Whitko Recognizes Perfect ISTEP Scholars
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Tim [email protected]
Alex Robbins, a third-grader at Pierceton Elementary School, and Becca Thomson, a seventh-grader at Whitko Middle School, each scored 100 percent of the points available on the English/language arts test. The board gave the students certificates to recognize their achievements.[[In-content Ad]]"How did you do that? How did you get a perfect score?" board member Dave Tranter asked the students.
"I paid attention to my teacher," Robbins said.
The board also recognized the Whitko High School girls basketball team, which finished as Three Rivers Conference champions and sectional runners-up this year.
The board approved the retirement of Diane Ciolli as family consumer science teacher and culinary arts instructor at WHS, effective at the end of this school year. Tranter asked WHS Principal Parrish Kruger and Whitko Superintendent Steve Clason what steps were being taken to find a replacement for Ciolli. Tranter said the program Ciolli has run has been one of the high school's most successful, even attracting students from other schools.
"Those are big boots to fill," said Tranter.
Kruger said he has already begun searching for candidates to replace Ciolli. Kruger said he has three applications for the position and is contacting state universities inquiring about upcoming graduates with culinary arts and consumer science degrees.
"Family and consumer science is a very narrow field," Kruger said. "She's going to be definitely missed by our corporation."
Kruger said his goal is to ensure that the consumer science and culinary arts programming continues at the high school.
"I want to continue the program, 100 percent I want to continue it, but it's true there are big shoes to fill," he said.
Clason updated the board on developments in the state legislature relating to property tax relief. Clason said when the property tax rate caps of 1 percent cap for residential, 2 percent for rental and 3 percent for business properties were first proposed, it appeared that the caps would have minimal impact on Whitko schools. However, Clason said Monday, as the proposed bills have developed, it appears the caps would cause a loss of $125,181 for the school corporation in 2009 and $127,612 in 2010.
Clason said the school corporation already works hard to cut costs, and it may be difficult to cover those losses without more help from the state.
"If in fact there is going to be that kind of impact, they need to figure out where that's going to come from," Clason said. "We need to have those funds made up so we can educate our children."
The board approved a $285,000 contract with Trane for the replacement of pneumatic controls to the heating system at WMS with electronic controls. Maintenance Director Dirk Felger said the contract is for a guaranteed energy savings program. He said the school corporation is guaranteed to have an energy and operations savings of about $42,000 over the next 10 years with the new equipment.
Tranter asked Felger what will happen if the school does not see that much savings. Felger said the Trane company would reimburse the school the money it did not save. Felger said he expects work on the project to begin in the next couple of weeks.
The board also approved Sue Delorme as the board's appointment to the Pierceton/Washington Township Library Board for a four-year term to end December 2011.
The next Whitko School Board meeting will be at South Whitley Elementary School at 7:30 p.m. March 17.
Alex Robbins, a third-grader at Pierceton Elementary School, and Becca Thomson, a seventh-grader at Whitko Middle School, each scored 100 percent of the points available on the English/language arts test. The board gave the students certificates to recognize their achievements.[[In-content Ad]]"How did you do that? How did you get a perfect score?" board member Dave Tranter asked the students.
"I paid attention to my teacher," Robbins said.
The board also recognized the Whitko High School girls basketball team, which finished as Three Rivers Conference champions and sectional runners-up this year.
The board approved the retirement of Diane Ciolli as family consumer science teacher and culinary arts instructor at WHS, effective at the end of this school year. Tranter asked WHS Principal Parrish Kruger and Whitko Superintendent Steve Clason what steps were being taken to find a replacement for Ciolli. Tranter said the program Ciolli has run has been one of the high school's most successful, even attracting students from other schools.
"Those are big boots to fill," said Tranter.
Kruger said he has already begun searching for candidates to replace Ciolli. Kruger said he has three applications for the position and is contacting state universities inquiring about upcoming graduates with culinary arts and consumer science degrees.
"Family and consumer science is a very narrow field," Kruger said. "She's going to be definitely missed by our corporation."
Kruger said his goal is to ensure that the consumer science and culinary arts programming continues at the high school.
"I want to continue the program, 100 percent I want to continue it, but it's true there are big shoes to fill," he said.
Clason updated the board on developments in the state legislature relating to property tax relief. Clason said when the property tax rate caps of 1 percent cap for residential, 2 percent for rental and 3 percent for business properties were first proposed, it appeared that the caps would have minimal impact on Whitko schools. However, Clason said Monday, as the proposed bills have developed, it appears the caps would cause a loss of $125,181 for the school corporation in 2009 and $127,612 in 2010.
Clason said the school corporation already works hard to cut costs, and it may be difficult to cover those losses without more help from the state.
"If in fact there is going to be that kind of impact, they need to figure out where that's going to come from," Clason said. "We need to have those funds made up so we can educate our children."
The board approved a $285,000 contract with Trane for the replacement of pneumatic controls to the heating system at WMS with electronic controls. Maintenance Director Dirk Felger said the contract is for a guaranteed energy savings program. He said the school corporation is guaranteed to have an energy and operations savings of about $42,000 over the next 10 years with the new equipment.
Tranter asked Felger what will happen if the school does not see that much savings. Felger said the Trane company would reimburse the school the money it did not save. Felger said he expects work on the project to begin in the next couple of weeks.
The board also approved Sue Delorme as the board's appointment to the Pierceton/Washington Township Library Board for a four-year term to end December 2011.
The next Whitko School Board meeting will be at South Whitley Elementary School at 7:30 p.m. March 17.
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