Only law enforcement officers may possess weapons in North Judson-San Pierre School buildings. That is now the corporation’s policy after unanimous action by the school board Tuesday night. Superintendent Lynn Johnson offered her recommendation based on provisions in a new state law. Continue reading
The Eastern Pulaski School Board met Monday evening to further discuss their weapons policy. Due to the new state law allowing concealed weapons in vehicles, school corporations were given the option to amend their policies regarding firearms. Continue reading
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board may approve a policy regarding weapons on school property when they meet this evening. Continue reading
The IREAD-3 is a state-wide test that all Hoosier third graders are required to pass in order to advance to the next grade. Continue reading
Summer unfortunately can’t last all year. School resumes in August and the Knox Community School Board approved the dates and times for freshman orientation and back to school nights at their Monday evening board meeting. Continue reading
Despite what Alice Cooper may have said, school is not out forever. Registration dates and times for the 2014-2015 school year have been approved by the Knox Community School Board. Continue reading
The Kid’s Closet Ministry at North Judson United Methodist Church is taking steps to equip Starke County youngsters with supplies for the start of school. They are hosting their second annual “Pack-a-Backpack” event on Aug. 4 and 5 at the church from 5 until 6:30 p.m. for all youngsters in need who attend local schools. First they need supplies. Continue reading
Set yourself apart from the crowd by gaining leadership skills that will assist you in the future. Leadership Starke County is recruiting members for their third leadership class . They are hoping to get 12 adults and three high school students for the 2014-2015 class. Continue reading
A local school corporation will have a new superintendent when classes start in the fall. This is Charles Mellon’s last day at West Central. He’s retiring after 34 years with the corporation. Mellon started there as an assistant principal in 1980 and worked his way into the front office.
“It is a great place to raise a family. Most things are centered around school and church in this community. That’s what we enjoyed. A lot of our staff that come in new stay. That’s a good sign that’s a good place to live and a good, strong school corporation,” Mellon told WKVI News. Continue reading
Culver Community Schools received the highest honor that the Indiana Department of Education offers for their 2013/14 school year. Recently the school received an unexpected letter from director of accreditation at the IDOE. Continue reading
The Knox Redskins have no plans to change their nickname any time soon. The school corporation has used the nickname since the 1890s. Superintendent A.J. Gappa is quoted in a Network Indiana story as saying “at this point, there has been no conversation about changing it at all.” Continue reading
Members of the Eastern Pulaski School Board did not reach a definite decision Monday evening about whether to allow firearms on school property. Last year a change in Indiana law allowed concealed weapons with a permit to be in locked cars on school property. This prompted school boards all over the state to consider whether weapons should be allowed within the schools. The policy would not apply to students, just to a designated group of faculty members who would have to undergo training and psychological evaluation.
Superintendent Dan Foster offered his opinion to the board. Continue reading
The Eastern Pulaski Community School Board will discuss the possession of firearms on school property when they meet this evening at 5:30 p.m. EDT in the Distance Learning Lab. Last week the West Central School Board discussed allowing faculty members to posses weapons while at work. Continue reading
In the Girls State Track Finals yesterday the Kankakee Valley was well represented. Culver Community High School had four girls competing in five events, while North Judson was represented by the school’s record holder in shot put. Kayla Shaffer (Culver) finished in 14th place in the 100m dash, while teammate and fellow senior Denisha Brown (Culver) finished in 24th. In the 200m Dash Shaffer finished in 15th place. Brown then went on to place 27th in the long jump competition. Shaffer and Brown were also two members of the 4×100 relay team which finished in 19th place. The 4×100 team was rounded out by Mickella Hardy and Justine Dexter. Hardy also competed in shot put where she finished 15th overall. Caitlin Dvorscak of North Judson also competed in the shot put where she placed 20th.
Congratulations to all of our area athletes on a job well done representing the Kankakee Valley at the State Finals!
Knox High School had a total of 15 band students participating in the 2013-14 school year Music Recycled program. It provides music lessons to students who demonstrate a desire for higher learning in music education. It is funded by the Drew’s Gift Foundation and maintained by Knox High School Assistant Band Director Darren Day. The program allows high school band students to take lessons from a professional on their particular instrument. In order to receive the lessons the high school students must pay it forward and provide lessons to middle school band students. Music Recycled is an opportunity for young band enthusiasts to obtain cadet teaching credit on their report cards and valuable teaching experience.
Graduation season is in full swing, with more ceremonies tonight and parties throughout the coming weeks to celebrate the class of 2014. Oregon-Davis High School Principal Tim Pletcher is finishing his first year at the school. He recently shared a personal experience with members of the student body about a former student he taught and coached at South Bend Washington High School who was killed by a drunk driver.
“You guys make decisions, you go out, you have a good time, you have fun, and I always tell you the only thing you can control is yourself, your decisions,” Pletcher said. “Well, here’s a kid who was making decent decisions. He was hanging out with his friends. They were enjoying a moment. He was on his way home, but because somebody else made a decision it affected him, and affected his family, his friends, a community and a school.” Continue reading
Since students are finished with classes, summer is the perfect time for renovations at the schools. Particular projects on the agenda for Knox Community Schools are the track repairs and the air conditioners at the middle school. Next week, weather permitting, the Knox High School track will be resurfaced and repainted. During the Monday evening Knox Community School Board meeting the the renewal of the Trane five-year service agreement was unanimously approved. Three air conditioning companies had bids submitted but Trane was the only company that allowed payments to be made over time instead of all at once. The agreement starts June 15. The middle school air conditioners will be shut down for a week in July in order for the compressors for the chillers to be replaced. The board assures this will not interfere with summer school courses.
The meal prices for the Knox Community Schools’ 2014-15 school year have been officially set by the school board. The breakfast price will remain the same at $1.15. Lunch prices will increase by 10-cents. That brings the elementary school lunch price to $1.85. The middle and high school lunches will be $2.10. Knox Community School Corporation Superintendent A.J. Gappa says even with the 10-cent increase, Knox Elementary School still has the lowest lunch price in the area.
The Knox Community School Board will discuss breakfast and lunch prices for the 2014-15 school year when they meet this evening. The North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation has raised prices for next year. It is possible Knox will follow suit. Another agenda item is discussion of the Trane service agreement for air conditioning systems. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at Knox Elementary School.
This year’s Knox Community High School graduation will feature something unique. A few seniors went to principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff earlier this year and inquired about voting for their own commencement speaker. All seniors were eligible to be chosen as the speaker. The 2014 senior class voted to have Chris Baczynski give the commencement speech at their ceremony on Friday, June 6. Baczynski was a member of the SCILL welding program, a football player and served as student council president. He will be attending IUSB after graduation.
