ISTEP+ Results at Knox, West Central and Eastern Pulaski Schools

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The ISTEP+ results have been looked at by officials at all schools in our area and Knox Community School Superintendent said there were some positive points and areas that need to be worked on.

“There were some good points and some points that need to be looked at,” explained Gappa. “In the elementary school, the average in both Language Arts and Math were in the upper nineties – the high point being the fifth grade Math with over 90 percent. The middle school had a little bit lower results and those will be checked out and we’ll report to the board at the next meeting.”

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Knox School Board Recognizes Retired Staff

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board honored 12 teachers who have retired from the corporation in the past two years.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said it was great to give those former employees the recognition they deserve.

“We had eight teachers, a food service director, one of our school nurses, one of the teacher’s aides and a parent involvement coordinator that had all retired over the last two years,” explained Gappa. “Seven of those people were able to make the meeting and receive a commemorative clock. The others who weren’t able to be here – we will get the clocks sent to them. We wanted to honor those people for all the years of service and the support that they’ve given to the Knox Community Schools.”

Knox Community School Board Discusses School Messenger

Posted on Author WKVI
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board members received an update on School Messenger during their meeting Monday night.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said anyone can sign up to receive emails, text messages or automated calls from the system. School Messenger is the system the corporation uses to alert patrons about school delays, a closure or any emergency situation that may arise.

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Knox Community School Board Approves High School Textbook Fees

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board members approved the high school textbook adoption fees during their meeting Monday night.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that they are in line with the middle school textbook fees.

“Most of those fees involve the computers and they’re right in line with the middle school in laptop computer fees for the one-to-one program. By individual classes at the high school, if certain classes call for extra fees, those will be added on top of the computer fees,” explained Gappa.

The middle school fees in the one-to-one computer initiative are $113.50.

Knox Community School Board Updated on Start of School

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board got an update on the start of school during their meeting on Monday night.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said things are going smoothly so far.

“School in all three buildings got off to a fairly smooth start,” explained Gappa. “I reported to the board that all of our buses are in good shape and doing well. We’ve added three new buses to the fleet.
Our next bus inspection is due sometime in October.”

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ISTEP Scores May Arrive at School Corporations this Week

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
ISTEP scores could be released this week months after they should have been in the hands of school corporations around the state. ISTEP scores allow teachers and administrators to assess student performance and appropriate remediation on students that may benefit from extra instruction.

Major disruptions were caused during ISTEP testing this spring as the facilitator of the test, CTB McGraw Hill, experienced computer server glitches while students were taking the online test. Superintendent A.J. Gappa said while Knox students weren’t widely affected, some students in the state were.

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Knox Community School Board Gets Start-of-School Update

Posted on Author WKVI
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa

The Knox Community School Board heard an update on the progress being made to the start of school.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa said the administrators gave a building update and an update on the registration process.

“The teachers were in for two days of professional development on Tuesday and Wednesday of the current week in anticipation of the upcoming school year,” said Gappa. “Teachers will begin school officially on Monday and the kids will come on Tuesday, Aug. 13.”

Gappa gave an update on the maintenance projects performed at the school during the summer.

“They’ve been cleaning and taking care of all of the buildings. The parking lots were sealed and we did an area of paving between the bus parking lot and the west parking lot at the high school. All of those things that had gone on during the summer in anticipation of the upcoming school year was part of that report to the board.”

Knox Community School Board Approves Textbook Rental Fees

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board members have approved textbook rental fees for the upcoming school year.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that the middle school rental fees are $113.50 across the board for use of computers in the one-to-one computer initiative. Gappa noted that the rate is slightly lower than what it was last year. Kindergarten fees dropped to $76.97, third grade fees dropped nearly six dollars to $73.93 while first grade, second grade and fourth grade prices increased slightly. First grade fees are the highest at $96.22 while the other grades hover around $80 for textbook rentals.

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Knox Community School Board Approves Cafeteria Prices for 2013-2014 School Year

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The Knox Community School Board approved several business items for the next school year.

Superintendent A.J Gappa announced that the breakfast and lunch prices will not change for the next school year. The breakfast price will stay at $1.15. The lunch price at the elementary school will remain at $1.75 and the lunch price at the middle and high schools will remain at $2. The board approved the prices.

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Knox Community School Board Questions Bill for Special Election

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox Community School Board members last night discussed the cost of the special election held May 7.

“We just gave some information that the original bill from the clerk’s office was $21,721.60, but then it was discovered that there were some mistakes made in that bill,” explained Superintendent A.J. Gappa when discussing the board’s concerns. “Some people turned in vouchers to work on absentee balloting were being paid double for what they were supposed to get. So, the bill was reduced down to $17,732.28.”

Gappa added that there are some questions the board has concerning the estimate given to them before the election. The board was quoted $10,750 before the election and paid a $17,732 claim.

“The big difference of over $7,000 was the main question that the school board had.”

The board hopes to meet with Starke County Clerk Evelyn Skronski and the election board to have some of their concerns addressed.

Voters Head to the Polls Today to Vote on Palmer Wing Project

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Vote yes or vote no? The Knox Elementary School Palmer Wing project is now in the hands of the voters as taxpayers in the Knox school district head to the polls today. Voters will decide whether or not to finance through property taxes the construction of a new wing and the demolition of the old Palmer Wing, which Superintendent A.J. Gappa said is antiquated, dilapidated, and overall unfit for education.

Gappa said the wing was originally built nearly 60 years ago – a different time, he said, when electricity wasn’t as advanced, heating and cooling was much less effective, and fewer kids ate in the cafeteria. He said 20 years ago when the west wing of the school was added, California and Washington township schools were closed, bringing more students to the Knox school and putting more strain on the old cafeteria.

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Knox Community School Board Spotlights Music Program

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
The music program was spotlighted during the Knox Community School Board’s recent meeting.

Band Director Craige Phipps talked to the board about the successful season of the winter drumline, the winter guard and the groups who participated in state competitions this year.

Superintendent A.J. Gappa explained that the band got to go down to Disney World during spring break to play some music.

“After working with a professional musician for just about 45 minutes and doing some sight-reading, they played the music to the Disney cartoon Tarzan. They played the actual soundtrack. The board enjoyed watching that cartoon. It was kind of neat!” Gappa exclaimed.

Knox School Board Acts on General Diploma Recommendation

Posted on Author WKVI

Superintendent A.J. Gappa
Superintendent A.J. Gappa
During their April 1 meeting, the Knox Community School Board heard from High School Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratliff concerning diploma credits needed for a general diploma.

Dr. Ratliff suggested lowering the credits for a general diploma from 46 to 42. The same English and Language Arts credits and Math credits would be needed, but dropping the number of credits would allow more opportunities in the vocational classes or other electives. Plus, the students would be able to graduate on time.

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