Pulaski County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer told the county commissioners last night that the county is the recipient of an $82,355 Region 1 Works Council for a Career and Technical Education (CTE) innovative-curriculum grant.
Origer said the grant will fund a Pulaski County Repair and Maintenance Technology (RAM-Tech) program at West Central High School to give students the skills they need to be successful in an industrial setting.
West Central School Corporation students could make up school days missed if the Department of Education approves the corporation’s application to incorporate e-learning days into the school calendar.
Superintendent Don Street said students have missed four days of school due to snow so far this semester.
“We have to built-in snow days so we will go to school on February 16 and April 20 to make up two days. Currently, we have two days that are still outstanding,” said Street.
The West Central School Board members discussed the wind turbine maintenance agreement during this week’s meeting.
Superintendent Don Street said they looked at maintenance agreements from other schools and decided on a provider.
The West Central School Board approved driver’s education fees for this year’s round of classes. Superintendent Don Street said the summer classes were approved as presented to the school board members.
“Driver’s education for West Central students will be $200 and for non-corporation students it will be $300,” explained Street. “Our students also take an online portion of the course and that’s an additional $25. That do that test on their own.”
The West Central School Board closed out the 2014 books and looked at the budget for this year when the members met this week. Superintendent Don Street said the board won’t be making any big changes to the budget.
“There were no big cuts,” said Street. “We anticipated where we would be in our annual budget. Our assessed evaluation has increased for our school district from last year which has reduced, just slightly, the amount of taxes that will be charged for each individual.”
The Pulaski County Community Development Commission may apply for a state grant to provide job skills training to high school students. County economic development director Nathan P. Origer says funds are available through the Career and Technical Education Innovative Curriculum Grant program to set up industrial repair and maintenance training programs at Winamac Community and West Central High Schools. Origer says it is a really high-demand occupation in the manufacturing sector locally and regionally. Continue reading
The West Central School Corporation is ready for 2015. Board members closed the books on 2014 when they met Thursday by passing a resolution to move money as necessary to end the calendar year in the black. It also encumbers funds from 2014 accounts for use in 2015. Continue reading
The West Central School Board members took care of several items of business during their meeting last week.
Superintendent Don Street commented that the school board discussed the enrollment within the career and technical courses and the financial reimbursement of those courses.
The West Central School Board approved a school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year.
Superintendent Don Street said the calendar is similar to this year’s calendar.
“Our teachers will be starting school on the tenth of August and the students will be arriving on Thursday the 13th of August. We also had a little discussion concerning balanced calendars of the schools in the area that are looking at, if you will, a semi-balanced calendar,” said Street.
The West Central School Board will meet tonight where the school board members will have several action items to discuss.
Now that the school board has approved the budget for the next school year, the next step is to plan the 2015-2016 school calendar. That will be discussed tonight as well as the course description books, the high ability grant, a rainy day resolution and other items.
The West Central School Board recently approved the addition of a Theater Arts class to the curriculum for the second semester.
Superintendent Don Street explained that more focus on English/Language Arts forced the cancellation of the class, but the class will be revived.
“Now we have an opportunity to have a Theater Arts class where the kids will learn about acting and study different plays,” said Street. “We put that back into our curriculum. That will be a one, nine-week class because we’re on a block schedule. We have some students that have some interest in that. We have a teacher that will be able to teach that. That’s a fine arts credit which counts toward an Academic Honor class for our students.”
The annual Reality Store for 8th grade students at West Central Middle School is scheduled this month. The program provides students with the chance to learn about careers, and envision their life at age 28. Continue reading
The West Central School Board members recently approved the 2015 budget which includes the General Fund, Capital Projects Plan and Bus Replacement Plan.
Superintendent Don Street also discussed other financial matters with the board including insurance.
The West Central School Board members reviewed the ADM, or Average Daily Membership, count during their meeting last week.
Superintendent Don Street commented that the enrollment is up from last year.
The Starke County Economic Development Foundation (SCEDF) is looking to bring life back into the vocational building on the Oregon-Davis school campus to begin an automation robotics and equipment maintenance program as an extension of vocational programs through the SCILL Center.
According to Ron Gifford, the SCEDF will assist in seeking a way to fund the program full-time and to acquire equipment. A pilot program started this year with several students in the eighth grade through the tenth grade enrolled in the program.
The ADM, or Average Daily Membership, count for all schools in Indiana is Friday, Sept. 12 and administrators are urging all students to be in school on that day.
It’s imperative that students show up for school as an official enrollment will be taken which will be given to the state. It’s that enrollment count that will determine how much money the state will give each school per student for operating costs.
The West Central School Board held the hearing for the 2015 budget during their recent meeting.
The board opened the floor for comments on the budget, capital projects plan, transportation plan and bus replacement plan. Superintendent Don Street went over the line items and said there are no significant changes in the budget for 2015.
