Knox School Board Approves Library Board Improvement Plan

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members approved the Starke County Library Board’s plan for improvements that include the elementary school property. Superintendent A.J. Gappa says the plan would save the library some time and money.

“They would like to tie into our sewer line, if possible,” said Gappa. “It would save them a lot of labor and probably some costs on some materials. They need to change a sidewalk that connects our elementary property with the library property. They also want to hook into the horseshoe drive at the elementary school off Culver Road so the back parking lot of the library would have an exit into the horseshoe drive.”

The plans were submitted to the board during their last meeting.

John Glenn Student Attends Twelve Years With Perfect Attendance

Posted on Author WKVI
Rafael Castro

For 12 years, John Glenn student Rafael Castro has been getting up every school morning and making his way to school – every day. In fact, he has not missed a day of school since he began attending kindergarten at St. Patrick’s School in the fall of 1999, although he admits it was his mom’s goal first.

It wasn’t until he got to high school that he made it a goal of his own, when he determined that he could accomplish it. When asked if he came to school sick at any time he agreed he had, but never to the point of not feeling well enough to do his work or participate. He believes attendance is important and feels fortunate to have good health. Rafael is hopeful that future employers will take note of his attendance record, and that it will give him an edge in landing a job someday.

He will be recognized at a school-wide award ceremony today in front of the entire student body.

Knox Incoming Third Graders Receive Summer Packet

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox third grade teachers sent home a special packet with next year’s incoming third graders to help keep them reading during their summer break. Director of Curriculum and Instruction Peggy Shidaker explained that these packets contain fun activities for students.

“They sent home a little bag that says ‘I Read, Therefore I Succeed,’” explained Shidaker. “Every second grader, 153 of these students, last week carried home this bag and in this bag there was a letter to their parents explaining the entire program. Through the collaboration of our third grade teachers, they filled this bag with fun activities for our students to do in both reading and math.”

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West Central School Board Approves Reduction In Force

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board members did approve a reduction in force proposal at their recent meeting. Superintendent Charles Mellon said there was only one this year.

“That person is going on our recall list,” stated Mellon. “He is currently teaching science in the middle school, but he does have an elementary license so if we had a class size increase – which I hope we do – or someone else from the elementary leaves the school system for whatever reason, he has the opportunity to come back. He will be on the recall list for two years. There is still a possibility for him.”

Knox School Board Receives Facilities Study Update

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent, A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members met Monday night where Superintendent A.J. Gappa gave the members a facilities study update.

“As far as the elementary school is concerned, we’re just moving forward,” stated Gappa. “I met with Dana Wanamaker, architect with Barton, Coe Vilamaa, just to give us some estimates on general figures as to what it might be for renovation versus building a new wing. We don’t have any figures on that yet. I anticipate meeting with Curt Pletcher from Umbaugh and Associates, the financial people, because we want to pin it down to be able to tell people, if we need to do something, how much it’s going to affect each individual person.”

Gappa also said the board has some high hopes for their welding program.

“We’re optimistic and moving forward with getting a welding program going, which would be located at the southwest corner of the middle school where the old wood shop used to be,” said Gappa. “I believe that will move forward even very soon. Probably within the next month, we will have work going on to convert that room.”

Eastern Pulaski Schools To Dismiss Early For The Summer

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

Students in the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation will be wrapping up classes this week. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said that the students were able to get out early this week due to the lack of school closures in the winter.

“One of the most unusual winters we’ve had,” said Dr. Klitzman. “I think most would agree with me that in terms of snow it’s been a great winter. Kenny Becker [Highway Superintendent] is excited about it. He probably has a lot of salt left. Nonetheless, we have no make-up days so our last day for students is Wednesday, May 23. It’ll be a full day of school; seniors are in school, everybody’s in school for a full day on the 23rd. Graduation for the Class of 2012 will be Friday, as that’s our tradition, at 7 p.m. ET in the high school gym. Because we’re getting out early, our summer school schedule will start the end of May.”

Knox High School Honor Day Program Held Friday

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox High School Top Ten

The Knox High School Honor Day program was held Friday, May 18th.

Approximately $318,000 in scholarships were distributed to the graduating seniors. The Ben Bowen Award recipient was Elliott Coad, Hannah Folkers won the Bonnie Taylor Award and Shelby Gilbert and Logan Short were named winners of the Robert Hanselman Award. Some other notable scholarship winners were Sierra Brooke of the Roger Laramore Scholarship, Chelsea Whitcraft won the George W. Burkett Scholarship and Thomas Clem won the C. Slisher Scholarship.

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Student Insurance Rates Increase For West Central Schools

Posted on Author WKVI
West Central School Superintendent Charles Mellon

The West Central School Board looked to the future at their meeting this week as they approved the student insurance renewal for the next school year. Superintendent Charles Mellon explained that the cost did increase, but the price is still worth it.

“That has gone up fifteen percent, but I think that’s probably the trend for insurance,” said Mellon. “The good thing is that parents can still have their child covered while at school for $16.00 which is still very worthwhile.”

Eastern Pulaski Schools Approve Several Retirements

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

The Eastern Pulaski School Board members approved several retirements during their meeting this week. Elementary teacher, Brenda Roberts, will be retiring at the end of the school year after 37 years in the education field and Middle School Secretary, Dorothy Malchow, is retiring after 27 years at the corporation. Superintendent Dr. Klitzman also announced the retirement of the Middle School Principal.

