Whitko Hears About ISTEP From Students
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
PIERCETON - Elementary students Elizabeth Gensch, Ashleigh Friedrich, Holly Obregon and Bridget Nemitz led the Pledge of Allegiance to begin the Whitko School Board meeting Monday.
The children were introduced by Pierceton Elementary School Principal Ruth Jones.
Gensch and her mother then talked about ISTEP, which begins tomorrow. Pretending to interview her daughter, Mary Helen Gensch asked questions about the math, reading and writing sections of the test and how the students were preparing for the upcoming series of tests.
Reading from cards, Elizabeth said the students were practicing specific skills and reviewing the tests from last year. She said the student's motto is "Believe to achieve, to succeed."
The board approved the 2007 budget. Legally advertised last month, the $27.8 million budget includes a general fund of $12.2 million, debt service fund of $2.5 million, capital projects fund of $1.9 million, transportation fund of $821,658, a bus replacement fund of $260,100, and a special education preschool fund of $76,095.
Three full-size buses will be replaced this year along with a mini bus as part of a rotating program.
Board member Pete Mitchell talked about restoration plans for the log cabin at the high school. Built in 1976 by seniors to mark the nation's bicentennial, the students used hand tools to log nearby woods and construct the structure.
Mitchell said plans are to power wash the outside Sept. 30, beginning at 9 a.m. He said the roof is watertight and there are no plans to replace it. Thirty years ago the young builders split red oak blocks to make shingles and they're holding up well.
The power washing will reveal cracks in the mortar and any deteriorating wood, which will be repaired. The building sits under two pin oaks and is always in shade. Since the sun doesn't shine on it much, moisture has collected and moss has grown. Other water-related problems may become evident.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hendrix said the high school project is going well. Crews are working second shift.
High School Principal Parrish Kruger elaborated on that theme, saying lockers have arrived and are being installed. He said everyone is taking the commotion in stride. He said he has been receiving security camera training.
One of the high school foods classes has expanded from one class period to two and is considered a vocational, culinary arts class. Food preparation is taught in accordance with industry standards. The students leave the class with a certificate listing their skills.
South Whitley Principal Barb Flory said the benefits of teaching the Lindamood-Phoneme Sequencing Program to preschoolers is paying off as kindergartners are coming to class knowing how to sound out the alphabet.
She said each Tuesday students go home with data folders detailing homework assignments, tests and communication about how the week went. Parents are to sign the report and have it returned.
The board also:
• Approved Mike McKeighen's resignation as head track coach at Whitko High School; Jill Couch's resignation as a cook at Whitko Middle School and Troy Mann's resignation as student council sponsor at WHS.
• Hirings included: at Pierceton Elementary School - Amy Christoffel as a preschool resource assistant; Cindy Kreger as a Title I assistant; Nicole Elder as a resource assistant; Angie Wall as a cook, Vicki Camden as a fall sports coach;
At Whitko Elementary School - Tera Castle as an instructional assistant; Cara Kinney as a cook; Kris Cassady as a student council sponsor; at WMS - Lucy VanHoozen as a cook, Marc Walter sixth- and seventh-grade boys basketball coach, John Carroll as sixth-grade boys basketball coach, Keith Starkweather as assistant football coach;
At WHS - Patty Weybright and Julie Wolf as SADD co- sponsors, Stephanie Cokl as junior varsity volleyball coach; Megan Alcock as student council sponsor and Marissa Gebert as a substitute bus driver.
• Approved the appointment of Hendrix, Jerry Klausing and Kruger as school safety specialists for the school year.
• Heard Harvest Community Church donated $500 to PES for student needs.
Whitko School Board members are Hal Trump, Pete Mitchell, David Tranter, Mike Braddock and Deborah Collier. [[In-content Ad]]
PIERCETON - Elementary students Elizabeth Gensch, Ashleigh Friedrich, Holly Obregon and Bridget Nemitz led the Pledge of Allegiance to begin the Whitko School Board meeting Monday.
The children were introduced by Pierceton Elementary School Principal Ruth Jones.
Gensch and her mother then talked about ISTEP, which begins tomorrow. Pretending to interview her daughter, Mary Helen Gensch asked questions about the math, reading and writing sections of the test and how the students were preparing for the upcoming series of tests.
Reading from cards, Elizabeth said the students were practicing specific skills and reviewing the tests from last year. She said the student's motto is "Believe to achieve, to succeed."
The board approved the 2007 budget. Legally advertised last month, the $27.8 million budget includes a general fund of $12.2 million, debt service fund of $2.5 million, capital projects fund of $1.9 million, transportation fund of $821,658, a bus replacement fund of $260,100, and a special education preschool fund of $76,095.
Three full-size buses will be replaced this year along with a mini bus as part of a rotating program.
Board member Pete Mitchell talked about restoration plans for the log cabin at the high school. Built in 1976 by seniors to mark the nation's bicentennial, the students used hand tools to log nearby woods and construct the structure.
Mitchell said plans are to power wash the outside Sept. 30, beginning at 9 a.m. He said the roof is watertight and there are no plans to replace it. Thirty years ago the young builders split red oak blocks to make shingles and they're holding up well.
The power washing will reveal cracks in the mortar and any deteriorating wood, which will be repaired. The building sits under two pin oaks and is always in shade. Since the sun doesn't shine on it much, moisture has collected and moss has grown. Other water-related problems may become evident.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hendrix said the high school project is going well. Crews are working second shift.
High School Principal Parrish Kruger elaborated on that theme, saying lockers have arrived and are being installed. He said everyone is taking the commotion in stride. He said he has been receiving security camera training.
One of the high school foods classes has expanded from one class period to two and is considered a vocational, culinary arts class. Food preparation is taught in accordance with industry standards. The students leave the class with a certificate listing their skills.
South Whitley Principal Barb Flory said the benefits of teaching the Lindamood-Phoneme Sequencing Program to preschoolers is paying off as kindergartners are coming to class knowing how to sound out the alphabet.
She said each Tuesday students go home with data folders detailing homework assignments, tests and communication about how the week went. Parents are to sign the report and have it returned.
The board also:
• Approved Mike McKeighen's resignation as head track coach at Whitko High School; Jill Couch's resignation as a cook at Whitko Middle School and Troy Mann's resignation as student council sponsor at WHS.
• Hirings included: at Pierceton Elementary School - Amy Christoffel as a preschool resource assistant; Cindy Kreger as a Title I assistant; Nicole Elder as a resource assistant; Angie Wall as a cook, Vicki Camden as a fall sports coach;
At Whitko Elementary School - Tera Castle as an instructional assistant; Cara Kinney as a cook; Kris Cassady as a student council sponsor; at WMS - Lucy VanHoozen as a cook, Marc Walter sixth- and seventh-grade boys basketball coach, John Carroll as sixth-grade boys basketball coach, Keith Starkweather as assistant football coach;
At WHS - Patty Weybright and Julie Wolf as SADD co- sponsors, Stephanie Cokl as junior varsity volleyball coach; Megan Alcock as student council sponsor and Marissa Gebert as a substitute bus driver.
• Approved the appointment of Hendrix, Jerry Klausing and Kruger as school safety specialists for the school year.
• Heard Harvest Community Church donated $500 to PES for student needs.
Whitko School Board members are Hal Trump, Pete Mitchell, David Tranter, Mike Braddock and Deborah Collier. [[In-content Ad]]