Whitko Student Count Lower Than Expected
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Daniel [email protected]
Tom McFarland, director of financial operations, said that last school year during the state's count day there were 1,788 students enrolled in Whitko Schools.
While making up this year's school budget, McFarland said he estimated 1,768 students this year, but count day showed only 1,761 students were enrolled.
McFarland said students who are absent are counted despite not being in school.
He also said that children at Pierceton Woods Academy will count toward Whitko's student count but the money will go back to Pierceton Woods Academy.
Student enrollment determines how much money a school gets.
McFarland also gave an update on Whitko's Pay To Play program which charges students a fee for playing sports.
McFarland said most kids have paid the fee for fall sports.
School board members heard a presentation about the high school's Students Against Destructive Decisions group.
The group's advisor, Patty Weybright, said that about 25 percent of students at Whitko are SADD members, making it the largest group on campus.
The purpose of the group is to warn students about the dangers of drug and alcohol use as well as violence.
Whitko's SADD is involved in raising money for groups as well as collecting items for local food banks.
The group also brings in guest speakers.
Students Gayle Peters, Zach Jones and Sage Sroufe spoke to the school board.
According to Weybright, Jones has been honored as the Indiana State Student of the Year by SADD and serves on a national executive committee for SADD.
The committee consists of just three students, including Jones, out of 300,000 SADD members nationwide.
The group is currently working on a Distracted Driving Campaign and will be lobbying state legislators about passing a law which would ban texting while driving.
Superintendent Steve Clason gave an update on the upcoming referendum Nov. 2.
Clason said committees are still working to convince residents in the Whitko school district to vote yes for the referendum.
During building updates, it was noted Pierceton and South Whitley elementaries had 90 and 94 percent attendance during recent parent-teacher conferences.
SWES was also recently honored by Walmart as a Distinguished School. Ten teachers were given $100 gift certificates by Walmart.
Whitko High School Principal Parrish Kruger said that more students are using the computer-based APEX system to earn credits.
Whitko has the program paid in full until Dec. 31, 2012.
Kruger said that a recent event where people could test drive Fords to earn money for Whitko brought in about $2,500.
School board member Jorell Tucker gave a report about his recent trip to a state school board association meeting.
He said much of the meeting was a legislative overview, and that laws will change and there could be another change to the Average Daily Membership count.
Tucker also announced there will be an event Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at Peabody Library. There will be a drawing and people pick a school corporation to sponsor. If that person is drawn they earn $5,000 for the school system.
Teachers can enter a drawing for $2,500 to go toward their classroom.[[In-content Ad]]Clason told the school board he will have a written updated on the board's goal for this school year by next month's meeting.
The Whitko School Board's next meeting is Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Whitko Administration Office in Pierceton.
Tom McFarland, director of financial operations, said that last school year during the state's count day there were 1,788 students enrolled in Whitko Schools.
While making up this year's school budget, McFarland said he estimated 1,768 students this year, but count day showed only 1,761 students were enrolled.
McFarland said students who are absent are counted despite not being in school.
He also said that children at Pierceton Woods Academy will count toward Whitko's student count but the money will go back to Pierceton Woods Academy.
Student enrollment determines how much money a school gets.
McFarland also gave an update on Whitko's Pay To Play program which charges students a fee for playing sports.
McFarland said most kids have paid the fee for fall sports.
School board members heard a presentation about the high school's Students Against Destructive Decisions group.
The group's advisor, Patty Weybright, said that about 25 percent of students at Whitko are SADD members, making it the largest group on campus.
The purpose of the group is to warn students about the dangers of drug and alcohol use as well as violence.
Whitko's SADD is involved in raising money for groups as well as collecting items for local food banks.
The group also brings in guest speakers.
Students Gayle Peters, Zach Jones and Sage Sroufe spoke to the school board.
According to Weybright, Jones has been honored as the Indiana State Student of the Year by SADD and serves on a national executive committee for SADD.
The committee consists of just three students, including Jones, out of 300,000 SADD members nationwide.
The group is currently working on a Distracted Driving Campaign and will be lobbying state legislators about passing a law which would ban texting while driving.
Superintendent Steve Clason gave an update on the upcoming referendum Nov. 2.
Clason said committees are still working to convince residents in the Whitko school district to vote yes for the referendum.
During building updates, it was noted Pierceton and South Whitley elementaries had 90 and 94 percent attendance during recent parent-teacher conferences.
SWES was also recently honored by Walmart as a Distinguished School. Ten teachers were given $100 gift certificates by Walmart.
Whitko High School Principal Parrish Kruger said that more students are using the computer-based APEX system to earn credits.
Whitko has the program paid in full until Dec. 31, 2012.
Kruger said that a recent event where people could test drive Fords to earn money for Whitko brought in about $2,500.
School board member Jorell Tucker gave a report about his recent trip to a state school board association meeting.
He said much of the meeting was a legislative overview, and that laws will change and there could be another change to the Average Daily Membership count.
Tucker also announced there will be an event Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. at Peabody Library. There will be a drawing and people pick a school corporation to sponsor. If that person is drawn they earn $5,000 for the school system.
Teachers can enter a drawing for $2,500 to go toward their classroom.[[In-content Ad]]Clason told the school board he will have a written updated on the board's goal for this school year by next month's meeting.
The Whitko School Board's next meeting is Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. at the Whitko Administration Office in Pierceton.
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