“Mr. Stan Good, after 25 years in education – all at Eastern Pulaski Schools – and as our Middle School Principal for 18 years, is retiring,” said Klitzman. “He is going to stay in the education arena, but in a private sector helping different areas through a corporation that seems to find its niche on those students that are not functioning as well as they should in the traditional setting of a school. It’s more of an alternative selection.”

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NJSP Graduation To Take Place In June

Posted on Author WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre High School graduation will be in June this year and Superintendent Lynn Johnson said it will come down to the wire as to who will be named the Valedictorian and Salutatorian of the graduating class of 2012.

“It’s not been made official yet as far as those winners,” said Johnson. “Our graduation is Sunday, June 3 at 2 p.m. CT in the high school gymnasium and that is a change. We had it on a Friday night but we had some conflicts with some schedules with students, so we did move it to that Sunday.”

Knox Swim Coach Resigns Following Alleged Inappropriate Behavior

Posted on Author WKVI
Robert "Ryan" Corbin

After previously being suspended with pay, Robert “Ryan” Corbin filed his resignation with the Knox School Board, who approved it at their recent meeting. Corbin, a Knox High School gym teacher and boys and girls varsity swim coach, was suspended after being accused of inappropriate behavior with a 16-year-old student.

Police had previously interviewed both the student and Corbin and they both allegedly admitted to having conversations with each other. Inappropriate Facebook messages were sent, and conversations were also held via telephone and texting.

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Memorandum Of Understanding Approved By Eastern Pulaski School Board

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

The Eastern Pulaski School Board members approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Eastern Pulaski Teacher’s Association during their meeting Monday night. Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman says the agreement would affect new employees coming to the corporation.

“We would not pay more than five years at the Master’s level,” explained Klitzman. “As I told the Board, this would have an impact and give people a choice. I think it would greatly expand our pool of candidates because teachers know full well that once they reach a certain portion on a salary schedule, it’s going to be harder for them to change jobs just because of that price tag. If the teacher has a job someplace else, and this would be my assumption, and they say, ‘You know what? I’d rather be at Eastern Pulaski Schools because it’s closer or because I want a change in assignment and I’m willing to take less money to do that.’ Then, it’s a win-win situation. If they’re not, then they stay in the job they have.”

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Three Area Schools to Participate in USDA Summer Food Program

Posted on Author WKVI

The Knox and Oregon-Davis Schools have announced that they will be participating in the USDA Summer Food Program, and now Culver Community Schools will also offer free breakfast and lunch to any child age 18 and younger.

This is the third year that the school will be offering this program and six sites will be offering free food. For a list of the locations, click here. Culver High School will be offering breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET from June 4 through the 29 and from July 9 to July 16 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Breakfast and lunch will be served at the Culver Elementary School from June 4 to August 10. Breakfast is from 7:45-8:30 a.m. and lunch is from noon to 12:30 p.m. ET.

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Spotlight on Success Features Fifth Grade Teacher

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox Community School Superintendent, A.J. Gappa

The Spotlight on Success portion of the Knox Community School Board meeting featured fifth grade teacher Corey Bucher, who talked about a recent “Natural Disasters in Science” field trip to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Superintendent A.J. Gappa summed up the presentation.

“Mr. Bucher also had two students, Kaitlyn Lindberg and Kevin Lovins, to show the reports that they had done and they reported to the board,” said Mr. Gappa. “They talked about their trip and Mr. Bucher was extremely happy that they were allowed to go and talk about all of the positive things that came out of the trip that the fifth grade took to Chicago.”

Knox Community Schools Undergo Bus Inspection

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox Community School Superintendent A.J. Gappa gave a report to the school board about the recent bus inspection. He says the state police have changed the procedure in inspecting buses.

“In the past, they used to do in the summer and we had weeks to prepare our buses. Now, because the state has cut back on the number of troopers that do the inspections, they have to do them throughout the year,” said Gappa.

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O.D. Tax Levy Passed; What’s Next?

Posted on Author WKVI
Oregon-Davis Jr./Sr. High School

Now that the Oregon-Davis property tax levy has passed, what’s next?

Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney said that he’s relieved that the levy passed and now he and the School Board are looking forward to enjoying the end of the school year on a positive note and planning for the 2012-2013 school year. State budget projections are a little vague at the moment, but Dr. Disney is confident that with the passage of the referendum the numbers will fit their needs in order to successfully manage the school. The corporation continues to operate off of its Rainy Day Fund to conduct everyday business.

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Library Expansion Project To Include Driveway Connection To Elementary School

Posted on Author WKVI
Henry F. Schricker Library

Representatives from the Starke County Public Library approached the Knox Community School Board members Monday night to discuss their upcoming expansion project. Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that the library’s property is just north of the Knox Elementary School property and part of their project involves the school.

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West Central Approves Textbook Rental Fees, New Course

Posted on Author WKVI

The West Central School Board approved textbook rental fees at their recent meeting and Superintendent Charles Mellon said they also approved textbooks for a new course.

“We did have one new class connected with the wind turbine. It is a renewable energy course that is also articulated with Ivy Tech. That was new course with a textbook that was adopted as well,” stated Mellon.

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