson-San Pierre schools have put into preparing students to take ISTEP tests is paying off. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says test scores from 2009 to 2014 reflect steady gains. Math scores have gone from 62-percent proficiency in 2009 to 81 percent in 2014 for grades 3 through 8. During that same time period English/Language Arts scores have improved from 66 to 77 percent. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Board Approves Updated Test Security Protocol
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
The standardized tests given to North Judson-San Pierre students are locked in a room that cannot be accessed by anyone else during the school day. That is one of the 17 state-mandated safety protocols the corporation is required to follow to ensure the integrity of the tests they administer. The school board this week approved an amended test security policy. Continue reading
North Judson School Photos Find New Home
The class composite and group photos of North Judson and North Judson-San Pierre High School graduates will soon have a new home. They were recently displaced from Grand Central Station in downtown North Judson after a church took over that space. North Judson-San Pierre Superintendent Lynn Johnson told the school board this week those photos will be on display at the new North Judson Town Hall when it opens later this year. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Schools Brace for More Budget Cuts
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation officials are bracing for more budget cuts. Superintendent Lynn Johnson says enrollment is down 40 students from last year.
“We have made a lot of cuts already, but obviously we need to make more and look at future plans,” Johnson told the school board Tuesday night. “One of the major expenditures we have is special education, which keeps growing and growing and growing. I would say we probably spend $1 million a year on special education.” Continue reading
Culver Community School Corporation Applies for State Grant
The Culver Community School Corporation is seeking a $52,747 grant from the state for retention incentives for highly effective teachers. The purpose of the state grant is to increase the academic achievement of all students by helping schools and districts improve teacher and principal quality and effectiveness. Evaluations of the teachers determine who receives part of the grant as a bonus. Continue reading
Balanced Calendar Public Forum Set for Culver Community Schools
Culver Community Schools will host a public forum on Nov. 3rd at 6 p.m. ET to discuss the pros and cons of a balanced calendar. Rochester School Corporation Superintendent Janna Vance, plus a principal and a teacher from the school will be at the Culver High School auditorium to talk about the balanced schedule. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Board Questions Balanced Calendar Alignment
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
North Judson-San Pierre School Board members raised a question about the balanced calendar during their meeting last night. The proposed calendar moves the start of school to the first of August, adds longer breaks in the fall and spring that can be used for remediation if necessary and ends the school year the first of June. The first semester would still end in December before the two week Christmas break as it presently does.
Board members wondered what the earlier start to the school year would do to high school students who work for Pioneer detassling corn during their summer vacations. Continue reading
North Judson-San Pierre Agenda Includes Balanced Calendar Discussion
Marsha Reimbold and Patricia Goin
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board will consider adoption of a balanced calendar for the 2015-2016 school year when they meet this evening. They are one of several area corporations considering the approach. School would start earlier in August and get out the first of June. Continue reading
Eastern Pulaski Enrollment Dips
Enrollment at the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation is down slightly over this time last year. The official student count turned in to the state last month is 1,231.5. Superintendent Dan Foster says that’s a decline of 1.5 students. Continue reading
Knox Schools Participating in “Celebrate My Drive” Safety Awareness Contest
The Knox Community School Corporation is in the running to win cash prizes and a concert by The Band Perry. The school is taking part in the Celebrate My Drive safety campaign. Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) sponsor Carrie Stone encourages community members to visit http://www.celebratemydrive.com/home and make a commitment to staying safe behind the wheel. Continue reading
